What Are You Listening To?

[latorius]

First heard of The Butterfield Blues Band (BBB) in Newcastle in October 66, they were a support act, the headliner was Eric Burdon and the Animals. Was a big Animals fan (local boys made good), and was playing in a local blues band (on bass) whilst studying at Uni.
The BBB were very striking for a number of reasons. Firstly when they walked on stage, they did not have "stage gear on", Butterfield was wearing an old brown cordoroy jacket, and Bloomfield had that "iconic" horizontal blue and white T shirt. Bloomfield had his Gibson Les Paul, which looked very battered even then. Bishop had a nice shinny Gibson SG, this was the first time I had seen the "second guitarist with a better guitar than the lead player.

They played a short 20 minute set, all tracks from their first album, opening with "Born in Chicago", followed by "Blues with a feeling", "Shake your moneymaker" and closing with "Got my mojo working".

The thing that hit you was the sound, raw, aggressive and very very tight. Looking back I regard them as the first "Punk" band, but no "Punk" band had the chops that these guys had. If Born in Chicago is not a Punk anthem, then I dont know what is.

I was very impressed and went the following saturday to buy their album. The shop only had East/West so I bought it. I went to the flat I shared with 2 other band members, and we put it on the little record player we had, turned the lights out smoked what weed we had, and were knocked out by what we heard.

The first track "Walking Blues" hit like a freight train, alan our guitarist wanted to hear it again immediately, but was persuaded to let the Album play, "Get out my life woman" was followed by the sublime "I've got a mind to give up living". Alan's comment on hearing the intro was "Christ, who the hell is this guy". Butterfield's vocal, just wrenched the gut, Bloomfield's guitar soaring hitting all the emotional spots. "All these Blues" returned to the driving freight train of "Walking Blues", the harp leading the assault. Then "Work Song", a tune we played, having seen the Animals play it in their early years. The number opens with Butterfield's harp laying out the tune, before Bloomfield comes and pisses guitar all over the track, played with incredible speed and attack, then Butterfield answers with the harp, not going to be overawed by Bloomfield. Then Naflin and Bishop show their chops, before the band trades licks (the first time we had heard that) and wraps it all up in a breathtaking crescendo. Alan was all for playing the whole side again, but we turned it over and heard "Mary Mary" a Monkees number played tightly, straight and with restraint and made their own ending with yet another killer guitar solo. Then "Two trains running", played so tight and crisp, no one other than Booker T and the MG's played as tight and funky as that. "Dont say no to me" with Bishops vocal is not up to the standard of the rest of the Album.

Then East/West starts with Bishops bluesy guitar solo, Butterfield blasts out a harp solo, reaching a crescendo, then off the top of the crescendo, Bloomfield comes in and just soars for the next 8 + minutes, we were left stunned.

This was one of a handful of albums of that era that really defined the direction that music could go in. Butterfield was never better, and even with the estimable Buzzy Fielten was never able to recreate the magic, this really is his career topping moment.