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Music gives soul to universe, wings to mind, flight to imagination, charm to sadness, and life to everything.

Plato

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Paul Butterfield - North South (1981 us, funky blues rock, japan edition)



Butterfield the blues harp master would keep busy with session work through the end of the 1970s, and toured with the Band's Levon Helm and his RCO All Stars.  Paul Butterfield remained signed to Bearsville Records, and made his proper solo debut in 1976, releasing  "Put It In Your Ear" in Los Angeles with renowned sessioneers like Chuck Rainey, Timothy Drummond, James Jameson, Fred Carter, Jr., Ben Keith, Eric Gale and Bernard Purdie, as well as Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of The Band.

“North South” (referring to 1966’s “East West”) was recorded in 1981 at Hi Records’ Royal Recording Studios in Memphis, and was produced by the legendary Willie Mitchell. It features Hi’s rhythm and brass sections playing throughout.  In a sense it's not a bad album, but it’s far out from the older recordings, not even to his most recent, but judging the situation and the period production with the overuse of synthesizers and stuff like that I think it sounds pleasant.

In 1986 he released his last album, "The Legendary Paul Butterfield Rides Again". Butterfield died in May 1987 at the age of 45, suffering a heart attack that was probably brought on by years of drug and alcohol abuse.


Tracks
1.I Get Excited (Bradley, Fisher) - 3:34
2.Get Some Fun in Your Life (Turner) - 4:00
3.Footprints on the Windshield Upside Down (Carlisle, McClinton) - 3:20
4.Catch a Train (Bradley, Fisher) - 2:56
5.Bread and Butterfield (Toles) - 4:28
6.Living in Memphis (Turner) - 4:07
7.Slow Down (Cobb) - 4:38
8.I Let It Go (To My Head) (Fuller, Toles) - 2:54
9.Baby Blue (Greenfield, Sedaka) - 5:07

Musicians
*Paul Butterfield - Harmonica, Vocals
*Steve Cobb - Bass, Percussion
*Eddie Fisher - Drums
*Jack Hale - Trombone
*James Hooker - Piano
*Wayne Jackson - Trumpet
*Andrew Love - Tenor Sax
*Willie Mitchell - Horn Arrangements, Percussion, String Arrangements
*Erma Shaw - Vocals
*Michael Toles - Guitar, Horn Arrangements, Piano, String Arrangements, Synthesizer, Vocals
*Julius Bradley - Vocals

Paul Butterfield's back pages
1964 -1969 Paul Butterfield's Blues Band (Their first 5 albums by request)

6 comments:

  1. Awesome, thank you so very much kind sir.

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  2. Thank you for another PBBB album - very much appreciated Marios!

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  3. I've heard only a couple of tracks from this one. Thanks very much...

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  4. Such a shame "Butter" died at 44, I'm positve he had a lot more terrific music left to make! I often feel I can hear the world-weariness in Butter's harp playing, and what better instrument to express the blues than the centuries-old mouth organ. Of course the up-tempo numbers featuring the harp are primo also, but as Donovan once said "Hey Gyp, Dig the Slowness."

    Marios, many thanks and many blessings for "North South." Tonight, while knocking back a few pints of hops and grains, I will raise my glass in salutation of the Butter man! A second toast will be made in your honor, saluting all the hard work and effort you put forth in fulfilling requests, posting great music and for maintaining the overall health of Rockasteria. May Rockasteria enjoy the longest of lives, always filled with laughter, good health and prosperity. Cheers

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  5. Every Butterfield is welcome. Thanks Marios

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  6. Gracias Marios Thought you might want to know the file is missing first track, I Get Excited. I'm happy to get wuts there (I figure half-ass is better than no ass)

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