The 1970s was a decade for rock music, with an incredibly fertile scene that produced some of the greatest bands in history. With the countercultural movement of the 1960s still in full swing, the ’70s saw a proliferation of new and innovative bands who were eager to make a name for themselves in the music world. It was surely an exciting time.
However, with so many talented musicians searching for attention, it also marked a challenging time to stand out. The competition was fierce, and it took a lot of hard work, talent, and luck to get ahead of others. Bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and the Who dominated the charts, and it was not that easy for newer acts to achieve success. Additionally, the music industry was still figuring out how to market and distribute music effectively, so getting one’s music heard by a wide audience was tough.
As part of the vibrant and competitive ’70s rock scene, David Coverdale of Whitesnake had a front-row seat to the musical landscape of the time. He witnessed first-hand the intense competition that existed between the multitude of talented musicians all striving to make their mark. Despite this, there was one particular artist who stood out in Coverdale’s mind as being unfairly overlooked. This was the soulful blues singer, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland.
In an interview with DME in 2008, Coverdale opened up about his admiration for Bland and the injustice he felt because such a talented artist was unable to shine brighter in the crowded music scene. He referred to Bland’s story as a ‘bitter’ one, as he believed that the singer deserved to be widely recognized and celebrated for his unique talents.
When asked about his interest in Bobby Bland, David Coverdale replied:
“There are two most influential albums of Bobby Bland for me. I’m a big fan of all of his records, but the big albums to me are from the early ’70s: I love the songs on ‘[His] California Album’ and ‘Dreamer.’ I would play those records a lot. I would go to see Bobby Bland when I lived in Los Angeles, and he played at the Whisky.
He’s an old guy but an amazing performer but, unfortunately, very bitter because he’d never achieved the fame and success that some of his contemporaries had achieved, and that was pretty sad. Great singer, great singer!”
Bobby Bland was a highly competent blues singer who was often overlooked during his time despite his remarkable talent. With his soulful voice and unique blend of blues, R&B, and gospel tunes, he created a sound that was both powerful and emotional.
His music appealed to audiences across the musical spectrum. However, despite this, Bland faced challenges in making a name for himself in the highly competitive atmosphere of the music scene. Perhaps it was due to a lack of marketing and promotion, or simply a matter of being overshadowed by the many dominant acts of the time.
