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Bobby “Blue” Bland — Turn on Your Love Light
Album: Bobby Bland: The Anthology
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 806









Released: 1961
Length: 2:30
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Without a warning you broke my heart
You took it, darlin' and you tore it apart
You left me sitting in the dark, crying
You said, your love for me was dying

I'm begging you, baby, baby, please
I'm begging you baby, baby, please

Turn on the light, let it shine on me
Turn on your love light, let it shine on me
Let it shine, shine, shine, let it shine
And I wanna know, [Incomprehensible]

I get a little lonely in the middle of the night
I need you, darlin', to make things alright

Come on, baby, come on, please
Come on, baby, baby, please

Turn on the light, let it shine on me
[Incomprehensible] on your love light, let it shine on me

A little bit higher, a little bit higher
Just a little bit higher, a little bit higher
A little bit higher

Come on, baby, come on, please
I'm begging you, baby, I'm down on my knees

Turn on the light, let it shine on me
Turn on your love light, let it shine on me

I feel alright, I feel alright
I feel alright, I feel alright, baby, let it shine
Comments (113)add comment
I've known this as a Dead Live staple for years but always wondered who did the originl.  Thanks Bill.  Awesome!
I once saw him, BB King, and Albert King play the grand old Fox Theatre in STL.  It was my first exposure to a live blues show.   
How to play a walking bass line.  Killer.
The live Tom Jones version bleeds blood.
 hayduke2 wrote:
GODLIKE ROCK AND ROLL   : )       

 
yeah, it's got it all
GODLIKE ROCK AND ROLL   : )       
chinaski :  You are absolutely right!!  My bad!  I was confused.  The album I was thinking of is called 'The Music Never Stopped', and is original versions of songs the Dead covered.  I have it, and the below mentioned Deadicated.  Both favourites.  

Here is the link to the wiki:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Music_Never_Stopped:_Roots_of_the_Grateful_Dead
grahamdillabough: The album you mention titled Deadicated is a collection of original Grateful Dead songs covered by other performers and Turn On Your Love Light does not appear on it. I have that album and enjoy it very much. The Wiki about Deadicated:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadicated:_A_Tribute_to_the_Grateful_Dead

It can be purchased online but at a steep price: https://www.amazon.com/Deadicated-Various-Artists/dp/B000002VHS

The Dead's cover of Turn on Your Love Light appears on their 1969 album titled Live Dead. Here is a YouTube stream of that very track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PU-Fuu6T4A

And LEAVE it on!!

As for an entire Grateful Dead album comprised of songs originally done by other artists...um...I don't know that such a thing exists.

 


 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I remember listening to KALX the UC Berkeley station umpteen years ago and the poor DJ was running down the (handwritten?) list of upcoming shows. You could hear someone in the back shouting NO! every time he got it wrong

Bobby Blue Band
NO!
Bobby's Blues Band?
NO!
Bobby's Band (Blues)?
NO!
Bobby Bland Blues?
NO!
  
...it went on for quite some time, as I recall, until the newscast cut him off. And no, he wasn't trying to be funny. 
 
He may not have been trying but he succeeded! I could just hear the voice in the background barking "NO". Made me snicker.
The Blues Brothers did this well but not this good!
LOVE HIM AND THIS KINDA MUSIC.  HE'S PRETTY SMOOTH.  THIS SOUNDS WONDERFUL ON  MY NEW NAIM UNIT
grahamdillabough: The album you mention titled Deadicated is a collection of original Grateful Dead songs covered by other performers and Turn On Your Love Light does not appear on it. I have that album and enjoy it very much. The Wiki about Deadicated:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadicated:_A_Tribute_to_the_Grateful_Dead

It can be purchased online but at a steep price: https://www.amazon.com/Deadicated-Various-Artists/dp/B000002VHS

The Dead's cover of Turn on Your Love Light appears on their 1969 album titled Live Dead. Here is a YouTube stream of that very track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PU-Fuu6T4A

And LEAVE it on!!

As for an entire Grateful Dead album comprised of songs originally done by other artists...um...I don't know that such a thing exists.
Looking at that album cover, I gotta wonder if Bobby is Laurence Fishburne's backwoods-country cousin. 
I heard this on an album called 'Deadicated' comprising the original versions of songs the Grateful Dead played.  Well worth getting if you can find it... it was out of print last time I checked.
yeah this is sweet
LET IT SHINE SHINE SHINE  {#Cowboy}
 SurfDoc wrote:
I have never heard this original version.  I always thought it was a Dead original.  Thanks for the education.  Keep up the great work!

 
Who knew. right? Loving this original version though!
I remember listening to KALX the UC Berkeley station umpteen years ago and the poor DJ was running down the (handwritten?) list of upcoming shows. You could hear someone in the back shouting NO! every time he got it wrong

Bobby Blue Band
NO!
Bobby's Blues Band?
NO!
Bobby's Band (Blues)?
NO!
Bobby Bland Blues?
NO!
  
...it went on for quite some time, as I recall, until the newscast cut him off. And no, he wasn't trying to be funny. 
SO good!{#Bananajam}
A classic..Bobby rocked it ahead of his time...
 oldfart48 wrote:

Pasadena City Collage ?

 

Good guess but wrong pcc is (are) my initials!
I have never heard this original version.  I always thought it was a Dead original.  Thanks for the education.  Keep up the great work!
 unclehud wrote:

Your speakers are probably OK.  Bobby Blue used to appreciate the acoustics of back-up hard drives, and would often ask recording studios to bring in special 48Tbyte units to get that extra oooomph in the bass registers.

 
Funny guy
{#Sunny}
Just can't help feeling good... love it!{#Dancingbanana_2}
Nothing like extremely good separation and the use of it to create a 3 dimensional sound stage !!!

 

apd wrote:
Are my speakers busted or does this track have a crazy stereo mix? Sounds like Bobby is singing from my back-up hard-drive, way over on the left of my desk.

 


 apd wrote:
Are my speakers busted or does this track have a crazy stereo mix? Sounds like Bobby is singing from my back-up hard-drive, way over on the left of my desk.
 
Your speakers are probably OK.  Bobby Blue used to appreciate the acoustics of back-up hard drives, and would often ask recording studios to bring in special 48Tbyte units to get that extra oooomph in the bass registers.
{#Bananapiano}
So close to a 10 IMHO.
 
 pcc wrote:
I think oldfart likes this!
 
Pasadena City Collage ?
I think oldfart likes this!
yes, yes, yes, waaaaahoooo......{#Sunny}{#Dance}....the  MAN could tear ANY house down, one of the real BLUES/SOUL SHOUTERS OF ALL TIME
{#Bananapiano}   Loving it!   Need some more!
My all time favorite singer.....  {#Cheers}

RIP Bobby Blue Bland...
 WonderLizard wrote:

My first college roommate was the late night jock on KUSF. He mostly got everything right except he'd forget where he was, and you'd hear this big nothing while he tried to figure out if he was supposed to be reading a commercial or cuing a record. Pretty funny. We called him "Dead Air Dave."

 
Sadly, the whole process is pre-recorded and distributed from a remote location these days. Decades ago a bunch of us college kids prank-called a poor DJ at a sleazy-listening station and demanded that he play our requests instead of Muzak. "Sorry, man, it's all on tape and I don't call the shots" was his (good-natured) response. He couldn't screw things up like Dead Air Dave even if he wanted to. 
This gets a 10 from me- great song.

The GD version can only be higher than that... 
 rickhoran wrote:
thanx for playing this. i always wanted to hear the original. i am so use to pigpen singing this.


 
Agreed...thanks.
No man, we know Pigpen didn't pen this classic but dammit, he did do it some justice in his time!

I mean, maybe the Dead Can Dance but they sure as shit couldn't sing.  Mr. McKernan being the lone exception... he did a wonderful job to bring this song to a whole new audience.
Nice, the original . . . gotta love RP!
 TylerE wrote:

The joys of processed stereo.
 
That sounds like discrete, "true" stereo, not an electronically reprocessed mono recording.  Processed or re-processed stereo was also known as "duophonic" sound.
 shellbella wrote:
Just got off the San Diego Blues Cruise a few weeks ago where Mr. Bland was an honored guest.  He's in his 80's now and for me, his tribute was the highlight of the cruise!!  He signed my 45 of Stormy Monday Blues.  I am still in heaven!!  He is one of my all time favorites.....
 
That's amazing!!!
 TylerE wrote:

The joys of processed stereo.
 
My little amp is going nuts....this is not a good mix. I had to play something else for a sec just to see if it was broken :( 
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I was in Berkeley listening to the college station KALX doing a listing of upcoming shows, and the DJ spent 2 minutes trying to figure out who was playing:
 
Bobby's Blues Band?
Bland Bobby's Blues?
you could hear someone in the other room trying to help him out (imagine person waving arms and gesturing

B O B B Y
B L U E Z Z Z Z
B L L L L A N D 

...he never did get it right. 
 
My first college roommate was the late night jock on KUSF. He mostly got everything right except he'd forget where he was, and you'd hear this big nothing while he tried to figure out if he was supposed to be reading a commercial or cuing a record. Pretty funny. We called him "Dead Air Dave."
BBB was one of the greats.  I bet most of your listeners thought the Dead's Pigpen McKernan wrote this song.
I was in Berkeley listening to the college station KALX doing a listing of upcoming shows, and the DJ spent 2 minutes trying to figure out who was playing:
 
Bobby's Blues Band?
Bland Bobby's Blues?
you could hear someone in the other room trying to help him out (imagine person waving arms and gesturing

B O B B Y
B L U E Z Z Z Z
B L L L L A N D 

...he never did get it right. 
{#Dancingbanana} {#Drummer} {#Daisy} {#Dancingbanana_2} {#Bananajam} {#Clap}{#Bananasplit} {#Roflol}{#Bananasplit}

Just a little bit higher!!!
10! What else?

Just got off the San Diego Blues Cruise a few weeks ago where Mr. Bland was an honored guest.  He's in his 80's now and for me, his tribute was the highlight of the cruise!!  He signed my 45 of Stormy Monday Blues.  I am still in heaven!!  He is one of my all time favorites.....
 TylerE wrote:

The joys of processed stereo.
 
Boy howdy, no kidding.

And speaking of processed, I hope Bobby has a friend who was honest enough to say: "Bobby, about that haircut . . . " 
I have a CD by Storyville, and on "Good Day For the Blues," they have a line - "It's a good day for Bobby Blue Bland - for 'The Thrill Is Gone...'"  It's one of my favorite songs by them...
 apd wrote:
Are my speakers busted or does this track have a crazy stereo mix? Sounds like Bobby is singing from my back-up hard-drive, way over on the left of my desk.
 
The joys of processed stereo.
I'm beggin' you baby...{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Hearteyes}
Great song for Fat Tuesday!
Are my speakers busted or does this track have a crazy stereo mix? Sounds like Bobby is singing from my back-up hard-drive, way over on the left of my desk.
What an awesome album cover!  That's a hair-do you can set your watch to.
The man and the band ROCK!!!!  COME ON BABY, COME ON PLEASE....{#Bananapiano}
thanx for playing this. i always wanted to hear the original. i am so use to pigpen singing this.

I beg RP to play "Yield Not to Temptation" by this man.  What a style...
 cdemon wrote:
Was a chef in a small club owned by a black undertaker who was friends with Bobby. Had him and Maurice his bodyguard back in the kitchen eating brisket on lite bread. Small club 200 or so there, he tore the house down, shook hands with me leaving the stage , something I'm told he never does. Still asks George the owner about the little jewish cook. Good times 
 
Awe-some!  

Was a chef in a small club owned by a black undertaker who was friends with Bobby. Had him and Maurice his bodyguard back in the kitchen eating brisket on lite bread. Small club 200 or so there, he tore the house down, shook hands with me leaving the stage , something I'm told he never does. Still asks George the owner about the little jewish cook. Good times 
The album cover is almost as amazing as the song! The cigarette stub is just the cherry on top.

Must say I also love the Grateful Dead cover of it. 
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:



Bobby Goldsboro fans across two states say "Pah!" to you.

 

I have no idea who Bobby Goldsboro is, but apparently his bucket must hold some water for you guys.  I was referring to Bobby Weir, so "Pah" backatcha!
 iam_overlord wrote:
Is that album cover real? It almost looks like Morpheus peaking through a cut-out.
 

Someone had to do it ...
 jonahboo wrote:

is a love light Incandescent or fluorescent?

 Compact Fluorescent.

Because it's illuminating and lasting, but twisted and a little unflattering.

Compact Flourescent

Is he backed by the Blues Brothers brass section?

{#Bananajam}{#Bananapiano}  {#Drummer}{#Sunny}
 LongGoneDaddy wrote:
SO much better than the "other" Bobby!
 


Bobby Goldsboro fans across two states say "Pah!" to you.

 jonahboo wrote:

is a love light Incandescent or fluorescent?

 
The new ones are LED - low energy shining brightly! 
SO much better than the "other" Bobby!
iam_overlord wrote:
             Is that album cover real? It almost looks like Morpheus peaking through a cut-out.
 
shawshank wrote: 
             That's freaking hilarious! I laughed so hard I was crying for a good 15 minutes. {#Lol}

 kaybee wrote:

Yes, thanks for the chucks iam_overlord!!{#Roflol}
 
OMG!  That is a GOOD ONE!  classic  {#Clap}

is a love light Incandescent or fluorescent?


 iam_overlord wrote:
Is that album cover real? It almost looks like Morpheus peaking through a cut-out.
 
shawshank wrote:

That's freaking hilarious! I laughed so hard I was crying for a good 15 minutes. {#Lol}
 
Yes, thanks for the chucks iam_overlord!!{#Roflol}
 lawman wrote:

So Bill: what's the longest track you play around here?
 

Can't answer for Bill, but I've heard the entire first side of Tubular Bells and Side One of Tull's Thick As A Brick.

Love 'em both.

inmanart wrote:
Loved hearing the Dead play this one back in the day

OHHHH, yeah!!!!!  YEAH!

Live Dead? Pigpen, wasn't it, on vocals? And it was part of a 3-side continuous jam that ended with  a whole side of "St Stephen", and we were all, all, out of our little heads. 

So Bill: what's the longest track you play around here?


I saw this dude at a little bar in Dyersburg, TN that was about the size of a 2500 sq. ft. house. Hell, it may have been a house, on any other night.

But Bobby 'Blue' Bland set the place to rocking, and didn't let up for over 2 hours. Unbelievable show, one I will always treasure.

Thanks for the "memory gouge" Bill. I get that a lot on here. {#Eek}
must be 4:20 in Paradise

Loved hearing the Dead play this one back in the day
 iam_overlord wrote:
Is that album cover real? It almost looks like Morpheus peaking through a cut-out.
 
That's freaking hilarious! I laughed so hard I was crying for a good 15 minutes. {#Lol}
 iam_overlord wrote:
Is that album cover real? It almost looks like Morpheus peaking through a cut-out.
 
Now, try to get that image out of your mind.

Most Excellent.

Then again, so is the Grateful Dead cover.
E_A_D_G wrote:
Robert Calvin Bland was my R&B baptism. Praise the Lord. Bobby's signature guttural growl moved my soul but the 3 note bass line needed work - James Jamerson took care of that.
Yeah, but wasn't it a revelation when you figured out that the simple three note run was the groundwork for almost everything else?
man, that brass is crisp.
This is fantastic. I going to say again how grateful I am that RP exists solely to introduce me to new music. That's why, right?
kelty wrote:
A 9 song pushed up to a 10 by the extra half-point each for the cig and the flattop on the guy! Amazing!
A 9 song pushed up to a 10 by the extra half-point each for the cig and the flattop on the guy! Amazing!
Funny, before I read this post I had an image of Jake and Elwood dancing in my head. GreenJello wrote:
Isn't this in the original Blues Brothers?
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iam_overlord wrote:
Is that album cover real? It almost looks like Morpheus peaking through a cut-out.
HAHAAHA and not just any cutout, a cutout of one of the guys from Kid 'n Play.
I've seen this guy perform probably 4 or 5 times - he is totally AWESOME.
iam_overlord wrote:
Is that album cover real? It almost looks like Morpheus peaking through a cut-out.
I've been LMAOF re-reading your comment and looking at the cover.
iam_overlord wrote:
Is that album cover real? It almost looks like Morpheus peaking through a cut-out.
hahhahaha
Is that album cover real? It almost looks like Morpheus peaking through a cut-out.
An excellent line up Bill: Bobby 'Blue' Bland - Turn n Your Love Light following Marc Cohn - The Rainy Season That is why RP rocks.!
Robert Calvin Bland was my R&B baptism. Praise the Lord. Bobby's signature guttural growl moved my soul but the 3 note bass line needed work - James Jamerson took care of that.
sukilau wrote:
love the fez...uh- I mean, hair!! and smoking a butt to boot. CLASSIC!
I couldn't remember his name, but his fez looked familiar...
love the fez...uh- I mean, hair!! and smoking a butt to boot. CLASSIC!
So, really, what exactly is a love light?
Cool! Only heard the Dead's version. I knew is wasn't an original, but was never sure who did it first. Once again, thanks RP.
que frescura despues de tantos años. viva los blues brothers
goes from an 8 to a 9 for the hair! That is too cool. MMmmh.
Love both versions...but I can't compare them. It wouldn't give them justice. Mugro wrote:
What an awesome blues standard. Of course, I love the Dead's version, especially when Pigpen makes this a duo with Janis Joplin, but this is better....
Eraserhead?
What an awesome blues standard. Of course, I love the Dead's version, especially when Pigpen makes this a duo with Janis Joplin, but this is better....
Far from Bland!
Smokin'!!!
Words can't describe the greatest of Bobby 'Blue' Bland!!!! Now this is what music is all about!!!!!!! I say a MILLION times "thank-you".....
nance wrote:
I saw Bobby a long time ago in a small bar in chicago and he was great....wish I could see him again......
Me, too! Give it up, for Bobby Blue Blaaaannnd!
MAN! I spent a lot of years thinking this was Ray Charles... 8. Did he do a version?
Isn't this in the original Blues Brothers?
I saw Bobby a long time ago in a small bar in chicago and he was great....wish I could see him again......
The album cover is just too frickin' cool! The song? A dead-solid ten.
Love this guy! Glad his parents gave him that middle name.
I love me some Bobby Blue Bland!