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In the 50s and early 60s, Bobby "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 sound that mixed gospel with blues and R&B. Bobby's style of soul-blues was punctuated with a slick big-band sound, showing the considerable influence of B.B. King flavored guitar riffs. This essential collection compiles 22 tracks that Bland recorded for the Duke label. It serves as the best introduction for anyone wanting to explore the finest moments of Bobby Bland's discography. This is the material upon which Bland's reputation was built. It is enduring music: blues played by small to mid-size ensembles, complete with sassy horns and a ringing vibraphone. And Bobby Bland's wailing voice is, from the outset, a confident and expressive instrument. Veteran music critic Dave Marsh may have provided the best description of Bobby "Blue" Bland in the 1979 Rolling Stone Record Guide by rhetorically asking: "The black Sinatra?"