Bobby Blue Bland: "His California Album" (1973/2025) Vinyl Review

Do you have the blues? Of course you do. Who doesn't? This is a perfect time to revisit the music of Bobby Blue Bland, particularly as His California Album has just been re-issued on vinyl, thanks to the good folks at Bear Family Records. Originally released in 1973, this album was the first of two that Bobby Bland released on Dunhill Records. The second, Dreamer, was re-issued by Bear Family Records in 2017. His California Record, which was recorded in Los Angeles, features some great classic blues and soul numbers, including "This Time I'm Gone For Good" and "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right." It has been remastered and pressed on 180-gram vinyl, and sounds fantastic. Backing Bobby Blue Bland on this album are Michael Omartian on piano and organ, Ben Benay on guitar, David Cohen on guitar, Larry Carlton on guitar, Mel Brown on guitar, Dean Parks on guitar, Ed Greene on drums, Wilton Felder on bass, and Max Bennett on bass. Chuck Findley, Paul Hubinon, Dick Hyde, Ernie Watts and Jack Kelson Jr. make up the horn section. Sid Sharp is responsible for the strings. And the backing vocals are by Ginger Blake, Julia Tillman and Maxine Willard. The album was produced by Steve Barri.

Side A

The record gets off to a great start with "This Time I'm Gone For Good," which has a delicious blues groove, an opening that sounds down and dark and mean and intimate. And then Bobby Bland's gorgeous, cool and soulful voice comes in, telling us, "I should have stayed gone." Soon he begins to raise his voice over that rhythm. "And when I leave this time/Make sure it's understood/That this time I'm gone for good." And the strings begin to rise in power too. But it is that electric guitar that offers the most intimate support. It is that instrument that will accompany him wherever he goes, if he goes. After all, he says, "It's so hard for me to leave you." What do you think, friends? Is he really gone for good? He takes things in a different direction with "Up And Down World," which features a catchy bass line. Here he tells us the woman is leaving him all alone. "But remember what goes around/Also comes around too/Because it's an up and down world/It's an up and down world." Oh, it certainly is. And now it seems mostly down, doesn't it? But as I said, I suppose that makes it a perfect time for these blues. And I am seriously digging the horns, which give the song that great, classic sound and help make us feel we'll get through the down parts. Hold on, everyone. Don't give up.

"If I ever feel the light again/Shining down on me/I don't have to tell you/How welcome it will be." Bobby Bland delivers a moving reading of those opening lines of "It's Not The Spotlight," setting the tone wonderfully. About that special light, he tells us, "I've seen it shining in your eyes." This is a hopeful song. It's when I look in my girlfriend's eyes that I feel my most optimistic about the world, about life. This track features some nice backing vocal work. Then "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" seems to come from a place deep in the night, a time when things take on a special focus, and an unusual light comes into play either from within or without. Once that atmosphere is established, Bobby Bland delivers that first line, the title line, and we hear a whole history in his delivery, in his voice. There is a story that leads to that line, and we feel that even if there were no other lyrics, we'd have a pretty good idea of that story just from the way he sings that first line. But of course there is more, and this track contains one of the album's best vocal performances. There is also some cool work on keys, and more good guitar work.

The record's first side concludes with "Goin' Down Slow," a song that comes from the edge, looking into the abyss, and yet there is a delicious groove, particularly on piano. Who would have thought there'd be such a good feel there at the edge? "I've had my fun/If I don't get well no more/I said I've had my fun/If I never get well no more/Said my head is feeling kinda funny/Lord, and I'm goin' down slow." The song soon gets a bit funky, and the horns make things begin to feel like a celebration. Then the guitar begins to sing, and the band jams. Check out that work on organ. This is the way to go, if we have to go. And there is some good work from the backing vocalists at the end.

Side B

The second side opens with "The Right Place At The Right Time," which has such a good vibe from the start, sort of in the same realm as the Grateful Dead's "Eyes Of The World" in that opening section. This song offers some advice, and Bobby Blue Bland is the right one to deliver that advice. "If you want something in this ol' world/You've got to be at the right place at the right time." This is a song urging us to make something happen, to take charge of our lives. "If all you do is sleep all day/You can't expect nothing but a dream," he warns us. Bobby Bland slows things down then with "Help Me Through The Day." Right away we learn he doesn't just need help in the daytime, for he opens the song with these lines: "Help me through the day/Help me through the night, lord/Darling, your sweet loving/Will make everything all right." That's it, isn't it? It always comes back to love. We have to help each other, help those we love. "I can see so much pain/Deep inside your eyes," he sings, and we hear the truth of those words in his passionate delivery. This track also contains great stuff on strings, as well as a really good lead on guitar.

The energy is then higher on "Where My Baby Went," a track with a good funky vibe and some excellent work on horns. "Show me a woman that likes luxury/And the green grass on the other side/Show me a woman who has it all/And I'll show you one that wasn't satisfied." That's followed by a mellower number titled "Friday The 13th Child." I like the play in its title and first line, but this is a rather somber number. "Mother nearly died in pain/And you never look over your shoulder/Friends and family you'll never see again/Friends and family you'll never see again." Bobby Bland delivers a great, soulful performance, supported by the strings. The album concludes with "I've Got To Use My Imagination," which has a meaner vibe. "I've really got to use my imagination/To think of a good reason/To keep on keeping on/I've got to make the best of a bad situation." Yeah, those opening lines speak to us strongly these days, when the whole country is in a bad situation. This is a great blues number, the guitar acting as a good companion.

Record Track List

Side A

1. This Time I'm Gone For Good
2. Up And Down World
3. It's Not The Spotlight
4. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right
5. Goin' Down Slow

Side B

1. The Right Place At The Right Time
2. Help Me Through The Day
3. Where My Baby Went
4. Friday The 13th Child
5. I've Got To Use My Imagination

This vinyl re-issue of His California Album was released on July 11, 2025 on Bear Family Records. By the way, there is an insert included in the record sleeve, with images of other vinyl releases, records I certainly want to add to my collection, including Etta James' Tell Mama (I think I have that on CD, but it feels like one that needs to be on vinyl) and Frank Frosts's Hey Boss Man.