2024 can be kinda lame...
Come Join us in 1974
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Released: October 12th, 1965
The events we write about at Gaslight Records happened in some form or another 50 years ago to the day. Roll along with us and imagine you are back in 1974.
Support Gaslight Records
Sometime in the late summer or fall of 1965, the debut of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band appeared on Elektra Records. If my memory serves, somewhere on the original cover it said “Play this record loud.” The album helped introduce a lot of people to the world of Chicago Blues. The opening track said it all – a mean tough vocal by Paul Butterfield, equaled by the sound of his soaring harp and propelled by the speedy guitar licks of Mike Bloomfield, seeming to answer Butterfield’s harp and vocals at every turn. All this was rocked by the rhythm section of Jerome Arnold on bass and the stunning Sam Lay on drums, both veterans of Howlin’ Wolf’s band.
It didn’t matter that the album was mostly covers, with quite a few tributes to Little Walter; Butterfield sang with an undeniable intensity that was consistently matched by every member of his band. Aspiring harp players and guitarists alike would spend hours trying to figure out what Butterfield and Bloomfield were doing. Even for those who might follow this music to the source and decide that the versions performed by Little Walter and other artists were ultimately preferable, it doesn’t diminish the Butterfield Blues Band’s accomplishment, because 50 years later this album still holds up as vital, soaring and funky. There is no doubt that this album launched hundreds of blues bands, both known and unknown, but few of them ever came close to matching the Butterfield Band’s soul or impact.
2024 can be kinda lame...
Come Join us in 1974
Recomended for you
If you like this album you may also like
More recent news
News
August 26th, 1972: John Prine returns with second album
News
August 24th, 1972: Joni Mitchell recording 5th studio album
28-year-old Joni Mitchell has begun recording her 5th studio album in Hollywood, California. For The Roses is Mitchell's follow up to her 1971 album Blue.
News
August 23rd, 1972: Bruce Springsteen has begun recording debut album in New York
John Hammond signed Springsteen to Columbia Records earlier this year.
News
February 7th, 1970: Black Sabbath share debut single "Evil Woman": Listen
The English rock band's debut album is due out this week.
News
December 30th, 1969: Norman Greenbaum releases "Spirit In The Sky" from his debut album: Listen
Greenbaum's sings the gospel on his new single
News
December 23rd, 1969: Watch The Jackson 5 perform single from their debut album on Ed Sullivan
Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 is the latest release from Motown
News
December 20th, 1969: The Clancy Brothers have released a new album of Christmas songs: Listen
Irish folk group, The Clancy Brothers have recorded 11 songs to bring a little joy to your Christmas
News
December 18th, 1969: See photos from The Doors album cover shoot in Los Angeles today
The new Doors album is due for release early next year.
Article
December 10th, 1969: Four people died over the weekend at The Altamont Speedway Free Festival
Here's the story of Altamont in quotes from many of the people involved.
News
December 5th, 1969: The Rolling Stones have released a new studio album ahead of their free concert tomorrow at Altamont
As The Stones finish their run of U.S. concert dates they have released their eighth album, Let It Bleed.
News
December 3rd, 1969: Emmylou Harris covers Bob Dylan on debut album
Listen to Harris's cover of Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" from her album Gliding Bird
Live At The Gaslight
Peter Stone Brown covers Bob Dylan's "She Belongs To Me"
Recorded in Atlantic City at Dylan Fest in 2015