Angel in anguish : the deep deep soul of Bobby Blue Bland

"Bobby "Blue" Bland was simply the best soul singer that too many people have never heard of, and if he was technically a blues singer, even his uptown approach to the blues was closer to jazz than it was to the growling country blues template most people were familiar with, so even in the blues community he often went overlooked. The man could simply sing, his voice a combination of Ray Charles and James Brown, always passionate, intense, dynamic, and full of the deepest soul anyone could imagine".

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"This compilation showcases Bland's showstopping vocals on a host of A and B sides from the late '50s and early '60s plus all twelve tracks that made up Bland's 1961 classic album Two Steps From The Blues. For these tracks Bobby was backed by an impressive six-piece horn section plus piano, bass and drums and the stunning guitar work of Wayne Bennett ... Bland's gospel-influenced, soul-drenched, blues-tinged vocals were at the peak during this period, wrenching the heart strings with a pleading ballad or bringing the rafters down with a powerhouse blues ... This single CD boasts no fewer than 29 tracks (no duds!) compiled by Mojo magazine's Dave Henderson who also contributes to the concise booklet notes".