Singers who can go from a whisper to a wail--and can do it with grace and vocal control-- get my utmost admiration, and Bobby is one of the all-time masters. Most versions of "Turn On Your Lovelight" are laughable compared to his (covers of the song fail to include those almost out-of-control horns, or find a strong replacement for them in terms of excitement).
As a kid, I was attracted most to uptempo songs, but in another phase of my life, it's the ballads that really bring Bland into the upper ranking of vocalists for me. "Two Steps From the Blues," "Stormy Monday," "Lead Me On," and "I'll Take Care of You" are all from his seminal mid-'50s to mid-'60s tenure at Houston's Duke Records, but even by the 1980s, with "Members Only" (recorded for Malaco), he found newer, reflective ways to communicate.
While in his early seventies, Bland was still recording often, but he's slowed down lately. It's going to be great to put some absolute classics on the air this week.