Bobby "Blue" Bland (1930-2013) was one of the prime creators of the modern soul-blues sound. Alongside artists such as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Junior Parker, Bland pioneered a style that mixed gospel, blues, and R&B. His tortured voice, endowed with charisma and melisma in abundance, was a powerful and expressive instrument. Presented here is Bland’s remarkable debut album, "Two Steps from the Blues," originally issued in January 1961, one of the key albums in modern blues, marking a turning point where juke-joint blues effortlessly fused with Southern gospel and soul.