Search - Bobby Blue Bland :: Bobby Bland Greatest Hits Vol. 2: The ABC-Dunhill/MCA Recordings

"You're A Link In My Chain...Someone Will Chase The Clouds A

Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 11/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Subtitled "The ABC-Dunhill/MCA Recordings" this 1998 USA-only compilation is a deceptive little bugger that packs a whole lot more punch than it's naff title and sleeve would suggest. It covers the period 1973 to 1982 and therefore gives us some great-sounding remasters from a criminally under-represented part of Bland's extraordinary career.



Here's the breakdown - US LP catalogue numbers (69:33 minutes):

1. This Time I'm Gone For Good

2. Goin Down Slow

(Tracks 1 and 2 are from "His California Album", 1973 on Dunhill 50163)

3. I Wouldn't Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me)

4. Ain't No Love In the Heart Of The City

5. Yolanda

6. I Ain't Gonna Be The First To Cry

(Tracks 3 to 6 are from "Dreamer", 1974 on Dunhill 50169)

7. Today I Started Loving You Again

8. I Hate You

(Tracks 7 and 8 are from "Get Down With", 1975 on ABC 895)

9. The Soul Of A Man

10. It Ain't The Real Thing

11. Sittin' On A Poor Man's Throne

(Tracks 9 to 11 are from "Reflections In Blue", 1978 on ABC 1018)

12. Let The Good Times Roll [Live] with B.B. KING

(Track 12 is from Together Again...Live", 1976 on ABC-Impulse 9317

13. You'd Be A Millionaire

(Track 13 is from "Sweet Vibrations", 1980 on MCA 5142

14. Love To See You Smile

(Track 14 is from "Come Fly With Me", 1978 on ABC 1075

15. Recess In Heaven

(Track 15 is from "Here We Go Again", 1982 on MCA 5297

16. Soon As The Weather Breaks

(Track 16 is from "I Feel Good, I Feel Fine", 1979 on MCA 3157



His 50s and 60's tracks have been done to death in the USA - and fabulous they are too - but I adore his Seventies stuff more - and especially the two masterpieces that turned up on Probe Records in the UK in 1973 and 1974, "His California Album" and "Dreamer". I've had OK-only reissues of these for years just to have the music, and have dreamed of the day that either or both receive the DELUXE EDITION treatment - or a Hip-O Select issue where I know the sound will be the business. Well, this compilation goes a bit of a way towards that - because it's remastered by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK LABSON - and the sound quality is GORGEOUS - really clean, muscular and a revelation on every track. The slinky Steely Dan funk soul of "I Ain't Gonna Be The First To Cry" is a joy - every instrument impressive - and of course `that' voice - fantastic (title of this review is lyrics from it).



Sure it tapers off a bit towards the end and it could easily have had 2 more tracks on it, but as it stands this compilation is about ten dollars for US buyers and £5 for UK - and as such represents amazing value for money - a top soul bargain.



Discover Bobby "Blue" Bland through "Greatest Hits Vol. Two" - and watch that phone dial light up as the bank manager begs you to stop spending money on his catalogue.



Highly recommended.

"