Hi!

Just read that the Paul Butterfield Blues Band is nominated for the Rock Hall Of Fame:

[rockhall.com]

[www.cleveland.com]

To be honest, my first thought was: "What, they are not yet there??"
It is about time!!
This year markes the 50th anniversary of their triumphant appearance on the Newport Folk Festival
with historic performances by the band and especially Mike Bloomfield.

As far as I know, Vanguard Records recorded EVERYTHING on that festival;
from the Mike Bloomfield fan website:

>> *MICHAEL BLOOMFIELD
Michael Bloomfield,emcee.
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI; July 23, 1965

Bloomfield Introduces Lightnin’ Hopkins “Lightnin’ Hopkins at Newport,” Vanguard UV067

This performance was part of the Newport Folk Festival’s Friday morning “Blue Guitar” workshop. Bloomfield acted as the emcee along with Mack McCormick for the 2-hour program. An uncredited Sam Lay joined Lightnin’ on the guitarist’s last few tunes. Bloomfield was at Newport at the request of Paul Butterfield, who asked him to perform as lead guitarist with his band.


*PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND
Butterfield, v, hca; Michael Bloomfield, g; Elvin Bishop, g; Jerome Arnold, b; Sam Lay, d; Nick Gravenites, v;
Bruce Langhorne*, tmbn.
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI; July 23, 1965

Look Over Yonders Wall “Blues With a Feeling,” Vanguard VCD2-77005
Born in Chicago*
Other unknown titles

The Butterfield Blues Band was a late addition to the roster at Newport – advertisements for the concert series make no mention of the group – and they had been originally scheduled to perform only during the Friday and Saturday afternoon workshops. This performance was part of an afternoon workshop called “Blues: Origins and Offshoots.” The band was introduced in a disparaging manner by Alan Lomax, after which Lomax and Butterfield manager Albert Grossman came to blows. Photos taken by David Gahr of the band in an afternoon performance come from this workshop.

Personnel as above.
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI; July 24, 1965

Juke Live performance
Other unknown titles

This performance was part of a Saturday afternoon workshop called “Bluesville.” Because of the buzz the band created with its exciting electric blues, Grossman was able to secure them a place on the Sunday afternoon concert. A sudden rain storm caused the band to move its appearance to the evening concert. Portions of this workshop performance appear in Murray Lerner’s 1967 film “Festival.”

*PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND
Butterfield, v, hca; Michael Bloomfield, g; Elvin Bishop, g; Jerome Arnold, b; Sam Lay, d; Nick Gravenites, v.
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI; July 25, 1965

Mellow Down Easy “Newport Folk Festival 1965,” Vanguard VRS-9225
Blues With A Feeling “Blues With a Feeling,” Vanguard VCD2-77005
Blues For Ruth
Why Don't You All Quit It
Elvin's Blues
That’s All Right (NG, v)
It's About Time (NG, v)
It's True (NG, v)
Work Song

Born in Chicago

This was the opening set of the final night of the festival. Vanguard reportedly recorded everything at Newport and thus must have captured all the Butterfield performances on tape. Portions of this performance and an interview with Bloomfield appear in Murray Lerner’s 1967 film “Festival.”

*BOB DYLAN
Dylan, v, g; Michael Bloomfield, g; Al Kooper, org, b; Barry Goldberg, org, p; Jerome Arnold, b; Sam Lay, d.
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI; July 25, 1965

Maggie’s Farm “Live in Newport ’65,” Document DR 004 (Bootleg)

It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry

Like a Rolling Stone

Al Kooper plays bass for Jerome Arnold and Barry Goldberg switches to organ on "Rolling Stone." Portions of Dylan’s sound check and set appear in Murray Lerner’s 1967 film “Festival,” in his expanded 2007 release called "The Other Side of the Mirror" and in Martin Scorsese’s 2005 TV special “No Direction Home” (which uses Lerner’s extra footage). This was Dylan's historic first "electric" performance, a controversial fifteen minutes that sharply divided the traditional folk community and led to much criticism of Dylan by acoustic music fans. It also led to the creation of the "folk-rock" sound, a whole new category of popular music. The band rehearsed the music during hastily arranged practice sessions at producer George Wein’s Newport estate on Saturday evening.<<

I have just written an email to Vanguard Records and asked them to finally relaese all the stuff they got.

It would be fine, if some of you would also write to them!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-03-11 20:00 by Rank Stranger.