Record Boy Ink:

I love Bobby Bland. There, I’ve said it. Now let’s see if you can guess where this review is going!

Bobby Bland “Blues & Ballads”(MCA) is probably the third or fourth Bobby Bland reissue that MCA has released in the last two years. I guess when a guy has 62 R&B chart hits, he becomes fodder for the catalog division!

The thing is, Record Boy has picked up every single reissue, even though I’ve got all this stuff already. Why? Because Bobby “Blue” Bland is truly the Sinatra of the blues. He deserves the same reverence that Frank got through his career and if that means you have to buy every stinkin’ reissue, so be it!

I gotta admit that the choice of material on “Blues & Ballads” is outstanding. It’s all here folks. Bobby as smoove balladeer. Bobby as soul man (complete with his patented “blues gargle”.) Bobby as blues belter. Keep in mind however, that this album leans heavier on the Ballads then on the Blues so don’t expect Bobby to be too funky here. However, “Blues & Ballads” does make a case for my Sinatra comparison!

 Now watch. The next Bland album will be called “Duets”. All of Bobby’s hits will be re-recorded with Bland phoning in his vocals and the stars of today singing their little hearts out in tribute.

Tentative Line up: Track 1. “I Pity The Fool” Bobby and Kid Rock. Track 2. “Farther Up The Road” Bobby and Britney Spears. Please feel free to fill in the rest of the tracks. It can’t be any worse than Sinatra’s Duet records!

Pick up “Blues & Ballads”. It’s a good track selection and Bobby is sublime on every song. It’s the latest Bobby Bland re-issue before the next one!