Simply Blue
Music appreciation, as we have noted previously on A Story To Tell, can be a snobbish affair. The thrill of the crate-digger, of the collector, of the beat-spotter, lies often in the exclusivity of his or her prey, the self-imposed cool points that are scored by the knowledge of an unsung hero, or an unheralded classic cut. Often these cool points exist only in the head of the beholder, a way of justifying, perhaps, their own geeky sensibilities when it comes to the hours spent honing and studying the hard material and associated miscellany of their treasured collections. I should say at this point, that I am probably counted amongst this sorry bunch, and strangely proud to be so.
However, as with all knowledge, the joy of collecting, for me, is not in the secret stock-piling of facts and musical treasures like some crazed medieval baron counting his gold dubloons in miserable isolation, or some political dictator who spurns the value of knowledge to keep his own grip on power secure. No, it is in the sharing, in the joy that comes with opening eyes to new influences, while in turn being receptive to the same from others, revelling in the symbiosis of the love of music. But like I say, for some a certain snobbishness can cloud the judgment somewhat. Now, to be clear (and to get to the point), I am no fan of the ginger soul-singing lothario that is Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall, nor more pertinently his brand of soul pop lite. Let’s be very clear about that. However, can the boy sing?
You bet your bottom dollar he can. And does he have good taste in terms of influences? Again, an unequivocal yes. If his massive 80s hit cover version of Philly soul classic “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” was not evidence of that, then his latest work, an album of the covers of soul and blues legend Bobby “Blue” Bland, kills the argument stone dead. And here we come to the crux of this prosaic ramble. Because Bobby Bland is truly one of the most under-rated artists in soul and blues multi-faceted history, and Hucknall deserves credit for re-awakening interest in his worth. But that is definitely where the Hucknall part of this tale ends, so breathe easy.
For Bland’s work stands on its own two feet in terms of quality, consistency and importance in the musical canon. Not only is he an early originator of a style that blended gospel traditions and vocal stylings with the emergent R’n’B sound, along with better known contemporaries such as the justifiably idolised Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, but he is also an important pioneer of the electric blues sound, alongside fellow Memphis figures BB King and Johnny Ace on the Chess label. But his status within the blues was also something of a hard fought road to recognition, based in part on the fact that Bland’s only instrument was his voice, albeit an impressive one. No guitar or mouth harp for this bluesman. But with a voice as strong and powerful as his this was never going to hold him back for long, and something that stands out clearly in Bland’s work is his full-throated delivery and the angst and anguish evident in his voice, a style that added a passion and integrity to his mournful tales of lost and forgotten love.
If you are looking for a definitive piece of work through which to access Bland’s work then there can be little doubt that the answer comes in his 1961 classic “Two Steps From The Blues”, the archetype of his brassy big band style of southern blues. The songs on this album are, without exception, exceptional, start to finish. And in listening to them again one can easily see the lines which have run from Bland’s work since, from the heyday of Stax and artists such as Otis and Wilson Pickett, to the Muscle Shoals studio, and even on through the Philly sound itself. And of course there is one final reason to at least be aware of Bobby “Blue” Bland, the use of his classic 1974 cut “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City” by you know whom, you know where.
And if you think Jay-z’s version is good, listen to the original and revel in the true soul of a man’s quest for love in the cold of an urban landscape. It itself is priceless. And the best thing is that Bland still records and tours today. So if you are in need of a shot of real blues and soul, maybe you’ll catch the man, the legend, himself. There are not many people whose careers have spanned over fifty years of quality music for who that can be said. And all of it about as far from bland as you can get.
However, as with all knowledge, the joy of collecting, for me, is not in the secret stock-piling of facts and musical treasures like some crazed medieval baron counting his gold dubloons in miserable isolation, or some political dictator who spurns the value of knowledge to keep his own grip on power secure. No, it is in the sharing, in the joy that comes with opening eyes to new influences, while in turn being receptive to the same from others, revelling in the symbiosis of the love of music. But like I say, for some a certain snobbishness can cloud the judgment somewhat. Now, to be clear (and to get to the point), I am no fan of the ginger soul-singing lothario that is Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall, nor more pertinently his brand of soul pop lite. Let’s be very clear about that. However, can the boy sing?
You bet your bottom dollar he can. And does he have good taste in terms of influences? Again, an unequivocal yes. If his massive 80s hit cover version of Philly soul classic “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” was not evidence of that, then his latest work, an album of the covers of soul and blues legend Bobby “Blue” Bland, kills the argument stone dead. And here we come to the crux of this prosaic ramble. Because Bobby Bland is truly one of the most under-rated artists in soul and blues multi-faceted history, and Hucknall deserves credit for re-awakening interest in his worth. But that is definitely where the Hucknall part of this tale ends, so breathe easy.
For Bland’s work stands on its own two feet in terms of quality, consistency and importance in the musical canon. Not only is he an early originator of a style that blended gospel traditions and vocal stylings with the emergent R’n’B sound, along with better known contemporaries such as the justifiably idolised Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, but he is also an important pioneer of the electric blues sound, alongside fellow Memphis figures BB King and Johnny Ace on the Chess label. But his status within the blues was also something of a hard fought road to recognition, based in part on the fact that Bland’s only instrument was his voice, albeit an impressive one. No guitar or mouth harp for this bluesman. But with a voice as strong and powerful as his this was never going to hold him back for long, and something that stands out clearly in Bland’s work is his full-throated delivery and the angst and anguish evident in his voice, a style that added a passion and integrity to his mournful tales of lost and forgotten love.
If you are looking for a definitive piece of work through which to access Bland’s work then there can be little doubt that the answer comes in his 1961 classic “Two Steps From The Blues”, the archetype of his brassy big band style of southern blues. The songs on this album are, without exception, exceptional, start to finish. And in listening to them again one can easily see the lines which have run from Bland’s work since, from the heyday of Stax and artists such as Otis and Wilson Pickett, to the Muscle Shoals studio, and even on through the Philly sound itself. And of course there is one final reason to at least be aware of Bobby “Blue” Bland, the use of his classic 1974 cut “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City” by you know whom, you know where.
And if you think Jay-z’s version is good, listen to the original and revel in the true soul of a man’s quest for love in the cold of an urban landscape. It itself is priceless. And the best thing is that Bland still records and tours today. So if you are in need of a shot of real blues and soul, maybe you’ll catch the man, the legend, himself. There are not many people whose careers have spanned over fifty years of quality music for who that can be said. And all of it about as far from bland as you can get.
posted by Twelve Bar at 3:44 PM
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