No Blow, No Show - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Mattis, David
Wise Man's Blues - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Mattis, David
Army Blues - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Mattis, David
It's My Life, Baby - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
Lost Lover Blues - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
Honey Bee - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
Time Out - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
You or None [Alternate Take] - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Clifton, Paul
A Million Miles from Nowhere - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Petty, Daryl
You or None - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Clifton, Paul
I Woke up Screaming - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Headen, Willie
I Can't Put You Down Baby - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
You've Got Bad Intentions - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Scott, Joe [Eidolon
I Don't Believe - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
I Learned My Lesson - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Copeland, Johnny
Don't Want No Woman - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
I Smell Trouble - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
Sometime Tomorrow - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Harper, LaCharles
Farther up the Road - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
Teach Me (How to Love You) - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Harper, LaCharles
Track Listings (22) - Disc #2
Bobby's Blues - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
Loan Me a Helping Hand - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
You Got Me (Where You Want Me) - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
Last Night - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
Little Boy Blue - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Harper, LaCharles
I Lost Sight of the World [LP Version] - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Malone, Deadric
You Did Me Wrong - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Malone, Deadric
I Lost Sight of the World [Single Version] - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Malone, Deadric
I'm Not Ashamed - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
Wishing Well - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Robey, Don
Is It Real? - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Malone, Deadric
That's Why - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Koss, Joseph
Hold Me Tenderly - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Malone, Deadric
Someday - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Green, Johnny [1]
I'll Take Care of You - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Benton, Brook
Cry Cry Cry - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Malone, Deadric
Lead Me On - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Malone, Deadric
I've Been Wrong So Long - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Agee, Ray
I Pity the Fool - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Malone, Deadric
Close to You - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Agee, Ray
Two Steps from the Blues - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Brown, John [12] Ri
Don't Cry No More - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Malone, Deadric
Because he wasn't a guitarist, a songwriter, or a particularly acrobatic performer, Bobby "Blue" Bland was perhaps the only major rhythm-and-bluesman who never really found favor among white audiences. Nevertheless, he sti... more »ll enjoyed about two decades' worth of R&B hits, and his suave, whisper-to-a-scream vocals--capped by a trademark throaty squall--influenced generations of singers (Van Morrison, most notably). Dating from 1952 to 1961, this 44-song set contains all highlights from Bland's first decade of hits: the perfectly relaxed, loping shuffle of "Farther Up the Road," the avuncular warmth of "I'll Take Care of You," and the unbridled anger of the title track, for openers. Everything's framed by unusually sophisticated horn arrangements and some fine, Texas-style blues guitar licks, but Bland's vocals on "It's My Life Baby" and--especially--"Little Boy Blue" are volcanic masterworks of almost frightening intensity and control. --Don Waller« less
Because he wasn't a guitarist, a songwriter, or a particularly acrobatic performer, Bobby "Blue" Bland was perhaps the only major rhythm-and-bluesman who never really found favor among white audiences. Nevertheless, he still enjoyed about two decades' worth of R&B hits, and his suave, whisper-to-a-scream vocals--capped by a trademark throaty squall--influenced generations of singers (Van Morrison, most notably). Dating from 1952 to 1961, this 44-song set contains all highlights from Bland's first decade of hits: the perfectly relaxed, loping shuffle of "Farther Up the Road," the avuncular warmth of "I'll Take Care of You," and the unbridled anger of the title track, for openers. Everything's framed by unusually sophisticated horn arrangements and some fine, Texas-style blues guitar licks, but Bland's vocals on "It's My Life Baby" and--especially--"Little Boy Blue" are volcanic masterworks of almost frightening intensity and control. --Don Waller
CD Reviews
BBBland in the 50's: As Essential as Ray Charles?
ersch | Charenton France | 09/25/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As my 12 year old cassette copy of this 2 CD set is getting to be seriously worn, I figured that it was time to finally buy the CD. But unfortunately, it appears that this collection is no
longer available. This is really tragic as BBBland is second
to none as an R&B singer in the 1950s (on a par with Ray
Charles' Atlantic recordings of the same era). There are other collections of BBBland's DUKE recordings, but all of the others are only 1 CD, and lots of great tunes are left out - I can't imagine a retrospective of his work in the 1950s without "Someday"(a tune covered by many bands), yet this is the only collection that includes this gem of an R&B 12/8 ballad.
Maybe BBBland's horn section wasn't the equal of Ray Charles' but his rhythm section, with such innovative players as Jabbo Starks(the same Jabbo Starks that played on most of James Brown's hits of the 1960 ) on drums and Wayne Bennett on Gtr, was the point of reference for the era ...
Nuff said... Let's hope and pray that "Someday" again this 2CD set will again be available......"
The Finest Blues Collection Ever Released In America!
rollo | usa | 01/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Within this 2 cd box lies Vol. 1 of of the greatest blues collection ever packaged and sold in America. This is the music of Bobby Bland recorded mostly during the 50's and 60's for Duke/Peacock Records. The listener will bear witness to the evolution of Bland and his blues band from a Texas twang to a smooth, slick and sophisticated Orchestra utilizing horns, strings and backing vocals. During the 50's, Bobby Bland had the most beautiful and soulful voice of any male blues singer during this period. This is vol. one of 3 double cd sets of Bobby Bland on Duke Records. All 3 sets are superb and the remastering quality is excellent. This set introduces the orchestrations of Joe Scott whose band recorded most of Bobby's Duke records. These collections may be out of print at present but if you ever run across any of these recordings, buy them at any price."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1