42. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Butterfield Blues Band.

 My father was a fan of the Butterfield Blues Band, so I was familiar with the name. I have stated before that I am far from a student of the blues, but I know what I like when I hear it. This musical sojourn has introduced me to a few artists I have not heard of before, and I have been enlightened as to the influence the blues acts had on the bands that came afterwards. This includes the Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds, and the Who albums we have listened to previous to this post. But the blues is American music, and though the English bands did a good job, some white boys from Chicago did them one better. This album is unbelievably good electric blues. 

 Apparently Butterfield was interested in playing the blues harp, so he did what anyone would do, he went and sought out Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, and the rest of the Chicago blues scene, and learned his craft. The harp on the album is outstanding. I didn't once find it annoying, and if you recall our chats about Mr. Dylan, the harmonica can wear me out quite quickly. Butterfield nails it. He also is a solid singer, he taps into the blues sound of his mentors, and holds his own vocally. 
 
 Now, the rhythm section used to play with Howlin' Wolf, so as you would expect it is as solid as oak. They provide the perfect backdrop for the harp and voice of Butterfield and give the framework for Mike Bloomfield's magnificent guitar work. We met Bloomfield earlier when he played on Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited album. This guy is incredible; in his role on this recording, he complements Butterfield perfectly; and while he can throw together blazing runs, he does so tastefully and without stealing the show. I think that is what I like the most about this band, they seem to be working together to make fantastic music, without anyone trying to upstage the others. I cannot imagine how good this would have been to see live fifty years ago. The music is timeless, it makes me wonder how this album is ranked so low, and why it has taken me so long to find out about it. My favourite track is "Our Love is Drifting". There is a horn line that is remarkably similar to "I Pity the Fool" by Bobby "Blue" Bland. Bloomfield has many tasty licks, and the rest of it all falls into place. Magnificent.

 Rolling Stone inexplicably placed this at number 476 on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. I think they missed the mark on that call; it should have ranked much higher, but I'm just happy it was on the list, and that the album was brought to my attention. I was listening to this one this morning whilst cooking bacon and homefries for breakfast, and my daughter and I had a little dance party in the kitchen. That is a gold star for any album in my books. I'm not sure I like her singing "Shake Your Moneymaker" that much, but you have to take the good with the bad. This album is a nice way to say goodbye to 1965. We have some high ranked albums coming up next, so check back soon. See you later!


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