Paul Butterfield Blues Band – Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, Elvin Bishop/Pretty Girl – CA, USA 1966 – Soundboard Edition & more

Pioneers of white blues! Featuring Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop, a top-notch lineup! It’s fantastic! Alongside John Mayall of the UK, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band was a pioneer of white blues that blazed through the 60s. Now, a precious soundboard album of theirs is available. This album contains two Fillmore concerts from the 60s: “October 14, 1966 at the Fillmore Auditorium” and “August 1969 at the Fillmore West.” “Fillmore” is synonymous with legendary venues that shine in rock history, and it can be confusing because there’s also one in New York, but its origins lie in San Francisco on the West Coast. In 1965, the famous promoter Bill Graham began holding concerts at the “Fillmore Auditorium” to raise funds. Later, in 1968, to expand its scale, “Fillmore West” was reopened in the same San Francisco, and “Fillmore East” opened far away on the East Coast in New York. The “West” is famous for classic albums by Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper, and Aretha Franklin, while the “East” is known for the Allman Brothers and Jimi Hendrix. This album, however, features performances at both the original “Auditorium” and its successor venue, the “West,” both in San Francisco. [First half: 1966 Fillmore Auditorium] The first half of this album is a live recording from the Fillmore in 1966. This performance took place two months after the release of the classic album “EAST-WEST.” The quality is truly superb, a vintage soundboard recording. The stereo effect, with the vocals only coming from the left channel, is definitely a sign of the era, but the master’s freshness is superb. The tone is full of sepia vintage charm, yet it’s incredibly smooth and free of distortion, distortion, or noise. The rustic harp and mellow slide guitar have an indescribable, dusty yet deeply rich flavor. Many people believe that “blues is limited to the 50s and 60s,” but this album offers plenty of that rich flavor. Even more than the sound, the performance itself is incredibly raw and authentic. There are tuning scenes, so it’s divided into 11 tracks, but basically it’s 7 songs totaling about 44 minutes. The songs are short and mainly consist of standards by Elmore James and Roy Orbison, and the lively blues is simply delightful. The key elements are, of course, Paul’s harmonica and the guitars of Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop. Although they all admired Black bluesmen, having interacted with them in the heartland of the music scene, they sound much more authentically “black” than the Brits heard on records. The upbeat grooves of “Shake Your Money Maker” and “Help Me” are fantastic, but the deep, slower tracks are what really stand out. “Never Say No,” which leaves a lingering feeling in your heart, is reminiscent of Junior Wells. The style is to play relatively short songs one after another, but the final masterpiece, “East West,” is a complete change of pace. Here, Bloomfield takes center stage in an interplay, and the battle with Paul’s harmonica is intense. Up until this point, the music has been full of bluesy vibes, but the rock-like beat, raga scales, and versatility heard in this song, which foreshadows later fusion, are unique to white blues. A scorching 15-minute jam culminates in this highlight. [Second half: Fillmore West, 1969] The second half follows three years later at the West. Two months before the release of ‘KEEP ON MOVING’… or rather, this is a stage from August 1969, the same month as Woodstock. This is also a superb soundboard recording, with natural stereo and brilliantly sharp edges. The sound has evolved to be perfectly in line with the 70s that were just around the corner. Even more so than the sound, the show itself has changed dramatically. As it was a show from the same month as Woodstock, the ensemble, with its heavy use of horns, is funky and luxurious. While 1966 was centered around standards, this album features a steady stream of originals from ‘KEEP ON MOVING,’ such as “No Amount of Lovin'” and “All in a Day.” Furthermore, their playing style itself has changed. While the 1966 tracks were around 4 minutes each, in 1969 every song exceeds 10 minutes, with three songs played at a leisurely pace of approximately 34 minutes. In 1966, their admiration for Black blues was honestly evident, and their soulfulness surpassed even that of the British bands. Then, after their breakthrough, 1969 saw them deliver a passionate performance reminiscent of Woodstock. This is a masterpiece that allows you to enjoy “two live at Fillmore” performances in superb soundboard quality. Both are wonderful shows, and this live album reflects the dramatic changes in the 1960s music scene itself, which occurred in just three years. Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA, USA 14th October 1966 SBD Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, USA August 1969 SBD (77:42) 1. Shake Your Money Maker 2. The Sky Is Crying 3. Pretty Woman 4. Help Me 5. Never Say No 6. You’re So Fine 7. East West 8. No Amount of Lovin’ 9. All in a Day 10. Driftin’ and Driftin’ Paul Butterfield – vocals, harmonica Mike Bloomfield – guitar, vocals Elvin Bishop – guitar, vocals Mark Naftalin – keyboards Jerome Arnold – bass Billy Davenport – drums Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, USA August 1969 SOUNDBOARD RECORDING