Long Beach 1983

We Say...

Review by Charles Farrell

I always think of Bobby "Blue" Bland as the greatest living blues vocalist. I've wondered whether his current lack of recognition stems from his subtlety and sophistication. Does the fact that his palette is broad, or that he seldom raises his voice beyond conversation level, penalize him in some way? I think that it might. But if great blues singing begins and ends with a voice that imparts meaning, if subtle shifts in timbre, small growls placed to connote either anger or sanguinity and vocal elisions that convey pain and loss are the tools given only to the most equipped interpreters of the music, then Bobby "Blue" Bland stands nearly alone. "Ain't That Loving You" gets straight to the core of the blues. Bland lets the band set up an aggressive pulse, comes in when they've percolated enough, and then decides exactly when to lay back, when to push the music along and when to sit in the center of the groove. He makes this all sound easy, though it's anything but. Singing doesn't get more intimate than the way he suddenly drops his voice an octave on a tune like "I'll Take Care of You."

"Long Beach 1983" is rather indifferently recorded, and Bland has traded some earlier vocal power for a more canny approach to his craft. Don't let these things put you off — this is the genuine article. "Farther On Up the Road" is the work of a man in complete control of his elements. Check out how he hesitates at the beginning of each phrase, then rushes to catch up to the band. Better still is "Soon As the Weather Breaks." Bland's very good band establishes a solid foundation for the vocalist, and he slips and slides, shouts and whispers, fully inhabiting every inch of the music. This is masterful stuff. Don't miss it.