Bloomfield tracks

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 22

Bloomfield tracks

MICHAEL BLOOMFIELD “Bloomfield” (CBS S2BP 220259).

The inside sleeve reads like a “Who’s Who” of American rhythm and blues music in the mid-1960s to the early 70s. Charlie Musselwhite, Paul Butterfield, Elvin Bishop, Buddy Miles, Nick Gravenites, Dr John, Al Kooper, John Hammond. Bloomfield was an erractic R. and B. guitarist, who died in 1981, aged 37. This CBS double album is meant to be a retrospective of his career, including previously unreleased material, from 1964 to 1974, although he kept recording after that including in the debut MCA album by the so-called supergroup, KGB. “Bloomfield” is an interesting album. It opens on

two previously unreleased songs, “I’ve Got My Mojo Working,” (1964) with Charlie Musselwhite on harp, which seems ordinary when up against other versions, and “Born In Chicago,” a much better blues track, taken from the 1965 Newport Folk Festival featuring Elvin Bishop (guitar) and Butterfield (harp and vocals).

More unreleased material is kept together in a second section of four songs, taken from 1971 to 1974, which gives the album a plus. “Relaxin’ Blues,” a dedication to people like Jimmy Yancey and Otis Spann, just features Bloomfield fingering the piano. Next are two 1973 songs, “Woodyard Street” inspired by Randy Newman, and “Midnight On

My Radio,” which Bloomfield considered a good song, although it was left on hold. However, its weakness is that it is too personal. Finally, “Why Lord, Oh Why?” is the top song, an inspired track showing Bloomfield at his best. For the rest of the album, six tracks, or one-third of the total songs, are from the short-lived Electric Flag, all taken from the “A Long Time Cornin’” album. But you can hear why. Buddy Miles’ vocals on “Texas” is great to hear, even better than on “Them Changes,” not even the best track on Hendrix’s “Band Of Gypsies.” The soul number, “You Don’t Realize” is also exceptional. Surprisingly, only two tracks are taken from the

famous “Super Session” album with Al Kooper, the renowned “Albert’s Shuffle” and “Stop.” “I Wonder Who,” from “The Live Adventures Of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper” (1969) is also good, a number with a lot of soul.

The previously unreleased material is not all that strong, but what is interesting is looking at the musicians on the sleeve notes and discovering Mama Cass Elliot, for example, is singing backing vocals on “Groovin’ Is Easy” for the Electric Flag. There will probably be an endless debate on whether “Bloomfield” sums up the guitarist’s career, but the R. and B. music in itself is delightful.

- NEVIN TOPP