Going back to the sources (something I'm prone to do, as an amateur musicologist---aren't we all?!), I've always preferred both Albert (whom I saw live in '68---fantastic!) and Freddie to B.B. The defining characteristic of B.B.'s playing is that fast finger vibrato he uses a lot on a single, long-held note, which I don't care for. I hear a lot of that influence in the San Francisco guitarists (in Big Brother, The Airplane, Country Joe & The Fish, Quicksilver). It seems to be used by guitarists with, shall we say, less than well-developed technique. I don't hear it in any of Mayall's guitarists, or in British players in general.
I don't think it was directed at me, but just in case.....it was not I who referred to Buckingham/Nicks as a "bubblegum team". But if I had, it would not have been done to denigrate them---I much prefer bubblegum music to some others. I would rather listen to, say, The Rubinoos that The Grateful Dead, for instance. That didn't keep me from getting some gigs with hippie type bands, but it didn't help!
I don't think it was directed at me, but just in case.....it was not I who referred to Buckingham/Nicks as a "bubblegum team". But if I had, it would not have been done to denigrate them---I much prefer bubblegum music to some others. I would rather listen to, say, The Rubinoos that The Grateful Dead, for instance. That didn't keep me from getting some gigs with hippie type bands, but it didn't help!