Customer Reviews

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

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What can I say, I love this CD - Bobby Blue Bland is known for many songs but the way he sings "Yolanda" is outstanding - I hit repeat so many times when I played this CD my grandson asked me if I had any other music!It is indeed a must have!!!

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.

This volume is a feast for those who love Bobby Bland. With an additional Dreamer album from him, your collection of Mr. Bland becomes almost complete of his best songs.

bought it as a gift for boyfriend who loves it who is into this kind of music! Anyone loving this genre of music should enjoy it!

A great sound takes you back to when life was at a slower pace, easy listening, great voice, great mellow sound.

This is a great compilation of songs from one of the greatest singers of all time. I was very impressed with the overall quality of the recordings and the fidelity. Atop-notch production especially for tracks cut thirty or more years ago.