The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: East West (1966)
October 2007
It was 2 years ago this time that I succeeded in freaking my entire family out when the news surfaced of my sudden heart attack. There were a lot of questions that would hopefully be answered in the next few days. In the meantime, all I could do was be patient and listen to doctor’s and nurse’s orders… After the initial drama subsided, I calmly lay in my hospital bed; reminiscing about things I hadn’t thought about in a long time. I turned my head and gazed out the window at the luminous city lights. Crazy how one day everything can be going fine and then suddenly in a finger snap change so fast… Closing my eyes, I slipped backwards into time; scenes from the past entered into my reflective mind…
Flashback 1966
I was brought up in a family where music was a big part of the household setting. There was always something playing. My mom loved Tom Jones and would listen to songs like Its Not Unusual,” and “What’s New Pussycat.” If my sister wasn’t watching The Monkees television show, she was listening to The Beatles “Revolver.” My father would listen to the big jazz band sounds of Gene Krupa and Benny Goodman. He also loved reminiscing about “WW2” while playing tunes on the harp. Afterward, he would reply, “Do you want to hear it backwards?” He would then turn completely around and play the song over again. My dad was a character.
However, the best scene was in the room I shared with my older brother. Eight years older than me and an aspiring guitarist, he would practice endlessly into the night as I pretended to sleep in the bunk bed above. Those early years really influenced my taste in music… Now my brother never allowed me to touch his records because of my age. But like any other kid I didn’t really listen well to specific orders. So whenever he wasn’t home, I was all over those LP’s like a dirty shirt.
Not wanting to get caught, I ever so carefully slid The Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s East West record out of its cardboard sleeve and placed it on the turntable. I lined up the stylus and it popped into its groove without a scratch this time. The opening cut “Walkin’ Blues” played and its rich soulful sound filled the room. Listening to the album I remembered several of the tunes my brother played on some of those late nights. And I also recognized songs like “Work Song” and “Two Trains Running” that he covered with his blues band when they rehearsed in the basement of our house. It was these moments where I realized that music was something I wanted to be a part of somehow. But there was still plenty of time to figure that stuff out…
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
was one of those rare ensembles that were soulful, charismatic and incredibly influential. Two major players stood out as soloists in the group; Paul Butterfield, a talented harmonica player and vocalist, and Michael Bloomfield on electric guitar. On East West both get a chance to display expressive originality. The contrast between Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop’s more traditional solos are nothing short of spectacular.
Butterfield was born and raised in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. As a teenager, he studied flute and later developed a love for the blues harmonica. Teaming up with the blues loving Elvin Bishop, they both began hanging around musicians such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Junior Wells. Forming a band with Jerome Arnold and Sam Lay and Bloomfield they began introducing the blues to a whole new audience. The band was then signed by Elektra Records.
Butterfield and Bloomfield composed the title track East West. This tune would create a unique shift in music history. It was more of a jazz eastern Indian raga piece with long improvisational solos by members of the band. At this point in time no one heard much of the sitar in blues, but Bloomfield manipulated his guitar to create a sound that was totally unique at the time. Butterfield complimented Bloomfield with a distinctive harmonica sound of his own… When The Paul Butterfield Blues Band played at The Fillmore in San Francisco in the summer of 1966, the word spread and dozens of local bands followed in the style of East West; helping to create the psychedelic sound of Haight Ashbury.
East West was never commercially successful, but it was critically acclaimed. I’ve listened to it several times lately, and considering this album came out in 1966, it sounds fresh and unique even today. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was indeed revolutionary and created a sound that emerged as the dominant rock music of the late 1960s.
Some further information regarding Paul Butterfield see below:
- The Paul Butterfield Fund and Society (PBFS) -
The PBFS was established by Gabriel Butterfield (Paul’s Son) and Salli Squitieri, with the assistance of Dan Aykroyd and his wife Donna Dixon Aykroyd. It is also sponsored by a New York City based non-profit organization called Fractured Atlas. In their own words,
“PBFS is membership supported and dedicated to the preservation and revival of the memory, legacy and many contributions of Paul Butterfield and to the rich traditions of the Blues styles of music through the support of the arts and those involved with the arts. As PBFS grows and secures a sound operational foundation for the long stand we will strive to assist struggling artists with emergency relief, project support and cultural enrichment, particularly those creative endeavors with focus on projects dedicated to underprivileged and at risk children.”
In The Present
During some of those nights I spent in the hospital two years back, I started the thought processes that would eventually bring this blog to life. Through the persona of The Blues Blogger I utilized the healing power of music and re-discovered my love for writing as a result. When I think back and reflect on all the tunes that took place back then, it’s no wonder I developed an innate passion for music… The Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s East West stands out as a timeless and remarkably influential electric blues LP that even after 43 years many of us continue to remember and will never forget…
(Currently I’ve never felt better, and the events of 2 years ago made me make some serious changes. I’ve lost 70 pounds, continue to exercise daily and eat way better than I ever have thanks to my wife…)
Please Add Your Comments Below
So now it’s your turn? Has the music of Paul Butterfield played any significance in your life? Were you aware of the importance of this album in music history? Did you also know that Paul Butterfield is currently not in the rock n roll hall of fame? Don’t you think that should change?
Be Well,
The Blues Blogger
I'm Tide [3:57m]: 
