217 - Bobby "Blue" Bland - Two Steps From the Blues

The soul, the soul, the soul...that is what triggered my good feelings for Two Steps From the Blues. The gospel and soul presence in these songs tapped into me and kept my attention while going through this album. Bobby wailed his vibrato so well during emotional bursts on songs such as "I Pity the Fool" and would then switch to a sultry croon on "I've Got to Forget You." There were times that I kept thinking of Al Green, but the blues is too strong to really mistake the two artists.

Songs I Knew I Liked: I know I've heard some of these songs before, but not familiar enough to feel that any songs really qualified as ones I "knew I liked" before.

Songs I Now Like: "Two Steps From the Blues," "I Pity the Fool," and "Little Boy Blue"

Songs I Can Go the Rest of My Life Never Hearing Again: None in particular

216 - Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley

*sigh* This "album" is actually a re-release of Bo Diddley's first two albums, Bo Diddley and Go Bo Diddley on one disc. I already find Bo Diddley to be a bit repetitive and having these two albums squished in as a single album didn't benefited the music getting much appreciation from me. Once I get the "Bo Diddley sound" established in my head, I'm ready to move on. Iconic, sure. Tedious on repeat listens? You bet.


Songs I Knew I Liked: "Bo Diddley"

Songs I Now Like: None, really.

Songs I Can Go the Rest of My Life Never Hearing Again: While I appreciate his contributions to rock and roll, his music doesn't interest me, so I wouldn't cry if I never heard another Bo Diddley song.