From BGO records here’s a double-disc CD set bringing together four late 70’s/ early 80’s albums from US blues singer Bobby  Bland. The focus of all four of these albums is much more on the funk/ disco/ soul side of things, with Bland’s rich-yet- grittily cracked voice working very nicely with it this context/setting.

The two discs come in BGO’s house style packaging- this finds a clear slimline double jewel case, with a card slip. It comes presented with a twenty-four-page inlay featuring a new seventeen-page write-up about Mr Bland, the four albums featured, and the period they were released in. We also get full album credits and artwork. So another nicely presented/ curated reissue release from BGO Records.

Bobby "Blue" Bland was born in the year 1930 in Barretville Tennessee- he came from a broken family, dropping out of school to work in the cotton fields , never graduating. In the year 1951, he was talent-spotted by Ike Turner- going on to release a selection of R&B singles in the late 50s. He released his first solo album Two Steps from the Blues in the year 1961 on Duke/ MCA, with the sound being focused on a mix of blues and soul. During the 60s he carried on releasing albums, though towards the end of the decade he suffered from financial issues, which led to alcohol and depressing issues. The four albums featured here are from the late ’ the 70s/ early 80’s- after Bland had turned things around somewhat.

First up on disc one we have 1978’s Come Fly With Me- this was originally released on ABC Records, and took in nine tracks- with the focus being on a blend of funk, light disco and often gospel touched soul. We kick off with the title track which is a slice of vamping horn tipped soul-funk. As we move on we have the rising ‘n’ swooning string soul balladeering of “To Be Friends”, there’s the stabbing horns meets jaunting groove of “Love To Smile” which is smoothly swinging gospel funk vibe akin to The Staple Singers 70’s output. With the album playing out smooth funk-soul bump ‘n’ grind of “Ain’t Something” which feels like Barry White meeting a gospel choir. 
 
Moving on and next, on the first CD we have 1979’s I Feel Good, I Feel Fine- this was originally released on MCA, featuring eight tracks, with the focus being on the more upbeat and funked R&B to disco side of things. We kick off with darting brass, swinging horn, and female chorusing disco of the title track. There’s strutting-to-swooning funk blues jive ‘n’ stomp of “Little Mamma”. We have drifting and tinkling soul-blues of “Soon As The Weather Breaks”, or the mellow soul-funk rising ballading “Red Sails In The Sunset”.
 
 
Moving onto the second CD and first, up we have 1980’s Sweet Vibrations, this originally appeared on MCA again, and took in nine more tracks- with predominant focus being on often blues-tinged soul & disco. We go from the horn swinging and jiving smokiness of “Soul With A Flavour”, onto funk bass ‘n’ chugging groove disco of “Hollywood Woman”. There’s the sassy blues soul stroll of “Just Because I Leave, That Don’t Mean I’m Gone( Suspicious)”, or cheesy festive tinged funk-soul roll of “ New Merry Christmas Baby”.
 
Lastly, we have 1981’s Try Me, I’m Real- this appeared once again on MCA, and featured nine tracks. The sonic focus here is a mix of blues edged soul-funk- with the disco side of things all but dying out. We have the s bright buoyant strings meets jiving keys and blues guitar licks of “But I Do”, there’s the chugging soul-funk of “Givin’ Up The Streets Of Love”. Later on, we have weaving funk keys meets swooning strings ballading “I Cover The Waterfront”, with the album/ release being topped off with the sassy horn and light gospel soulfulness of “Love Is Where It’s Out”.
 
 
These albums/ this collection chart how this great American blues singer tried to fit into the mid ’70s/ early 80’s funk soul and disco trends- with largely each album offering up a good selection of different types/ paces of work, all tipped with Mr Bland’s rich- yet- at times roughly ripped vocals. To buy this direct head by here.