German company Bear Family Records reissues on vinyl format, Bobby Blue Bland’s fantastic LP “His California Album”, he recorded with another LP called “Dreamer” for ABC Dunhill, both produced by Steve Barri in Los Angeles in 1973 and 1974.

This vinyl is a real gem, because not in vain Bobby Blue Bland was one of last century great blues and soul artists. Born in 1930, he began his career in Memphis, together with names like B.B. King, Rosco Gordon, Junior Parker or Johnny Ace (in fact, he worked for some time as a driver in B.B. King’s tours), although he soon became a renowned artist who knew how to cleverly mix gospel with blues and soul. He was also gifted with a distinctive voice that made him become one of the great singers of the time. In 1957 he reached number 1 in Rhythm & Blues charts with the song “Further Up The Road” and in 1981 he was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame, as well as receiving numerous awards throughout his life.

“His California Album” is one of his most acclaimed recordings, presenting an artist in top form, thanks to ten excellent songs that are a good example of his amazing sensitivity, endowed with a voice full of nuances, that let him give sometimes a dramatic raw tone and other times a sweetness and sensitivity, permeated with a very special appeal, perfect to perform southern soul, rough blues or California rhythm & blues. With the album’s first single “This Time I’m Gone For Good”, Bland came back to Top 50 Pop and Top R&B charts in late 1973.

Now we can enjoy again this fantastic vinyl that brings us back an artist who was and still is able to move us and communicate all the elegance and feeling of his personal voice, as well as let us savor the true sound and quality that can only be found in vinyl recordings.

A superb highly recommended album, which should be in the collections of good blues and music fans who look for quality.