I began listening to the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in August 2022. I only expected to listen to their first album but I liked it so much that I decided to listen to check out their first four.
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965): A-
East-West (1966): B+
The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw (1967): C+
In My Own Dream (1968): C+
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965):
For a long time, I felt it hard to pinpoint exactly what made so much of the British blues scene lackluster. Now I know. It's no wonder British blues purists paved the way for heavy metal--they played the blues so slow and sludgy. Americans aren't so thick. Crucially informed by rockabilly, the Butterfield Blues Band play the blues fast, thin, and fiery. Much of this is thanks to Bloomfield, whose wild playing is one of the best guitar performances ever captured on an album, but the band also features the incendiary harmonica playing of band leader Paul Butterfield and the tight rhythm section of Sam Lay and Jerome Arnold, both of whom Butterfield swiped from the legendary Howlin' Wolf. Like many white blues singers, Butterfield's vocals could use some work but with so much instrumental prowess, it's still one of the best and most authentic blues albums of the era. A-
East-West (1966):
After their first album, Butterfield loosened his grip as leader and let the others have more of a say in their direction and repertoire. With new jazz drummer Billy Davenport to help with the transition, Bloomfield uses his elevated role to transform this blues band into something of an early jam band. Though there are still several blues covers, the most substantial pieces of music on this record are long ones where Bloomfield takes the reins and slowly unfolds a longwinded solo with masterful ease. The blues covers aren't as inspired as the ones on their debut but the jams are visionary even when they don't entirely pan out. It's remarkable just how much this band quietly pioneered--Bloomfield's guitar must have been an influence on the young Jerry Garcia while even keyboardist Mark Naftalin left behind a template picked by Ray Manzarek and the Doors. B+
The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw (1967):
Now that Bloomfield has left the band, Elvin Bishop takes up lead guitar. Although he played well on East-West, he doesn't bring much fire onto this record. They have a great horn section, but there's very little in terms of great songs and exciting blues covers. Too bad--Butterfield's vocals are starting to get better. C+
In My Own Dream (1968):
Jazz rock has never been my cup tea and this album's slow pace further alienates me. I remember when Butterfield's band used to play with urgency. C+
