Bland Tistlar

Recorded live at the New Daisy Theater with Bland's regular working road band, this captures him in fine form, bringing together old favorites with some other numbers for a heady blend. When called for, the old Joe Scott heavy horn-laden arrangements are summoned up on tunes like "St. James Infirmary," "Farther on Up the Road," "That's the Way Love Is," "I Pity the Fool," and "I'll Take Care of You" with consummate ease. But even more telling is how effortlessly and seamlessly material like Buddy Ace's "Love of Mine," "Members Only," "Soon as the Weather Breaks," and Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Get Your Money Where You Spend Your Time" meshes with the old standbys. A lengthy slow blues medley brings guest appearances from Johnnie Taylor and Bobby Rush on "Stormy Monday," but the real star here is Bland himself. He's in good voice and good humor, and this makes a fine addition to his stack of latter-day recordings.

Four albums dating from 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981 from legendary blues singer Bobby Bland, originally released on MCA. Bland had a long and influential career with the ‘Dreamer’ album (BGOCD63) and ‘His California Album’ (BGOCD64) both creating great critical and commercial acclaim. Rock artists such as Van Morrison, Mick Hucknall and David Coverdale are all disciples of Bland. Digitally remastered and slipcased, and with extensive new notes.

This 1991 release, along with Years Of Tears from 1993, amply demonstrate the enduring power of Bobby Bland, a most singular blues singer. Justly hailed for his '50s records on the Duke label, Bland remained a powerful presence over the ensuing decades. As with all of his recordings for the Jackson, Mississippi-based Malaco label, the bulk of the songs were penned by Malaco's in-house writers. One of the set's only numbers from an outside source is the opening "Ain't No Love For Sale" by John Barranco.
With his characteristic snorts and growls, it's clear from the outset that Bobby "Blue" Bland is in command. Portrait is his usual mix of bluesy shuffles, ballads, and soulful stomps. And any album that's got a song called "She's Puttin' Something In My Food" has got a leg up on the competition…

Without a doubt, Two Steps from the Blues is the definitive Bobby "Blue" Bland album and one of the great records in electric blues and soul-blues. In fact, it's one of the key albums in modern blues, marking a turning point when juke joint blues were seamlessly blended with gospel and Southern soul, creating a distinctly Southern sound where all of these styles blended so thoroughly it was impossible to tell where one began and one ended. Given his Memphis background, Bobby "Blue" Bland was perfectly suited for this kind of amalgam as envisioned by producer/arranger Joe Scott, who crafted these wailing horn arrangements that sounded as impassioned as Bland's full-throated, anguished vocals. It helped, of course, that the songs were uniformly brilliant…

Without a doubt, Two Steps from the Blues is the definitive Bobby "Blue" Bland album and one of the great records in electric blues and soul-blues. In fact, it's one of the key albums in modern blues, marking a turning point when juke joint blues were seamlessly blended with gospel and Southern soul, creating a distinctly Southern sound where all of these styles blended so thoroughly it was impossible to tell where one began and one ended. Given his Memphis background, Bobby "Blue" Bland was perfectly suited for this kind of amalgam as envisioned by producer/arranger Joe Scott, who crafted these wailing horn arrangements that sounded as impassioned as Bland's full-throated, anguished vocals. It helped, of course, that the songs were uniformly brilliant…

Here on this CD we re treated to an excellent example of a "live" Bobby "Blue" Bland concert recorded at Long Beach, California in 1983. Along with Mel Jackson, Bobby's Bandleader/Arranger/trumpet player, one gets to hear some truly amazing guitar work by the legendary guitarist, Wayne Bennett. Mel Jackson and the Orchestra - kick off the show with a funky soulful instrumental "Mels Groove" to warm up the audience and loosen up the musicians before the Dynamic Bobby "Blue" Bland takes to the stage and runs through his 1962 "Ain't That Loving You", and his 1959 "I'll Take Care Of You", (two Duke classics)…

One of the most powerful and distinctive voices in blues and R&B, thanks to his steady stream of classic singles during the '50s and '60s. Bobby Bland earned his enduring blues superstar status the hard way: without a guitar, harmonica, or any other instrument to fall back upon. All Bland had to offer was his magnificent voice, a tremendously powerful instrument in his early heyday, injected with charisma and melisma to spare. Just ask his legion of female fans, who deemed him a sex symbol late into his career.