The ‘Bobby’ in question is pioneering soul singer Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, a major inspiration on Mick Hucknall’s white soulisms, and this debut solo album has the Simply Redhead reinterpreting classic tracks from Bland’s catalogue. As Bland scored more than 30 hits over the past 40 years, there’s no scarcity of classy material to choose from.
The album is as toe-tappingly slick as you’d expect from Hucknall, and while his stylistic debt to his hero is blatantly obvious, there’s no mistaking his sophisticated delivery and evocative phrasing. The feel and tempo on some songs, such as ‘Stormy Monday Blues’, ‘Chains Of Love’ and ‘I Pity The Fool’, have shifted to create a more contemporary experience, ‘Ain’t That Lovin’ You’ is soul personified and ‘Farther On Up The Road’ is finger-clicking good.
Trying to match Bland could have been a massive failure, but even if Hucknall inevitably comes off as a gallant loser on penalties, by rekindling an awareness of this towering talent he’s performed a major service. For that alone we should applaud him.

KEY TRACK: ‘AIN’T THAT LOVIN’YOU’