構成数 | 2枚

合計収録時間 | 01:54:18

Includes liner notes by Don Snowden. Digitally remastered by Robert Stoughton (MCA Recording Studios, North Hollywood, California). Personnel: Bobby "Blue" Bland (vocals). Recording information: 07/21/1952-??/??/1960. Although not quite as well known as some of his blues contemporaries (B. B. King, Muddy Waters), Bobby "Blue" Bland is every bit their equal. This should be obvious after a listen to I PITY THE FOOL, a collection of Bland's seminal '50s recordings. The material is arranged chronologically-an instructive choice, as you can hear Bland learning as he goes. The first few cuts, done in 1952, are fairly crude, with Bland singing rather languidly and ubiquitous xylophone backing designed (intentionally, if not appropriately) to remind the listener of Bland's better-selling labelmate Johnny Ace. By the time of "It's My Life, Baby," however, Bland is in a whole other league. He's singing with power and assurance, and he's backed by a crack band. The slashing guitars, provided by a variety of unsung heroes, were to be a huge influence on a generation of blues wannabes (Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield). Disc Two finds Bland evolving again. Such songs as "I Pity the Fool" and "Cry, Cry, Cry," their basic band accompaniment augmented with horns, are more like proto-soul than blues, per se. You can be sure that, somewhere, James Brown was listening very, very closely.

録音 | モノラル／ステレオ (Studio)