In 15 February 1981, Mickael Bloomfield's lifeless body was found locked inside a car on a side
street in San Fransisco. His mysterious drug - related death ended the troubled life of a world - Class Bluesman who had influenced an entire generation of music lovers and guitar players. He was 37.
Michael Bloomfield was one of America's first great white blues guitarists, earning his reputation on the strength of his work in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. His expressive, fluid solo lines
and prodigious technique graced many other projects, most notably Bob Dylan's earliest electric forays, and he also pursued a solo career, with variable results. Uncomfortable with the reverential treatment afforded a guitar hero, Bloomfield tended to shy away from the spotlight after spending just a few years in it; he maintained a lower-visibility career during the '70s due to his distaste for fame and his worsening drug problems, which claimed his life in 1981.
Michael Bernard Bloomfield was born July 28, 1943, into a well-off Jewish family on Chicago's North
Side. A shy, awkward loner as a child, he became interested in music through the Southern radio stations he was able to pick up at night, which gave him a regular source for rockabilly, R&B, and blues. He received his first guitar at his bar mitzvah and he and his friends began sneaking out to hear electric blues on the South Side's fertile club scene (with the help of their families' maids).
| ERIC CLAPTON & MIKE BLOOMFIELD |
The young Bloomfield sometimes jumped on-stage to jam with the musicians and the novelty of such a spectacle soon made him a prominent scenester. Dismayed with the turn his education was taking, his
parents sent him to a private boarding school on the East Coast in 1958 and he eventually graduated from a Chicago school for troubled youth. By this time, he'd embraced the beatnik subculture, frequenting hangout spots near the University of Chicago. He got a job managing a folk club and frequently booked veteran acoustic bluesmen; in the meantime, he was also playing guitar as a session man and around the Chicago club scene with several different bands.
In 1964, Bloomfield was discovered through his session work by the legendary John Hammond, who signed him to CBS; however, several recordings from 1964 went unreleased as the label wasn't sure how to market a white American blues guitarist. In early 1965, Bloomfield joined several
associates in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, a racially integrated outfit with a storming, rock-tinged take on Chicago's urban electric blues sound. The group's self-titled debut for Elektra, released later that year, made them a sensation in the blues community and helped introduce white audiences to a less watered-down version of the blues. Individually, Bloomfield's lead guitar work was acclaimed as a perfectly logical bridge between Chicago blues and contemporary rock.
| BOB DYLAN & MIKE BLOOMFIELD |
Later, in 1965, Bloomfield was recruited for Bob Dylan's new electrified backing band; he was a prominent presence on the groundbreaking classic Highway 61 Revisited and he was also part of Dylan's epochal plugged-in performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. In the meantime,
Bloomfield was developing an interest in Eastern music, particularly the Indian raga form, and his preoccupation exerted a major influence on the next Butterfield album, 1966's East-West. Driven by Bloomfield's jaw-dropping extended solos on his instrumental title cut, East-West merged blues, jazz, world music, and psychedelic rock in an unprecedented fashion. The Butterfield band became a favorite live act on the emerging San Francisco music scene and in 1967, Bloomfield quit the group to permanently relocate there and pursue new projects.
Bloomfield quickly formed a new band called the Electric Flag with longtime Chicago cohort Nick
Gravenites on vocals. The Electric Flag was supposed to build on the innovations of East-West and accordingly featured an expanded lineup complete with a horn section, which allowed the group to add soul music to their laundry list of influences. The Electric Flag debuted at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and issued a proper debut album, A Long Time Comin', in 1968. Critics complimented the group's distinctive, intriguing sound, but found the record itself somewhat uneven.
Unfortunately, the band was already disintegrating; rivalries between members and shortsighted management -- not to mention heroin abuse -- all took their toll. Bloomfield himself left the band he'd formed before their album was even released. He next hooked up with organist Al Kooper, whom
he'd played with in the Dylan band, and cut Super Session, a jam-oriented record that spotlighted his own guitar skills on one half and those of Stephen Stills on the other. Issued in 1968, it received excellent reviews and moreover became the best-selling album of Bloomfield's career. Super Session's success led to a sequel, The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, which was recorded over three shows at the Fillmore West in 1968 and released the following year; it featured Bloomfield's on-record singing debut.
| MIKE BLOOMFIELD & JOHNNY WINTER |
Bloomfield, however, was wary of his commercial success and growing disenchanted with fame. He was also tired of touring and after recording the second album with Kooper, he effectively retired for a
while, at least from high-profile activities. He did, however, continue to work as a session guitarist and producer, and also began writing and playing on movie soundtracks (including some pornographic films by the Mitchell Brothers). He played locally and occasionally toured with Bloomfield and Friends, which included Nick Gravenites and ex-Butterfield mate Mark Naftalin. Additionally, he returned to the studio in 1973 for a session with John Hammond and New Orleans pianist Dr. John; the result, Triumvirate, was released on Columbia, but didn't make much of a splash.
Neither did Bloomfield's 1974 reunion with Electric Flag and neither did KGB, a short-lived
supergroup with Barry Goldberg, Rik Grech (Traffic), and Carmine Appice that recorded for MCA in 1976. During the late '70s, Bloomfield recorded for several smaller labels (including Takoma), usually in predominantly acoustic settings; through Guitar Player magazine, he also put out an instructional album with a vast array of blues guitar styles, titled If You Love These Blues, Play 'Em as You Please.
Unfortunately, Bloomfield was also plagued by alcoholism and heroin addiction for much of the '70s, which made him an unreliable concert presence and slowly cost him some of his longtime musical
associations (as well as his marriage). By 1980, he had seemingly recovered enough to tour in Europe; that November, he also appeared on-stage in San Francisco with Bob Dylan for a rendition of "Like a Rolling Stone." However, on February 15, 1981, Bloomfield was found dead in his car of a drug overdose; he was only 37.
By Steve Huey.
MIKE BLOOMFIELD AND AL KOOPER - 1968 THE LIVE ADVENTURES OF MIKE BLOOMFIELD AND AL KOOPER 1997
Mike Bloomfield And Al Kooper – 1968 The Live Adventures Of Mike Bloomfield And Al Kooper
Label: Columbia – COL 475978-2
Format: 2 x CD, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 1997
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock, Electric Blues
DISC ONE
01. Opening Speech (Speech [Spoken Word] – Mike Bloomfield) 1:31
02. The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) 5:33
03. I Wonder Who (Vocals – Mike) 6:01
04. Her Holy Modal Highness 8:57
05. The Weight 3:56
06. Mary Ann (Vocals – Mike) 5:19
07. Together 'Til The End Of Time (Piano – Roosevelt Gook/Vocals – Al) 4:14
08. That's All Right (Vocals – Mike) 3:18
09. Green Onions 5:20
MP3 @ 320 Size: 109 MB
Flac Size: 271 MB
DISC TWO
01. Opening Speech - Al Kooper (Speech [Spoken Word] – Al Kooper) 1:29
02. Sonny Boy Williamson (Guitar – Carlos Santana/Vocals – Al) 6:05
03. No More Lonely Nights (Vocals, Guitar – Elvin Bishop 12:23
04. Dear Mr. Fantasy (Vocals – Al) 8:09
05. Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong 10:53
06. Finale - Refugee (Guitar [Dropping On Floor] – Mike Bloomfield) 1:47
MP3 My MP3 Producer refuses to convert this CD to MP3
Flac Size: 244 MB
MUSICIANS
Al Kooper – organ, ondioline, piano (overdub as Roosevelt Gook on "Together 'Til the End of Time") and lead vocals
Mike Bloomfield – guitar and vocals
John Kahn – bass
Skip Prokop – drums
Carlos Santana – guitar on "Sonny Boy Williamson"
Elvin Bishop – guitar and lead vocal on "No More Lonely Nights"
Steve Miller and Dave Brown had also volunteered their services. Kooper says (in his book Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards) that Santana, Bishop and Miller performed on three or four songs each. He says Miller "played great", but does not appear on the album because Capitol Records would not give permission.
AL KOOPER AND MIKE BLOOMFIELD - FILMORE EAST - THE LOST CONCERT TAPES 12/13/68 2004
Al Kooper - Mike Bloomfield – Fillmore East: The Lost Concert Tapes 12/13/68
Label: Columbia – COL E253
Series: Live From The Vaults
Format: CD, Album, Remastered
Country: Europe
Released: 2004
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock
TRACKS
01. Introductions/Speech [Spoken Word] – Mike Bloomfield 1:27
02. One Way Out (Written-By – E. James, M. Sehorn, S. Williamson) 4:21
03. Mike Bloomfield's Introduction Of Johnny Winter/(Speech [Spoken Word] – Mike Bloomfield) 0:59
04. It's My Own Fault (Featuring – Johnny Winter/Written-By – B.B. King, J. Taub) 10:57
05. 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) (Written-By – P. Simon) 6:16
06. (Please) Tell Me Partner (Written-By – M. Bloomfield) 10:11
07. That's Alright, Mama (Written-By – A. Crudup) 3:40
08. Together Till The End Of Time (Written-By – F. Wilson) 4:30
09. Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong (Written-By – A. King) 8:41
10. Season Of The Witch (Written-By – D. Leitch) 8:59
MUSICIANS
Drums – Johnny Cresci
Executive-Producer – Bruce Dickinson
Guitar, Vocals – Johnny Winter (tracks: 4), Mike Bloomfield
Mastered By – Allan Tucker
Organ, Piano, Vocals – Al Kooper
Piano – Paul Harris
Producer – Al Kooper
Recorded December 13th & 14th 1968 at Bill Graham's Fillmore East.
© 2003 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
MP3 @ 320 Size: 141 MB
Flac Size: 354 MB
MIKE BLOOMFIELD - DON'T SAY THAT I AIN'T YOUR MAN! (ESSENTIAL BLUES 1964-1969) 1994
Mike Bloomfield - Don't Say That I Ain't Your Man! (Essential Blues 1964-1969)
Label: Columbia – 476721 2, Legacy – 476721 2
Series: Roots n' Blues, Contemporary Blues Masters
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: 1994
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues, Electric Blues
TRACKS
01. I've Got You In The Palm Of My Hand 2:26
02. Last Night 3:24
03. Feel So Good 2:54
04. Goin' Down Slow 3:40
05. I've Got My Mojo Working 2:39
06. Born In Chicago (With Butterfield Blues Band) 3:08
07. Work Song (With Butterfield Blues Band) 7:55
08. Killing Floor 4:11
09. Albert's Shuffle 6:54
10. Stop 4:23
11. Mary Ann 5:28
12. Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong 11:03
13. Don't Think About It Baby 2:34
14. It Takes Time (With Nick Gravenites) 4:07
15. Carmelita Skiffle 5:13
MP3 @ 320 Size: 167 MB
Flac Size: 434 MB
MICKAEL BLOOMFIELD WITH NICK GRAVENITES AND FRIENDS - LIVE AT BILL GRAHAM'S FILMORE WEST 1969
Michael Bloomfield With Nick Gravenites An
d Friends – Live At Bill Graham's Fillmore West 1969
Label: Raven Records – RVCD-293
Format: CD, Album, Compilation, Remastered
Country: Australia
Released: 2009
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock
TRACKS
01. It Takes Time (Vocals – Nick Gravenites/Written-By – Otis Rush, Willie Dixon) 4:27
02. Oh Mama (Written-By, Vocals – Michael Bloomfield) 2:59
03. Love Got Me
(Vocals – Bob Jones/Written-By – Arthur Conley) 2:37
04. Blues On A Westside (Written-By, Vocals – Nick Gravenites) 15:18
05. One More Mile To Go (Vocals – Taj Mahal/Written-By – Joseph Cotton) 10:35
06. It's About Time (Written-By, Vocals – Nick Gravenites) 7:00
07. Carmelita Skiffle (Instrumental) (Written-By – B. T. Jones, M. Naftalin, M. Bloomfield, N. Gravenites) 5:11
08. Killing My Love (Written-By, Vocals – Nick Gravenites) 5:18
09. Gypsy Good Time (Written-By, Vocals – Nick Gravenites) 4:30
10. Holy Moly (Written-By, Vocals – Nick Gravenites) 3:54
11. Moon Tune (Written-By, Vocals – Nick Gravenites) 8:32
BONUS TRACK
12. Mary Ann (Drums – Skip Prokop/Organ, Vocals, Producer – Al Kooper) 5:28
MUSICIANS
Baritone Saxophone – Snooky Flowers
Bass – John Kahn
Congas – Dino Andino
Drums, Vocals – Bob Jones (tracks: 1 to 11)
Guitar, Vocals – Michael Bloomfield
Liner Notes – Ian McFarlane
Mastered By – Warren Barnett
Organ – Ira Kamin (tracks: 1 to 11)
Piano – Mark Naftalin (tracks: 1 to 11)
Producer – Elliot Mazer (tracks: 1 to 11)
Tenor Saxophone – Noel Jewkis
Trumpet – John Wilmeth
Vocals – Taj Mahal
Vocals, Guitar – Nick Gravenites (tracks: 1 to 11)
MP3 @ 320 Size: 163 MB
Flac Size: 414 MB
NICK GRAVENITES - MY LABORS (EXPANDED EDITION) 2008 (WITH MIKE BLOOMFIELD)
This is a strong major-label debut that the Chicago-born San Francisco bluesman was unable to capitalize on. Some of the tracks are from the same session that produced Live at Bill Graham's Fillmore West by Mike Bloomfield. Gravenites, an exceptional songwriter and decent singer, benefits from the presence of the amazing Bloomfield. He elevates the fierce "Moon Tune" to dizzying heights with two dazzling, lengthy solos. Quicksilver Messenger Service backs former producer Gravenites on several studio tracks.
Nick Gravenites – My Labors
Label: Sony Records Int'l – SICP 1965
Series: New Rock Series Young Power
Format: CD, Album, Limited Expanded Edition, Reissue, Remastered
Country: Japan
Released: Dec 24, 2008
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues
TRACKS
01. Killing My Love 4:29
02. Gypsy Good Time 3:55
03. Holy Moly 5:19
04. Moon Tune 8:48
05. My Labors 2:55
06. Throw Your Dog A Bone 2:35
07. As Good As You've Been To This World 10:04
08. Wintry Country Side 2:57
09. Work Me Lord 13:15
10. Born In Chicago 4:25
MP3 @ 320 Size: 137 MB
Flac Size: 358 MB
MIKE BLOOMFIELD - LATE AT McCABE'S GUITAR WORKSHOP, JANUARY 1, 1977
Mike Bloomfield – Late At Night - McCabe's January 1, 1977
Label: RockBeat Records – ROC-3421
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2018
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues
ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCES
01. Hymn Tune 3:34
02. Frankie And Johnny 4:41
03. I'm With You Always 3:40
04. Some Of These Days 4:58
05. Stagger Lee 4:29
06. Darktown Strutter's Ball 4:04
07. I'm Glad I'm Jewish 3:16
ELECTRIC PERFORMANCES
08. Medley: (3:52)
8a. Jockey Blues
8b. Old Folks Boogie
09. Eyesight To The Blind 4:14
10. Bloomfield Chats 0:55
11. Don't You Lie To Me 3:32
12. A-Flat Boogaloo 5:17
MUSICIANS
Bass – Buell Neidlinger
Drums – Buddy Helm
Executive-Producer – Arny Schorr, David Skye
Guitar, Vocals – Mike Bloomfield
Keyboards – Mark Naftalin
Mastered By – Randy Perry
Recorded live at McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA on Januay 1, 1977 during the late show.
MP3 @ 320 Size: 109 MB
Flac Size: 241 MB
MIKE BLOOMFIELD - LIVE AT NIGHT McCABE'S GUITAR WORKSHOP, JANUARY 1, 1977
Mike Bloomfield – Live At McCabe's Guitar Workshop, January 1, 1977
Label: RockBeat Records – ROC 3392
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2017
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues
TRACKS
01. Women Lovin' Each Other
02. Don't You Lie To Me
03. Cherry Red
04. Hully Gully
05. Wings Of An Angel (Prisoner's Song)
06. Walkin' The Floor Over You
07. Junko Partner
08. Knockin' Myself Out
09. Prescription For The Blues
10. You Must Have Jesus
MUSICIANS
Bass – Buell Neidlinger
Drums – Buddy Helm
Guitar, Vocals – Michael Bloomfield
Keyboards – Mark Naftalin
Mastered By [Mastering] – Randy Perry
Producer [Executive Archival Producer] – David Skye
MP3 @ 320 Size: 103 MB
Flac Size: 210 MB
MIKE BLOOMFIELD - LIVE AT THE OLD WALDORF 1976 - 77
Mike Bloomfield – Live At The Old Waldorf 1976 - 77
Label: Columbia – 491575 2
Series: Legacy
Format: CD, Album, Remastered 1998
Country: Austria, Europe
Released: 1976 - 77
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues, Electric Blues
TRACKS
01. Blues Medley: (7:45)
1a. Sweet Little Angel (Written-By – B.B. King, Jules Bihari)
1b. Jelly Jelly (Written-By – Billy Eckstein, Earl Hines)
02. Feel So Bad (Written-By – Lightnin' Hopkins) 4:26
03. Bad Luck Baby (Written-By – Nick Gravenites) 5:52
04. The Sky Is Cryin' (Written-By – Elmore James) 5:53
05. Dancin' Fool (Written-By – Nick Gravenites) 3:49
06. Buried Alive In The Blues (Written-By – Nick Gravenites) 4:55
07. Farther Up The Road (Written-By – Don Robey, Joe Veasey) 3:16
08. Your Friends (Written-By – Deadric Malone) 7:18
09. Bye, Bye (Written-By – Nick Gravenites) 4:25
MUSICIANS
Bass – Roger (Jellyroll) Troy
Drums – Bob Jones , George Rains (tracks: 1a, 1b)
Harmonica – Mark Adams (tracks: 1a, 1b)
Lead Guitar – Mike Bloomfield
Lead Vocals – Bob Jones (tracks: 2, 4), Roger (Jellyroll) Troy (tracks: 1a, 1b, 7, 8)
Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar – Nick Gravenites (tracks: 3, 5, 6, 9)
Mastered By – Al Quaglieri, Chris Athens, Don Ososke
Organ [Hammond] – Barry Goldberg (tracks: 1a, 1b)
Piano – Mark Naftalin (tracks: 1a to 3, 5 to 9), Unknown Artist (tracks: 4)
Producer, Photography By, Liner Notes – Norman Dayron
Recorded By – Norman Dayron (tracks: 2 to 9)
Tracks recorded live at Old Waldorf, San Francisco, CA:
2 & 7, March 14, 1977
3 & 4, May 16, 1977
5, February 27, 1977
6 & 8, December 19, 1976
9, March 13, 1977
Tracks 1a & 1b recorded before an audience at Record Plant, Sausalito, CA, on November 10, 1974 and broadcast live on KSAN radio.
MP3 @ 320 Size: 112 MB
Flac Size: 292 MB
MIKE BLOOMFIELD - THE ROOT OF BLUES 1994
Mike Bloomfield – The Root Of Blues
Label: LaserLight Digital – 12 357
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 1994
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues
TRACKS
01. City Girl
02. The Train Is Gone
03. Hey Foreman
04. WDIA
05. Death Cell Rounder Blues
06. Mama Lion
07. Thrift Shop Rag
08. Death In The Family
09. Kansas City
10. East Colorado Blues
MUSICIANS
Acoustic Guitar – Woody Harris
Baritone Saxophone – Hart McNee
Bass – Doug Killmer
Drums – Tom Donlinger
Piano – Ira Kamin
Slide Guitar, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Piano, Organ, Drums – Michael Bloomfield
Tenor Saxophone – Ron Stallings
MP3 @ 320 Size: 76 MB
Flac Size: 191 MB
MIKE BLOOMFIELD - KNOCKIN' MYSELF OUT 2002
Mike Bloomfield – Knockin' Myself Out
Label: Fuel 2000 – 302 061 256 2
Format: CD, Compilation, Stereo
Country: US
Released: Nov 19, 2002
Genre:Rock
Style: Blues
TRACKS
01. Knockin' Myself Out (Songwriter – Lillian Green) 4:03
02. Sloppy Drunk (Arranged By – Mike Bloomfield/Songwriter – Traditional) 5:59
03. You Took My Money ((Arranged By – Mike Bloomfield/Songwriter – Traditional) 3:59
04. Peepin' an A-Moanin' Blues (Songwriter – Mike Bloomfield) 2:38
05. The Gospel Truth (Songwriter – Norman Dayron) 4:42
06. Lights Out (Songwriter – Mac Rebennack, Seth David) 1:48
07. Orphan's Blues (Songwriter – Robert Brown) 5:12
08. Mr. Johnson And Mr. Dunn (Songwriter – Mike Bloomfield) 2:52
09. Peach Tree Man (Songwriter – Mike Bloomfield) 3:46
10. Saturday Night (Songwriter – Mike Bloomfield) 1:51
11. Your Friends (Songwriter – Deadric Malone) 6:55
12. It'll Be Me (Songwriter – Jack Clement) 2:59
13. At The Cross (Songwriter – Louis Johnson, Rev. Claude Jeter) 4:34
14. Crisco Kid (Songwriter – Mike Bloomfield) 6:45
Producer – Norman Dayron
Tracks 1,2,3 & 5 taken from the album "Michael Bloomfield" (TAK 7063)
Tracks 6,7 & 11 taken from the album "Between The Hard Place And The Ground" (TAK 7070)
Track 12 taken from the album "Cruisin' For A Bruisin'" (TAK 7091)
Tracks 4, 8 & 13 taken from the album "Analine "(TAK 1059)
Tracks 9 & 10 previously unrealeased on CD
Track 14 previously unrealeased
MP3 @ 320 Size: 139 MB
Flac Size: 292 MB
Al Kooper on Urban Aspirines HERE
Al Kooper + Mike Bloomfield + Steve Stills: Super Session HERE
Nick Gravenites Live In Greece HERE