THE FORD BLUES BAND WITH ROBBEN FORD & CHRIS CAIN
''THE BUTTERFIELD/BLOOMFIELD CONCERT''
OCTOBER 24 2006
49:25
1 Killing Floor 03:34
2 East / West Redux 08:52
3 Groovin' Is Easy 03:37
4 I Got A Mind To Give Up Living 07:27
5 Lovin' Cup 05:08
6 Peter's Trip 05:48
7 Good Morning Little Shoolgirl 04:36
8 Blues For MB 10:20
Chris Cain/Guitar
Patrick Ford/Drums
Robben Ford/Guitar, Vocals
Andy Just/Harp
Tony "Macaroni" Lufrano/Keyboards
Dewayne Pate/Bass
Volker Strifler/Guitar
REVIEW
by Hal Horowitz (AMG)
Even though the Ford Blues Band has never had a problem putting across mediocre material, songwriting is not one of the outfit's strong points. With successful studio albums covering both Michael Bloomfield and his old boss Paul Butterfield already in Ford Blues Band's catalog, the group plays to its strengths with a live recording, cherrypicking the best songs from both and adding the raw energy that live concerts typically generate. The result is a crackling disc that is not surprisingly a showcase for guitarists Robben Ford, Chris Cain and Volker Strifler as well as harmonica ace Andy Just. Despite liner notes that frustratingly don't specify which of the three guitarists plays lead on the tracks -- it only states which side of the speakers the musician is relegated to, which can be confusing -- or the dates of the recordings, this is a rollicking performance as the Ford Blues Band charges through the songs with passion and energy. Out of the eight tracks, only six pertain directly to the titular stars, with "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (aping a version by Butterfield) and a ten minute, slow blues workout "Blues for MB" a bit on the generic side. The performances of these are hot, but it does detract slightly from the concept and there were plenty of other tunes more directly associated with the musicians that could have been chosen. Regardless, there are too few bands that even attempt to perform Butterfield's classic "East West" instrumental (here titled "East/West Redux") so even if, at only nine minutes, this is on the short side (the original ran 13), it's a thrilling reminder of the groundbreaking aspects of Butterfield and Bloomfield in their prime. The group raids the Electric Flag catalog for its Bloomfield covers of "Killing Floor" and "Groovin' Is Easy" and adds a small horn section to replicate the originals. Their version of Bloomfield's obscure "Peter's Trip" also prominently employs sax and trumpet for a sort of Blood, Sweat & Tears approach. It is the most unusual and least bluesy selection here. Robben Ford's vocals throughout are serviceable at best, but it's his guitar that really sizzles, especially on the seven-minute version of "I Got a Mind to Give Up Living." While none of this will make fans forget the originals, it's a consistently enjoyable and well-recorded effort and the band's hearts were obviously in it. Hopefully this will inspire some new listeners to check out the sources.
BIOGRAPHY
by Dan Forte
After leaving Ukiah, CA, and moving south to San Francisco to form the Charles Ford Band (named for their father) in the late '60s with harmonica player Gary Smith, brothers Pat (drums) and Robben (guitar) were enlisted by Charlie Musselwhite and were pivotal members of one of the best aggregations the harpist ever led. Leaving Musselwhite after recording Arhoolie's Takin' My Time, they recruited bassist Stan Poplin and younger brother Mark, then age 17, on harmonica and played under the name the Real Charles Ford Band. Heavily influenced by the original Butterfield Blues Band and the Chess catalog, the quartet was famous for their live jazz explorations -- often jamming for 30 minutes or more on a John Coltrane and George Benson tune -- and hear-a pin-drop dynamics (with Mark abandoning mike and amp to play acoustically into the room or Robben turning the volume all the way off on his fat-body Gibson L-5). Muddy Waters sat in with and praised the young band, and Chess Records even came courting, but the brothers split on New Year's Eve, 1971, recording their sole LP posthumously, as it were. Robben went on to major cult status via session work and sporadic solo releases, and after lengthy hiatuses Mark and Pat continue to gig around the Bay Area and Europe. Pat founded his own Blue Rock'it label, on which albums like The Ford Blues Band, Hot Shots and 1999 were released. The band's influence in Northern California is still enormous, particularly among guitar players who continue to ape licks Robben forgot two decades ago.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
''THE BUTTERFIELD/BLOOMFIELD CONCERT''
OCTOBER 24 2006
49:25
1 Killing Floor 03:34
2 East / West Redux 08:52
3 Groovin' Is Easy 03:37
4 I Got A Mind To Give Up Living 07:27
5 Lovin' Cup 05:08
6 Peter's Trip 05:48
7 Good Morning Little Shoolgirl 04:36
8 Blues For MB 10:20
Chris Cain/Guitar
Patrick Ford/Drums
Robben Ford/Guitar, Vocals
Andy Just/Harp
Tony "Macaroni" Lufrano/Keyboards
Dewayne Pate/Bass
Volker Strifler/Guitar
REVIEW
by Hal Horowitz (AMG)
Even though the Ford Blues Band has never had a problem putting across mediocre material, songwriting is not one of the outfit's strong points. With successful studio albums covering both Michael Bloomfield and his old boss Paul Butterfield already in Ford Blues Band's catalog, the group plays to its strengths with a live recording, cherrypicking the best songs from both and adding the raw energy that live concerts typically generate. The result is a crackling disc that is not surprisingly a showcase for guitarists Robben Ford, Chris Cain and Volker Strifler as well as harmonica ace Andy Just. Despite liner notes that frustratingly don't specify which of the three guitarists plays lead on the tracks -- it only states which side of the speakers the musician is relegated to, which can be confusing -- or the dates of the recordings, this is a rollicking performance as the Ford Blues Band charges through the songs with passion and energy. Out of the eight tracks, only six pertain directly to the titular stars, with "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (aping a version by Butterfield) and a ten minute, slow blues workout "Blues for MB" a bit on the generic side. The performances of these are hot, but it does detract slightly from the concept and there were plenty of other tunes more directly associated with the musicians that could have been chosen. Regardless, there are too few bands that even attempt to perform Butterfield's classic "East West" instrumental (here titled "East/West Redux") so even if, at only nine minutes, this is on the short side (the original ran 13), it's a thrilling reminder of the groundbreaking aspects of Butterfield and Bloomfield in their prime. The group raids the Electric Flag catalog for its Bloomfield covers of "Killing Floor" and "Groovin' Is Easy" and adds a small horn section to replicate the originals. Their version of Bloomfield's obscure "Peter's Trip" also prominently employs sax and trumpet for a sort of Blood, Sweat & Tears approach. It is the most unusual and least bluesy selection here. Robben Ford's vocals throughout are serviceable at best, but it's his guitar that really sizzles, especially on the seven-minute version of "I Got a Mind to Give Up Living." While none of this will make fans forget the originals, it's a consistently enjoyable and well-recorded effort and the band's hearts were obviously in it. Hopefully this will inspire some new listeners to check out the sources.
BIOGRAPHY
by Dan Forte
After leaving Ukiah, CA, and moving south to San Francisco to form the Charles Ford Band (named for their father) in the late '60s with harmonica player Gary Smith, brothers Pat (drums) and Robben (guitar) were enlisted by Charlie Musselwhite and were pivotal members of one of the best aggregations the harpist ever led. Leaving Musselwhite after recording Arhoolie's Takin' My Time, they recruited bassist Stan Poplin and younger brother Mark, then age 17, on harmonica and played under the name the Real Charles Ford Band. Heavily influenced by the original Butterfield Blues Band and the Chess catalog, the quartet was famous for their live jazz explorations -- often jamming for 30 minutes or more on a John Coltrane and George Benson tune -- and hear-a pin-drop dynamics (with Mark abandoning mike and amp to play acoustically into the room or Robben turning the volume all the way off on his fat-body Gibson L-5). Muddy Waters sat in with and praised the young band, and Chess Records even came courting, but the brothers split on New Year's Eve, 1971, recording their sole LP posthumously, as it were. Robben went on to major cult status via session work and sporadic solo releases, and after lengthy hiatuses Mark and Pat continue to gig around the Bay Area and Europe. Pat founded his own Blue Rock'it label, on which albums like The Ford Blues Band, Hot Shots and 1999 were released. The band's influence in Northern California is still enormous, particularly among guitar players who continue to ape licks Robben forgot two decades ago.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE