Bobby Bland - The Singles Collection: 1951-62 (2016)

Bobby Bland, often known as Bobby 'Blue' Bland, was one of the best blues, R&B and soul singers of the post-war era, recognized as one of the finest interpreters of blues-influenced songs, comparable within his genre to the likes of Frank Sinatra in the broader popular spectrum. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame described him as second in stature only to B.B. King as a product of Memphis's Beale Street blues scene. He enjoyed chart success right through until the 1980s, but this extensive collection of his formative decade and more includes all his R&B No. 1s plus other landmark recordings.

He recorded initially with Roscoe Gordon for both Modern and Chess before joining the Duke label, and this great-value 56-track 2 CD set comprises the A and B sides of all his Duke singles through until 1962, plus selected sides from his early releases with Roscoe Gordon. It features the R&B No. 1s "Farther Up The Road", "I Pity The Fool" and "That's The Way Love Is", plus other Top 10 classics such as "I'll Take Care Of You", "Don't Cry No More", "Turn On Your Love Light" and the iconic "Stormy Monday Blues". It's a fine showcase for a unique and highly regarded talent.

TRACKLIST

CD 1:

01. Love You Till The Day I Die (w. Roscoe Gordon)
02. Crying All Night Long (w. Roscoe Gordon & His Orchestra)
03. Dry Up Baby (w. Roscoe Gordon & His Orchestra)
04. Good Lovin' (w. Roscoe Gordon & His Orchestra)
05. Letter From A Trench In Korea (w. Roscoe Gordon & His Orchestra)
06. Crying (w. Roscoe Gordon & His Orchestra)
07. I.O.U. Blues
08. Lovin' Blues
09. Army Blues
10. No Blow, No Show
11. Time Out (w. The Bill Harvey Orchestra)
12. It's My Life, Baby (w. The Bill Harvey Orchestra)
13. Woke Up Screaming (w. The Bill Harvey Orchestra)
14. You Or None (w. The Bill Harvey Orchestra)
15. You've Got Bad Intentions (w. Bill Harvey's Band)
16. I Can't Put You Down Baby (w. Bill Harvey's Band)
17. I Learned My Lesson (w. Bill Harvey's Band)
18. I Don't Believe (w. Bill Harvey's Band)
19. Don't Want No Woman (w. Bill Harvey's Orchestra)
20. I Smell Trouble (w. Bill Harvey's Orchestra)
21. Farther Up The Road (w. The Bill Harvey Orchestra)
22. Sometime Tomorrow (w. The Bill Harvey Orchestra & The Joe Scott Singers)
23. Teach Me (How To Love You)
24. Bobby's Blues
25. You Got Me Where You Want Me
26. Loan A Helping Hand
27. Little Boy Blue

CD 2:

01. Last Night
02. You Did Me Wrong
03. I Lost Sight Of The World
04. Wishing Well
05. I'm Not Ashamed
06. Is It Real
07. Someday
08. I'll Take Care Of You
09. That's Why
10. Lead Me On
11. Hold Me Tenderly
12. Cry Cry Cry
13. I've Been Wrong So Long
14. I Pity The Fool
15. Close Yo You
16. Don't Cry No More
17. How Does A Cheatin' Woman Feel
18. Ain't That Lovin' You
19. Jelly Jelly Jelly
20. Saint James Infirmary
21. Turn On Your Love Light
22. You're The One (That I Need)
23. Who Will The Next Fool Be
24. Blue Moon
25. Yield Not To Temptation
26. Stormy Monday Blues
27. Your Friends
28. That's The Way Love Is
29. Call On Me