Bobby Bland (1930-2013)

You will notice I am sold on Soul. It has become an obsession with me now. Marry an obsession with a collector instinct and it was inevitable that I would start seeking out more and more obscure examples of my chosen passion. The trouble with that is that sometimes you overlook what is right under your nose. So it is with me and Bobby Bland.     

I first became aware of Bobby Bland in the mid Seventies when I bought his “Dreamer” album as a cut out, I think this purchase was the result of me hearing the wonderful “Aint No Love In The Heart Of The City”. So I really have no excuse for then virtually ignoring his extensive body of work for the next few decades.

Then, earlier this year, I dug out that Dreamer album and gave it another spin, kicked myself, and vowed to give his work some proper attention.

So it is, finally, I have come to realise what a great blues, soul, R&B – call it what you will – singer Bobby Bland was - yes, was. I bought these two singles only last week, and now I read that Bobby passed away yesterday at the age of 83.

Bobby Bland – Cry Cry Cry  1960

Bobby Bland – How Does A Cheating Woman Feel   1962

I’m a bit late in saying this - but thank you for the music Bobby.     

Cue music

I do love Kim Weston’s voice and I’m a sucker for those moody “big city” arrangements.

No further words required.

Kim Weston – Someone Like You 1967

PS: flash is unforgiving - but it sounds good even without the clean!

PPS: half an inch to the left and the drill hole would have hit the bullseye!!

Three Ounces Of Love

Off air for a while there. Blame the sunshine.

Visited a couple of low key carboots today in an effort to avoid the “usual suspect” dealers and collectors who almost inevitably seem to just beat me to the vinyl stacks.  

Picked up this one – a Motown album from 1978. I wasn’t expecting much in truth, the cover was anonymous and the year suggested bland disco-esque workouts would lie within.

How wrong I was, and how much I enjoyed this whole LP when I got it home.

Plenty of names in the writing and production/arranging credits – e.g. Pam Sawyer, H-D-H, Mike & Brenda Sutton to name a few – but no clue as to the identity of Three Ounces Of Love save for the picture in the pendant.

A bit of googling around tells me that Three Ounces Of Love were three sisters – Ann, Elaine, and Regina Alexander – Detroit girls who were, by all accounts, slim and petite, hence the “three ounces” I guess. 

Listening to this album the similarity to The Emotions is undeniable. There is a nice mix of the uptempo, mid tempo and ballad and it’s a mystery why Motown put so little effort into the cover – nowhere do the Alexander sisters get a namecheck and their only picture (shown) is a small affair relegated to the back cover.   

“Star Love” opens the album and was a single. The “star love” chant on this track is driving me mad – it reminds me of something else, and something well known too I think, but I can’t bring it to mind. Help me, please!

“Today Will Soon Be Yesterday” closes the album and unfortunately the title would predict Three Ounces Of Love’s future tenure at Motown. Motown’s loss, and fault? A shame.  

Three Ounces Of Love – Star Love 1978

Three Ounces Of Love – Today Will Soon Be Yesterday 1978

Checking YouTube for other tracks of theirs I stumbled on an obscure local label – Ecology out of Souhfield Michigan - 45 issue that is really nice and must predate their Motown album by some years I would guess.