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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>[ Dis claimer: The following is a highly
biased opinion regarding Mike Bloomfield with only minimal and indirect
relevance to Eric Clapton. Please move on to the next post if this is not
your cup of Earl Grey.]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My concern is that at this late date - this
February will the 25th anniversary of his demise - Bloomfield is listened to
less than he deserves. A decently assembled box set would go a long way to
ameliorating that, but how long can we wait? For those who have yet to
give MB a listen, please consider that he, along with Paul Butterfield and Elvin
Bishop, were major factors in breaking Chicago blues out of its Southside locale
and spreading it throughout the land and to Caucasoid ears. It is to their
credit that they did so with taste, heart, finesse, generosity, and genuine love
for their music, its practitioners and its audience. Remind you of anyone
we know? MB possessed a prodigious improvisational ability and had an
unequaled sound that is stunningly beautiful.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The essential highlights:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - all releases are
worth a listen, but if you want to get one cd, make it "East - West."
Alternatively, an excellent 2-cd (MB is on the first cd only) Butterfield Band
compilation is "An Anthology: The Elektra Years." Dig in deeper with
"East-West Live" - three live performances of the title tune, one of which
contains an extended finale incorporating a "Joy to the World" quote that would
be appear in a similar finale by the Allman Brothers Band on "At Fillmore
East." Coincidence? Doubt it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Electric Flag - "A Long Time Comin'" is
essential. With a couple deletions and otherwise unavailable tunes added,
it also is mostly included on the recommended single-cd compilation "Old
Glory: The Best of the Electric Flag." An American Music Band
indeed, they branched out considerably beyond Chicago blues, particularly in a
soul/rock direction that could have been as at home in Memphis as they were in
San Francisco. The soundtrack to "The Trip" shows how far they could go in
playing anything. MB put his heart into this band featuring Nick
Gravenites, Buddy Miles and Barry Goldberg in a way that he never would
again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Al Kooper - Is this all too much already? If
you have 30 minutes, listen to the beginning (side one of the LP from back in
the vinyl days) of "Super Session" and be done with it. Kooper's intent
was to present MB at his best on record. He succeeds. Also
essential, "The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper," the best live
MB recording. Includes a performance by former Butterfield colleague Elvin
Bishop and the recording debut of Carlos Santana on a song entitled "Sonny Boy
Williamson" written by Jack Bruce & Paul Jones.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bloomfield & Gravenites - In early 1969, MB and
Nick Gravenites performed a series of concerts at the Fillmore West. I
don't know what remains in print at this time, but a recent expanded version of
Nick Gravenites "My Labors" included not only his original selections from
those performances but also some from "Live at Bill Graham's Fillmore
East." This is live R&B/blues/rock with a horn section, almost as if
MB and NG were doing the Electric Flag their way without the
distractions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>All the best to one and all for the New
Year,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>brooz, who toasts you with a Cooper's Hawk almond
sparkling wine as he signs off - Cheers!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(The above opinion is that of brooz only who is
slowly responsible for its content.)</FONT></DIV>
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