Bobby Blue Bland - Two Steps from the Blues + 12 bonus trac CD

INCLUDES 12 BONUS TRACKS5 STARS MOJO magazine4 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDEWithout a doubt, Two Steps from the Blues is the definitive Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland album and one of the great records in electric blues and soul-blues. - Stephen T. ErlewineBobby "Blue" Bland was one of the main creators of the modern soul-blues sound. Along with such artists as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Junior Parker, Bland developed a style that mixed gospel with blues and R&B. His anguished voice, with charisma and melisma to spare, was a confident and expressive instrument. This quintessential collector’s edition contains Bobby Bland’s outstanding debut album for Duke Records, Two Steps from the Blues (1961) – one of the all-time cornerstones of soul & blues. It is enduring music: passionate songs played by small to mid-sized ensembles, complete with wailing horns and an intimate piano. In addition, we have included 12 bonus tracks (gathering a variety of those great hard to find sides he recorded for Duke between 1955 and 1960), which together with this remastered gem constitute the definitive edition of this southern giant.PERSONNEL:BOBBY BLUE BLAND, vocals on all tracks, plus:Roy Gaines, Clarence Holliman, Pat Hare (guitar)Hamp Simmons (bass)Connie Mack Booker (piano)Teddy Reynolds (piano & organ),Sonny Freeman (drums)Bill Harvey, Robert Skinner (saxophone),Joe Scott, Melvin Jackson (trumpet),Pluma Davis (trombone), among others.Arranged by Joe Scott.Recorded in Chicago, Houston, Memphis, and Nashville, between 1955 and 1960.INCLUDES 16-PAGE BOOKLET, RARE PHOTOSVINTAGE MEMORABILIA & DETAILED LINER NOTESTRACKS01 TWO STEPS FROM THE BLUES 2:3802 CRY, CRY, CRY 2:4403 I’M NOT ASHAMED 2:3704 DON’T CRY NO MORE 2:2805 LEAD ME ON 2:0606 I PITY THE FOOL 2:4307 I’VE JUST GOT TO FORGET YOU 2:3508 LITTLE BOY BLUE 2:4009 ST. JAMES INFIRMARY 2:2610 I’LL TAKE CARE OF YOU 2:2711 I DON’T WANT NO WOMAN 2:4212 I’VE BEEN WRONG SO LONG 2:22BONUS TRACKS13 CLOSE TO YOU 2:0614 HOW DOES A CHEATIN’ WOMAN FEEL 2:3915 YOU DID ME WRONG 2:3716 I LOST SIGHT ON THE WORLD 2:3717 WISHING WELL 2:3618 I DON’T BELIEVE 2:3919 I LEARNED MY LESSON 2:4720 I CAN’T PUT YOU DOWN BABY 2:3921 FARTHER UP THE ROAD 3:0022 LOAN A HELPING HAND 2:2823 LAST NIGHT 2:5424 YOU’VE GOT BAD INTENTIONS 2:33TOTAL TIME: 62:01Tracks 1-14: Stereo. Tracks 15-24: Mono