Larry McCray Revives Forgotten Bobby “Blue” Bland Track with Soulful Rendition of “Bright Side”

​Larry McCray Revives Forgotten Bobby “Blue” Bland Track with Soulful Rendition of “Bright Side”

New Album Heartbreak City Out June 13 via KTBA Records
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Following the release of his acclaimed lead single “Bye Bye Blues,” celebrated blues guitarist and vocalist Larry McCray returns with “Bright Side,” the second offering from his forthcoming album Heartbreak City, set for release on June 13 via KTBA Records, the label founded by Joe Bonamassa.

Originally written for the late Bobby “Blue” Bland by Josh Smith, Michael "Harvey" Price, and Steve Shepherd, “Bright Side” remained unreleased for decades—until producer Josh Smith brought it to McCray, recognizing his ability to bring the song’s soulful grit to life. The result is a vibrant mid-tempo blues burner, rich with deep grooves, a call-and-response chorus, and McCray’s unmistakable vocal and guitar work.

Produced by the Grammy-nominated team of Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, Heartbreak City finds McCray at the height of his powers. The 10-track collection blends raw blues, vintage soul, and Southern swagger, featuring appearances from Reese Wynans, Kirk Fletcher, background vocalists Jade Macrae and Dannielle De Andrea, and Bonamassa himself. The album was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood and mixed by Alan Hertz.

McCray introduced the project with the single “Bye Bye Blues,” a nostalgic nod to soul legends like Bland, Johnnie Taylor, and Little Milton. With Heartbreak City, he continues to explore themes of resilience, redemption, and reflection, backed by his weathered voice, fiery guitar tone, and a world-class band.

Heartbreak City follows McCray’s 2022 comeback album Blues Without You, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Blues Chart and was named #1 Blues Album of the Year by Blues Rock Review. In 2024, McCray was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame, a milestone in a career that has seen him share the stage with blues greats including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and The Allman Brothers Band.

“Larry McCray is a legend,” says Joe Bonamassa. “He’s the last of the great blues shouters from the Rust Belt. In the spirit of B.B. King and Little Milton, Larry belongs among the greats.”

Heartbreak City by Larry McCray
1. Try To Be A Good Man
2. Heartbreak City
3. Bye Bye Blues
4. Bright Side
5. Everything Falls On Me
6. I Know What I’ve Done (feat. Joe Bonamassa)
7. Keep On Loving My Baby (feat. Kirk Fletcher & Josh Smith)
8. Hangman
9. Stop Your Crying
10. Crazy World

Website:
larrymccrayofficial.com