Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Suggestions?

Hey All,

I've heard only good things about The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, so I'm looking to start exploring their catalogue. I've heard the place to start is their self-titled album from 1965 and East-West from 1966. What versions should I look for? Both were issued on CD in 1990 and are of course available to download (oddly enough East-West is available to download on Amazon and itunes in two different versions...one listed at "2007" for 6.99 and the other "2010" for 9.99). Which versions sound the best? Would love to hear your suggestions.

 

A quick fix.

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=2584615&postcount=18

 

I love EAST-WEST. The only version I have is the original version that I bought in 1987, mastered by Bruce Botnik, silver to the center. It sounds real nice.

 

So go for the two-fer? How's the sound? Any remasters I should be looking for?

 

I got the (first) two-fer, but may have plumped for the 5CD box if I had read the following, well detailed, Amazon UK reviewers opinion first:

(Apparently the two-fers & box use the same stereo remasters).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-A...7AHE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299340919&sr=8-1

"Aping the success of Sony's similarly packaged 5CD box sets, WEA is releasing over FORTY x 5CD "Original Album Series" mini box sets of their own. Issued in the UK and Europe, the artists featured stretch from rhythm 'n' blues icons of the 1950s (Ray Charles and Clyde McPhatter with The Drifters) all the way through to Metal And Indie bands of the 2000s (Dokken and Echo & The Bunnymen). For those interested, I've compiled a full listing of titles in the series in the 'comment' section attached to this review (some are superb, some are not).

Here's the fine-detail for THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND set - released Monday 1 March 2010 in the UK on Elektra/Rhino 8122 79834 0, "Original Album Series" 5CD box set breaks down as follows (all are Stereo mixes):

Disc 1 is "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band" their 11-track debut album released December 1965 on Elektra EKS 7294 in the USA (38:09 minutes)

Disc 2 is "East-West" their 9-track 2nd album released October 1966 on Elektra EKS 7315 in the USA (44:57 minutes)

Disc 3 is "The Resurrection Of Pigboy Crabshaw" their 9-track 3rd album released January 1968 on Elektra EKS 74015 in the USA (45:45 minutes)

Disc 4 is "In My Own Dream" their 7-track 4th album released August 1968 on Elektra EKS 74025 in the USA (34:30 minutes)

Disc 5 is "Keep On Moving" their 12-track 5th album released October 1969 on Elektra EKS 74053 in the USA (42:11 minutes)

ARTWORK/PACKAGING:
The five single card sleeves reflect the 'original' front and rear US LP artwork (the gatefolds are unfortunately not reproduced). Also each front sleeve is now 'bordered' with a colour and the label on the CD then reflects that colour code - Green for Disc 1, Light Blue for 2, Orange for 3, Dark Blue for 4 and Brown for 5. It would have been more appropriate to have the original label colour configurations - maybe even the Elektra inner bags (like they did on the Doors albums in the Complete Studio Recordings box set), but alas... The track list is to the left on the CD label with band members and recording credits listed on the right (as there's no booklet nor site to download details from - as there is on the Sony issues - this is some compensation to the lack of readable details).

It has to be said that the outer card box is lightweight and therefore disappointingly flimsy (unlike the glossy hard-card Sony issues). Having said that, the card sleeves still look cool once out of the box and it's nice to see the original artwork used - which in these cases - are very sweet to look at (it really makes such a big difference on the Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Drifters and Clyde McPhatter rear sleeves too - beautiful original album artwork). As you can see from the timings, there are no bonus tracks.

SOUND:
Some CD sites selling these sets seemed to have automatically 'presumed' that each is "digitally remastered", but it categorically does NOT state that on the outer box or any of the card sleeves or discs - and rather too conveniently - neither website for Rhino USA or UK has any info on the series at all. But as these albums have been remastered before, it's obvious from the great sound that's what you're getting here - the music is bluesy and ballsy - really full and warm (unlike the Little Feat, Bread, Los Lobos, Chris Rea and Rickie Lee Jones sets which are just 80's discs repackaged - see my Little Feat box set review with regard to this). Also - the first two albums feature Mike Bloomfield on lead and slide guitar with Elvin Bishop contributing guitar on all bar the last one [Buzzy Feiten stepped in his place].

If you want a slice of Sixties Blues-Rock, then you can't go much wrong with these albums (although for me the quality really tapers off on Disc 5). Fans who already own these treasured LPs on previous CD incarnations may balk at acquiring this box set just to have those dinky little card sleeves, but once you see them, you may not be able to resist! Others however should just dive in and enjoy...

I just wish some of the other boxes were as good (presentation and soundwise) as this..."

 

These two are more laid back and very worth picking too.

 

the 5 disc set sounds great....but I'm really only interested in the first two albums. Is this the best source?

 

You might want to check out 'Whats Shakin' - a 1965 Electra label compilation album with a few great Butterfield tracks, especially Lovin' Cup. (the comp also has Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood & early Lovin' Spoonful)

 

If you're interested in the more raw-n-rootsy early material, I highly recommend The Original Lost Elektra Sessions. Somewhat rarer tracks, good sound.

Re: sound... someone please correct me as needed, but after buying a couple versions, I don't sense that any of these early titles have been remastered beyond their initial CD release. The Anthology comp sounds no different than previous Elektra CDs. And if those European two-fers are remasters, I can't detect it. (I've never done a visual analysis.) If anyone knows differently, I'd be interested to hear about it.

Meanwhile, studio titles beyond the first two that are must-haves are The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw and In My Own Dream. They do stray into experimental territory with bits of jazz and SF psychedelia, but are excellent. I expect quick refutation for this, but these post-Bloomfield albums push Elvin Bishop to the front to great effect; I've always felt he was the better guitarist (and I'm a Bloomfield fan fer sure).

The other must-have title is Live. From 1970, post-Bishop, but plenty strong. This is really about Paul Butterfield anyway; he was always the boss of that band. The expanded 2-disc Rhino Handmade version is hard to find but worth it. There is a readily available 1-disc version that covers (most of?) the original 2-LP release.

Here's the Bishop band from Monterey with Mike Bloomfield looking on with smiling approval: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3LEhfbKCSc&mode=related&search=

 

Guitar/Mike Bloomfield fans are always going to go with East/West. It's a good album. As a jazzer and AACM guy, as well as someone who used to hang out on the Lower East Side with drummer Phillip Wilson, I second the recommendation of those two albums which include the horns of David Sanborn and Gene Dinwiddie along with Wilson's drums.

Wilson was in the original Roscoe Mitchell Art Ensemble before it became the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and gigged all over with everybody after he left Paul Butterfield. He told me he also did session work for Stax. He was gone young, murdered in NYC in 1992.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip_Wilson_(drummer)

 

East West

East West is probably their finest moment. I have this one on vinyl and it sounds good. I intend to get their first album at some point.

Scott

 

FWIW, I've heard two East-West CDs. The earlier one has a more laid back sound common to the CDs from the era (and the 1st CD of the S/T album). The other, besides being louder, has noticeable limiting in spots. (edit: the more natural one is the US CD, the louder one is the European release).

 

I agree. I enjoy this scrapped version of the first album better than the first album itself. The band was smoking on these sessions.

 

This one is a must for any Butterfield fan.

 

Simply amazing! Butterdfield's harp is like a sax. What a player!

 

My all time favorite white blues band. First two albums of course and without any hesitation (I have the greek pressed vinyls ..., and the twofer). The LIVE mentioned above is simply amazing if not only for the liberty and time Paul takes to improvise. And the Band SMOKES! Pigboy Crabshaw IMO is the best studio effort of the post Bloomfield era.

However grab in any manner the following:

 

Dropping In is very nice, the Unicorn isn't as good of sound, but also fab... the Newport tracks are scattered around on a couple of legit releases... why aren't these collected on one cd?
Must not forget the Live East West cd that Mark Naftlin put out a few years ago... three (or is it four) different performances of the title tune

 

How does the sound in the five CD box compare to the PB Anthology? I have always thought that the Anthology was a bit bright.

 

As noted up-thread, this is essential Butterfield. Originally a double LP, produced by Todd Rundgren, this absolutely crucial Live recording has recently been issued in Japan on a "Digitally Remastered" Elektra (exulta) CD and it does sound 'blow you away' brilliant!

 

Haven't heard the Anthology but you will have no worries about any "bright" sound with the Original Album Series box. Purchase recommended!

 

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I bought the first two albums on Vinyl about 25 years ago: both re-issues on Edsel from the eighties. I like the sound more than on any DVD transfer I've heard so far.

However, yesterday I got 'East-West' on Golden Eketra, first US Stereo pressing from August 1966, and this sounds a little better than the Edsel release.

Also I got yesterday the first album in the very first US Mono edition from October 1965 - and the sound is mind-blowing: better, stronger, crisper, more dynamic than every Stereo Mix of that album I've ever come across.

The link below shows five photos of this old Mono original on Golden Elektra, which I've uploaded in a German Music Forum:


............................. http://old-fidelity.de/thread-13439-post-702341.html#pid702341



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I've had at least two versions of each format of PBBB and East-West and I suggest that you check out the new SACD's - they are amazing.

 

I have the 2 cd-set electra remasters I alway's put on East-West the Psychedelic part. However I am also into the blues and when I put on the first album I mostly listen to shake..moneymaker, look over yonder..moyo and mellow down..
So I didn't listen that much to Born in Chicago (not that its not good, just prefer one track more than others). But now I listened to it recently and I happen to have three copies of this cd-set.
All three have a 'Fluttering' Born in Chicago track. Now I also have an eighties cd-version (not remastered) that has no 'fluttering' sound arround this track. Especially the first minute it has this sound I never detected before.
Its a trembling effect that seems not to belong to the music. Now the eighties cd is much older and does not have bad sound. So I reckon that this cd from 2001 is not suffering from cd-rot or anything like that.
My question is does anyone here have this set? and does he/she have the same experience? Why does this track have this fluttering sound. CD has nr. 812273571-2 nr. is a Warner product under the Electra label.

Apart from this sound I have not found any other mishaps from this release and I recommend it together with the original lost electra sessions (especially "Hate to see you go.." a really driving track and awesome harmonica)

So does anyone know the criticism of this release soundwise?