When the Butterfield Blues Band formed in 1965 there was not another group anything like them. Four white kids, who had immersed themselves in the Chicago blues scene, teamed up with an African-American rhythm section. And none of these guys looked like college-hippie types who played (or tried to play) “authentic”. With their konks, pegged pants and shades, they looked like the kind of people your parents warned you about. Their music was also the real deal, probably the first actual blues many white kids ever heard. But when the group recorded East-West in early 1966 for its second album the doors just busted loose.
Based largely on the Indian raga form the piece was a drone over which each soloist played extended solos, and what solos they were. Mike Bloomfield had an instantly recognizable, piercing sound that drew in turns from blues, jazz and rock for inspiration. Elvin Bishop had a much more rhythm-based style at this time that relied on tasteful chords for a base. And Paul Butterfield on harmonica coaxed sounds out of his harp that seemed impossible to get. All of this was anchored down by the steady 4/4 of bassist Jerome Arnold and the colorful drum accents of Billy Davenport. The number stretched out to 13 minutes to cover one side of the album. Now keep in mind that this is happening when the Beach Boys’ Barbara Ann was all over the charts!
Today’s album is a collection of three live versions of this great number. The first was recorded at the Whisky A Go-Go months before the studio recording. The second comes later that spring at Poor Richard’s in Chicago. Both of these hew closer to the album version both in length and form, although each solo is unique. The final rendition comes from the Golden Bear in California a year later and clocks in at 28:06. It is fascinating to watch this number develop during a critical 12 months in the history of popular music. The recordings themselves are somewhat primitive but the music is so cool that it is easy to overlook the sonic quality.
If you don’t have the original East-West album, pick it up. If you do, then check this out!
