DUTC#110 April 27, 2025

Feature Song: “I Pity the Fool”

Robert Calvin Bland (born Robert Calvin Brooks 1930 – 2013), known professionally as Bobby “Blue” Bland, was an American blues singer. Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel with the blues and R&B. He was described as “one of the great storytellers of blues and soul music, creating tempestuous arias of love, betrayal, and resignation.” These songs were often set against “rolling, dramatic orchestrations, often leaving the listener drained but awed.” The inspiration behind his unique style was Detroit preacher, CL Franklin, as Bland spent a great deal of time studying his sermons. Bland’s first chart success came in 1957 with “Farther Up the Road,” which reached number 1 on the R&B chart. This was followed by a series of hits on the R&B chart, including “Little Boy Blue” (1958). Brand’s craft and style were most clearly heard on a series of early-1960s releases, including “Cry Cry Cry,” “I Pity the Fool” (number 1 on the R&B chart in 1961), and “Turn On Your Love Light,” which became a much-covered standard. Many of his classic tracks were written by Joe Scott. Bland also recorded a hit version of T-Bone Walker’s, “Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad).”

“I Pity the Fool” is a soul blues song recorded for his first Duke Records album, Two Steps From the Blues (1961). Many believe the song to have been written by Joe Medwick, although Duke Record’s owner, Don Robey (using the pseudonym “Deadric Malone”) appears on the songwriting credits. The lyrics of the song tell of a man, who, while pitying others for falling for a certain woman, knows that he is also shamed. After its release, it became one of Bland’s biggest hits and most identifiable songs. Subsequently, the song has been covered by many over the years, including my featured cover of a live performance of the song 60 years after its initial release. Talk about staying power! Bland described “I Pity the Fool” as one of his first songs to fit his emerging style. Bland recorded “I Pity the Fool” during the second recording session for his album, Two Steps From the Blues. Overseeing the session (Nov.12, 1960) in Chicago was band leader and arranger, Joe Scott. He used a six-piece horn section with twin trumpets. Wayne Benett’s contrasting lead guitar along with the horn arrangement are key elements of the song. Blues historian David Evans calls Bland’s performance on this song, “The picture of utter humiliation in this frightening outburst, sounding like he is going to do harm to himself or someone else. This is powerful soul blues at its emotional best.”

While others have done justice to this song, sometimes with stunning vocal performances, sometimes with the instruments, I found this cover by the Tedeschi Trucks band not only nails both these aspects of the song but takes it to a whole other level. They may not have a six-piece horn section, but with two drummers and two of the best blues guitarists on the planet and one amazing vocalist, they pay a justified tribute to this song and then some.

Susan Tedeschi (1970) is an American singer and guitarist. She formed the Susan Tedeschi Band in 1993, with Adrienne Hayes, Jim Lamond, and Mike Aiello. She released several albums in the mid-nineties, and in 1999 she played several dates in the all-woman travelling festival, “Lillith Fair” organized by Sarah McLachlan. Throughout 1998 and 1999, she toured extensively across the United States, drawing large crowds.

Derek Trucks (1979) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and founder of The Derek Trucks Band.  Trucks formed his band in 1994, and by his 20^th birthday, he had played with such artists as Bob Dylan, Joe Walsh, and Stephen Stills.  In 1999, he toured as a band member of Phil Lesh & Friends. After performing with The Alman Brothers Band for several years as a guest musician, Trucks became a formal member of the band in 1999 and appeared on the albums, Peekin’ at the Beacon, Live at the Beacon Theater, Hittin’ the Note, and One Way Out. In 2006, Trucks began a studio collaboration with JJ Cale and Eric Clapton called The Road to Escondido and performed with three bands in 17 countries that year!

Tedeschi and Trucks married in December of 2001. They each had separate careers with their own bands and other projects, as mentioned above, but in 2010 they announced a hiatus from their solo bands, and formed a new group called Tedeschi Trucks Band. There was a previous collaborative project between them – Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi’s Soul Stew Revival – but unlike that iteration, Tedeschi Trucks Band’s focus on writing and performing original material and, according to the two of them, that will be their focus for the foreseeable future. Given their touring schedule over the last few years and some of the stellar performances they have given, like the one you are about to watch from 2021, this is a good thing. Their band is made up of Mike Mattison (guitar/vocals), Gabe Dixon (keys/vocals), Brandon Boone (bass), Tyler Greenwell (drums/percussion), Isaac Eady (drums/percussion), Mark Rivers (vocals), Alecia Chakour (vocals), Kebbi Williams (saxophone), Ephraim Owens (trumpet), Elizabeth Lea (trombone), and of course Trucks and Tedeschi (guitar).

I have watched this performance too many times, but each time I am left in awe, which is the reason I am going to see them this August when they play the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

Enjoy!

Bobby “Blue” Bland. “I Pity the Fool” 1961

Tedeschi Trucks Band. “I Pity the Fool” cover. Live from The Orpheum, Boston, MA December 4, 2021.

Bonus video is of Bobby “Blue” Bland performing a melody of three hits: “Call on Me,” “Further on up the Road,” and “I pity the Fool” featuring the guitarist Wayne Bennett I mentioned above. This is live from Paris in July 1989.

Los Angeles 2025