Bobby Bland
Encyclopedia
Robert Calvin Bland better known as Bobby "Blue" Bland, is an American singer of blues
and soul
. He is an original member of the Beale Streeters, and is sometimes referred to as the "Lion of the Blues". Along with such artists as Sam Cooke
, Ray Charles
, and Junior Parker
, Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel
with the blues
and R&B
.
Bobby Bland was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame
in 1981, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 1992, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
in 1997.
. Later moving to Memphis
with his mother, Bland started singing with local gospel
groups there, including amongst others the Miniatures. Eager to expand his interests, he began frequenting the city's famous Beale Street
where he became associated with an ad hoc circle of aspiring musicians named, not unnaturally, the Beale Streeters.
Bland's recordings from the early 1950s show him striving for individuality, but any progress was halted by a spell in the U.S. Army. When the singer returned to Memphis in 1954 he found several of his former associates, including Johnny Ace
, enjoying considerable success, while Bland's recording label, Duke, had been sold to Houston entrepreneur Don Robey
. In 1956 Bland began touring with Little Junior Parker
. Initially he doubled as valet and driver, a role he reportedly fulfilled for B. B. King
and Rosco Gordon
. Simultaneously, Bland began asserting his characteristic vocal style. Melodic big-band blues singles, including "Farther Up the Road
" (1957) and "Little Boy Blue" (1958) reached the US R&B Top 10, but Bobby's craft was most clearly heard on a series of early 1960s releases including "Cry Cry Cry", "I Pity The Fool
" and the sparkling "Turn On Your Love Light
", which became a much-covered standard. Despite credits to the contrary, many such classic works were written by Joe Scott, the artist's bandleader and arranger.
held down the Top 5 spots. Bland's records mostly sold on the R&B market and he had 23 Top Ten hits on the Billboard R&B charts and in the 1996 Top R&B book by Joel Whitburn
, Bland was rated the #13 all-time best selling artist.
Financial pressures forced the singer to cut his touring band and in 1968 the group broke up. He suffered from depression
and became increasingly dependent on alcohol. He stopped drinking in 1971; his record company Duke
was sold by owner Don Robey
to the larger ABC Records
group. This resulted in several successful and critically acclaimed contemporary blues/soul albums including His California Album and Dreamer, arranged by Michael Omartian
and produced by ABC staff man Steve Barri. The albums, including the later "follow-up" in 1977 Reflections in Blue, were all recorded in Los Angeles and featured many of the city's top sessionmen at the time.
The first single released from His California Album, "This Time I'm Gone For Good" took Bland back into the pop Top 50 for the first time since 1964 and made the R&B top 10 in late 1973. The lead-off track from Dreamer, "Ain't No Love In the Heart of the City
", was a strong R&B hit. Later it would surface again in 1978 by the hard rock band Whitesnake
featuring singer David Coverdale
. Much later it was sampled by Kanye West
on Jay-Z
's Hip Hop album The Blueprint
(2001). The song is also featured on the soundtrack of the crime drama The Lincoln Lawyer
(2011) starring Matthew McConaughey
. The follow-up, "I Wouldn't Treat A Dog" was his biggest R&B hit for some years, climbing to #3 in late 1974, but as usual his strength was never the pop chart (where it hit #88). Subsequent attempts at adding a disco/Barry White
flavor were mostly unsuccessful. A return to his roots in 1980 for a tribute album
to his mentor Joe Scott, produced by music veterans Monk Higgins and Al Bell
, resulted in a fine album Sweet Vibrations, but it failed to sell well outside of his traditional "chitlin circuit" base.
In 1985, Bland was signed by Malaco Records
, specialists in traditional Southern black music for whom he made a series of albums while continuing to tour and appear at concerts with fellow blues singer B. B. King
. The two had collaborated for two albums in the 1970s. Despite occasional age-related ill-health, Bland continues to record new albums for Malaco, perform occasional tours alone, with guitarist/producer Angelo Earl
and also with B.B. King, plus appearances at blues and soul festivals worldwide.
Irish
singer-songwriter
Van Morrison
was an early adherent of Bland (he covered "Ain't Nothing You Can't Do" on his 1974 live album It's Too Late to Stop Now
) and has on occasion had Bland as a guest singer at his concerts. He also included a previously unreleased version of a March 2000 duet of Morrison and Bland singing "Tupelo Honey
" on his 2007 compilation album, The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3
. America's Got Talent
semifinalist Queen Emily covered Bland's 1987 "No Easy Way to Say Goodbye" on her solo debut.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
. He is an original member of the Beale Streeters, and is sometimes referred to as the "Lion of the Blues". Along with such artists as Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, and Junior Parker
Junior Parker
Junior Parker was an American Memphis blues singer and musician. He is best remembered for his unique voice which has been described as "honeyed," and "velvet-smooth"...
, Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
with the blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
.
Bobby Bland was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame
Blues Hall of Fame
The Blues Hall of Fame is a listing of people who have significantly contributed to blues music. Started in 1980 by the Blues Foundation, it honors those who have performed, recorded, or documented blues.-1980:*Big Bill Broonzy*Willie Dixon*John Lee Hooker...
in 1981, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
in 1992, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to "performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording."...
in 1997.
Biography
Bobby "Blue" Bland was born in the small town of Rosemark, TennesseeRosemark, Tennessee
Rosemark is an unincorporated residential and farm community located along Austin Peay Highway in the northern portion of Shelby County, Tennessee...
. Later moving to Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
with his mother, Bland started singing with local gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
groups there, including amongst others the Miniatures. Eager to expand his interests, he began frequenting the city's famous Beale Street
Beale Street
Beale Street is a street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, which runs from the Mississippi River to East Street, a distance of approximately . It is a significant location in the city's history, as well as in the history of the blues. Today, the blues clubs and restaurants that line Beale Street are...
where he became associated with an ad hoc circle of aspiring musicians named, not unnaturally, the Beale Streeters.
Bland's recordings from the early 1950s show him striving for individuality, but any progress was halted by a spell in the U.S. Army. When the singer returned to Memphis in 1954 he found several of his former associates, including Johnny Ace
Johnny Ace
Johnny Ace , born John Marshall Alexander, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, was an American rhythm and blues singer. He scored a string of hit singles in the mid-1950s before dying of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound....
, enjoying considerable success, while Bland's recording label, Duke, had been sold to Houston entrepreneur Don Robey
Don Robey
Don Robey was an American record label executive, songwriter and record producer, who used criminal means as part of his business model...
. In 1956 Bland began touring with Little Junior Parker
Junior Parker
Junior Parker was an American Memphis blues singer and musician. He is best remembered for his unique voice which has been described as "honeyed," and "velvet-smooth"...
. Initially he doubled as valet and driver, a role he reportedly fulfilled for B. B. King
B. B. King
Riley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
and Rosco Gordon
Rosco Gordon
Rosco Gordon was an American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known for his 1952 #1 R&B hit single, "Booted", and two #2 singles "No More Doggin'" and "Just a Little Bit" .-Biography:...
. Simultaneously, Bland began asserting his characteristic vocal style. Melodic big-band blues singles, including "Farther Up the Road
Farther Up the Road
"Farther Up the Road" or "Further on Up the Road" is a blues song first recorded in 1957 by Bobby "Blue" Bland. The song became Bland's first record chart success and one of his best-known songs...
" (1957) and "Little Boy Blue" (1958) reached the US R&B Top 10, but Bobby's craft was most clearly heard on a series of early 1960s releases including "Cry Cry Cry", "I Pity The Fool
I Pity the Fool
"I Pity the Fool" is a song originally recorded by Bobby Bland in 1961 for Duke Records. The song was credited to Deadric Malone, a pseudonym of Duke Records owner Don Robey...
" and the sparkling "Turn On Your Love Light
Turn On Your Love Light
"Turn On Your Love Light" is an R&B-style blues song recorded by Bobby Bland in 1961. It was a both an important R&B and pop chart hit for Bland and has become one of his most identifiable songs...
", which became a much-covered standard. Despite credits to the contrary, many such classic works were written by Joe Scott, the artist's bandleader and arranger.
Personal life
Bland continued to enjoy a consistent run of R&B chart entries throughout the mid-'60s. Never truly breaking into the mainstream market, Bland's highest charting song on the pop chart, "Ain't Nothing You Can Do" peaked at #20 during the same week The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
held down the Top 5 spots. Bland's records mostly sold on the R&B market and he had 23 Top Ten hits on the Billboard R&B charts and in the 1996 Top R&B book by Joel Whitburn
Joel Whitburn
Joel Carver Whitburn is an American author and music historian.Whitburn founded Record Research Inc. in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, in 1970, and put together a team of researchers to examine in detail all of Billboards music and video charts...
, Bland was rated the #13 all-time best selling artist.
Financial pressures forced the singer to cut his touring band and in 1968 the group broke up. He suffered from depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
and became increasingly dependent on alcohol. He stopped drinking in 1971; his record company Duke
Duke Records
Duke Records was an American record label, started in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1952 by David James Mattis and Bill Fitzgerald, owners of Tri-State Recording Company. Their first release was Roscoe Gordon singing "Hey Fat Girl", issued on Duke R-1, later amended to R-101.After forming a partnership...
was sold by owner Don Robey
Don Robey
Don Robey was an American record label executive, songwriter and record producer, who used criminal means as part of his business model...
to the larger ABC Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
group. This resulted in several successful and critically acclaimed contemporary blues/soul albums including His California Album and Dreamer, arranged by Michael Omartian
Michael Omartian
Michael Omartian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and music producer. He has been a participant in over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide, as a producer, arranger, artist or musician, during a career that has spanned over 38 years...
and produced by ABC staff man Steve Barri. The albums, including the later "follow-up" in 1977 Reflections in Blue, were all recorded in Los Angeles and featured many of the city's top sessionmen at the time.
The first single released from His California Album, "This Time I'm Gone For Good" took Bland back into the pop Top 50 for the first time since 1964 and made the R&B top 10 in late 1973. The lead-off track from Dreamer, "Ain't No Love In the Heart of the City
Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City
"Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" is a 1974 R&B song written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh and first recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland for the ABC Dunhill album Dreamer. While Bland scored a minor hit with the song, landing in the top ten of the R&B charts, it is perhaps best known through...
", was a strong R&B hit. Later it would surface again in 1978 by the hard rock band Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
featuring singer David Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
. Much later it was sampled by Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
on Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's Hip Hop album The Blueprint
The Blueprint
The Blueprint is the sixth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released September 11, 2001 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. Its release was set a week earlier than initially planned in order to combat bootlegging. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2001 at Manhattan...
(2001). The song is also featured on the soundtrack of the crime drama The Lincoln Lawyer
The Lincoln Lawyer (film)
The Lincoln Lawyer is a 2011 American thriller film adapted from the novel of the same name by Michael Connelly, starring Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy and Marisa Tomei...
(2011) starring Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew David McConaughey is an American actor.After a series of minor roles in the early 1990s, McConaughey gained notice for his breakout role in Dazed and Confused . He then appeared in films such as A Time to Kill, Contact, U-571, Tiptoes, Sahara, and We Are Marshall...
. The follow-up, "I Wouldn't Treat A Dog" was his biggest R&B hit for some years, climbing to #3 in late 1974, but as usual his strength was never the pop chart (where it hit #88). Subsequent attempts at adding a disco/Barry White
Barry White
Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter , was an American composer and singer-songwriter.A five-time Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image, White's greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring...
flavor were mostly unsuccessful. A return to his roots in 1980 for a tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
to his mentor Joe Scott, produced by music veterans Monk Higgins and Al Bell
Al Bell
Al Bell is an American record producer, songwriter, and record executive. Bell is best known as one of the key figures behind and a co-owner of Memphis, Tennessee-based Stax Records during the latter half of the label's nineteen-year existence...
, resulted in a fine album Sweet Vibrations, but it failed to sell well outside of his traditional "chitlin circuit" base.
In 1985, Bland was signed by Malaco Records
Malaco Records
Malaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
, specialists in traditional Southern black music for whom he made a series of albums while continuing to tour and appear at concerts with fellow blues singer B. B. King
B. B. King
Riley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
. The two had collaborated for two albums in the 1970s. Despite occasional age-related ill-health, Bland continues to record new albums for Malaco, perform occasional tours alone, with guitarist/producer Angelo Earl
Angelo Earl
Angelo Earl is an American guitarist, record producer, songwriter and owner of Soul Street Records. Earl is most widely known for playing electric guitar on Al Green’s “He Is The Light”, Bobby Rush’s “Southern Soul”, the Bar-kays “The Real Thing”, contributing vocal work to Isaac Hayes’ “Branded”,...
and also with B.B. King, plus appearances at blues and soul festivals worldwide.
Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
was an early adherent of Bland (he covered "Ain't Nothing You Can't Do" on his 1974 live album It's Too Late to Stop Now
It's Too Late to Stop Now
It's Too Late to Stop Now is a live album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1974 . Frequently named as one of the best live albums ever recorded, It's Too Late to Stop Now was recorded during what has often been said to be Morrison's greatest phase as a live...
) and has on occasion had Bland as a guest singer at his concerts. He also included a previously unreleased version of a March 2000 duet of Morrison and Bland singing "Tupelo Honey
Tupelo Honey (Van Morrison song)
"Tupelo Honey" is a popular song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and the title song from his 1971 album, Tupelo Honey. The title derives from an expensive, mild-tasting tupelo honey produced in the southeastern United States. Released as a single in 1972, it reached number...
" on his 2007 compilation album, The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3
The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3
The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3 is a compilation album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, that was released on June 11, 2007 in the UK with a digital version released in the U.S. on iTunes Music Store, on June 12, 2007. Manhattan/EMI Music Catalog Marketing released the CD...
. America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
semifinalist Queen Emily covered Bland's 1987 "No Easy Way to Say Goodbye" on her solo debut.
Albums
- Blues Consolidated - 1958 (Duke Records)
- Like Er Red Hot - 1960 (Duke Records)
- Two Steps from the BluesTwo Steps from the BluesTwo Steps from the Blues is a 1961 album by Bobby Bland. The album was featured at number 215 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.-Track listing:# "Two Steps from the Blues" – 2:34# "Cry Cry Cry" – 2:43...
(Duke 1961/MCA 2002) - Here's the Man!Here's the Man!Here's the Man!!! is a 1962 studio album by Bobby Bland. It was issued in standard mono, as well true stereo and was the first Duke album issued in the stereo format...
- 1962 (Duke Records) - Call On Me - 1963 (Duke Records)
- Ain't Nothing You Can Do - 1964 (Duke Records)
- The Soul of The Man" - 1966 (Duke Records)
- Touch of The Blues - 1967 (Duke Records)
- The Best Of - 1967 (Duke Records)
- The Best Of Volume 2 - 1968 (Duke Records)
- Spotlighting The Man - 1969 (Duke Records)
- His California Album - 1973 (Dunhill Records)
- Dreamer - 1974 (Dunhill Records)
- Together for the First TimeTogether for the First TimeTogether for the First Time... Live is a 1974 blues album by Texas blues singer Bobby Bland and guitar virtuoso B. B. King. The duo would later work together again on Bobby Bland and B. B...
(with B.B.King) - 1974 (ABC) - Get On Down - 1975 (ABC Records)
- Bobby Bland and B. B. King Together Again...Live - 1976 (ABC)
- Reflections In Blue - 1977 (ABC Records)
- Come Fly With Me - 1978 (ABC Records)
- I Feel Good - 1979 (MCA Records)
- Sweet Vibrations - 1980 (MCA 27076) Tribute to Joe ScottJoe ScottJoe Scott is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach at the University of Denver. He replaced Terry Carroll on March 20, 2007....
- Here We Go Again - 1982 (MCA 5297)
- Members Only - 1985 (Malaco Records)
- After All - 1986 (Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
) - Blues You Can Use - 1987 (Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
) - First Class Blues - 1987 (Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
) - Midnight Run -1989 (Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
) - Portrait of the Blues - 1991 (Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
) - Years of Tears - 1993 (Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
) - Sad Street- 1995 (Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
) - Live On Beale Street-1998 (Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
) - Memphis Monday Morning-1998 (Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
) - Blues At Midnight - 2003 (Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
)
Singles
- "Booted" / "I Love You Til The Day I Die" - 1951 *with Bobby "Blue" Bland Chess RecordsChess RecordsChess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
- "Crying All Night Long" / "Dry Up Baby" - 1952 (Chess Records)
- "Good Lovin'" / "Drifting From Town To Town" - 1952 (Chess Records)
- "Crying" / "A Letter From A Trench In Korea" - 1952 (Chess Records)
- "Lovin' Blues" / "I.O.U. Blues" - 1952 Duke RecordsDuke RecordsDuke Records was an American record label, started in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1952 by David James Mattis and Bill Fitzgerald, owners of Tri-State Recording Company. Their first release was Roscoe Gordon singing "Hey Fat Girl", issued on Duke R-1, later amended to R-101.After forming a partnership...
- "Army Blues" / "No Blow, No Show" - 1953 (Duke Records)
- "Time Out" / "It's My Life Baby" - 1955 (Duke Records)
- "You Or None" / "Woke Up Screaming" - 1955 (Duke Records)
- "I Can't Put You Down" / "You've Got Bad Intentions" - 1956 (Duke Records)
- "I Learned My Lesson" / "Lead Us On" - 1956 (Duke Records)
- "I Learned My Lesson" / "I Don't Believe" - 1956 (Duke Records)
- "Don't Want No Woman" / "I Smell Trouble" - 1957 (Duke Records)
- "Farther Up the RoadFarther Up the Road"Farther Up the Road" or "Further on Up the Road" is a blues song first recorded in 1957 by Bobby "Blue" Bland. The song became Bland's first record chart success and one of his best-known songs...
" / "Sometime Tomorrow" - 1957 (Duke Records) (R&B 1/POP 43) - "Teach Me" (How To Love You) / "Bobby's Blues" - 1957 (Duke Records)
- "You Got Me Where You Want Me" / "Loan A Helping Hand" – 1958 (Duke Records)
- "Little Boy Blue" / "Last Night" – 1958 (Duke Records) (10/-)
- "You Did Me Wrong" / "I Lost Sight Of The World" - 1959 (Duke Records)
- "I'm Not Ashamed" / "Wishing Well" - 1959 (Duke Records) (13/-)
- "Is It Real" / "Someday" - 1959 (Duke Records) (28/-)
- "I'll Take Care Of You" / "That's Why" - 1959 (Duke Records) (2/89)
- "Lead Me On" / "Hold Me Tenderly" (Duke Records) (9/-)
- "Cry, Cry, Cry" / "I've Been Wrong So Long" - 1960 (Duke Records) (9/71)
- "I Pity The Fool" / "Close To You" - 1961 (Duke Records) (1/46)
- "Don't Cry No More" / "How Does A Cheating Woman Feel" - 1961 (Duke Records) (2/71)
- "Turn On Your Love LightTurn On Your Love Light"Turn On Your Love Light" is an R&B-style blues song recorded by Bobby Bland in 1961. It was a both an important R&B and pop chart hit for Bland and has become one of his most identifiable songs...
" / "You're The One" (That I Need) - 1961 (Duke Records) (2/28) - "Ain't That Loving You" / "Jelly, Jelly, Jelly" - 1961 (Duke Records) (9/86)
- "Don't Cry No More" / "Saint James InfirmarySt. James Infirmary Blues"St. James Infirmary Blues" is based on an 18th century traditional English folk song of anonymous origin, though sometimes credited to the songwriter Joe Primrose . Louis Armstrong made it famous in his influential 1928 recording.-Authorship and history:"St...
" - 1961 (Duke Records) - "Who Will The Next Fool Be" / "Blue Moon" - 1962 (Duke Records) (12/76)
- "Love You Baby" / "Drifting" - 1962 (Kent)
- "Yield Not To Temptation" / "How Does A Cheating Woman Feel" - 1962 (Duke Records) (10/56)
- "Stormy Monday Blues" / "Your Friends" - 1962 (Duke Records) (5/43)
- "That's The Way Love Is" / "Call On Me" - 1962 (Duke Records) (1/43)
- "Call On Me" / "That's The Way Love Is" - 1962 (Duke Records) flipped over (5/22)
- "Sometimes You Gotta Cry A Little" / "You're Worth It All" - 1963 (Duke Records) (28/56)
- "Shoes" / "A Touch Of The Blues" - 1967 (Duke Records)
- "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The CityAin't No Love in the Heart of the City"Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" is a 1974 R&B song written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh and first recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland for the ABC Dunhill album Dreamer. While Bland scored a minor hit with the song, landing in the top ten of the R&B charts, it is perhaps best known through...
" / "Twenty-Four Hour Blues" - 1974 (ABC Dunhill Records)
See also
- Tribute to BobbyTribute to BobbyTribute to Bobby is a 2008 album by Mick Hucknall and his first solo album. It was released in the United Kingdom on 19 May 2008 and is a collection of songs in tribute to the blues singer Bobby Bland.A DVD was also released along with the album...
, a solo tribute debut album by Simply RedSimply RedSimply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
singer Mick HucknallMick HucknallMichael "Mick" Hucknall is a British singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the British band Simply Red, and is recognisable for his smooth, distinctive voice and wide vocal range, as well as his red curly hair.-Early life:...