Michael Bloomfield: If You Love These Blues: An Oral History

By Jan Mark Wolkin

Book Overview

Guitarist Michael Bloomfield shot to stardom in the '60s with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Bob Dylan, the Electric Flag and on Al Kooper's "Super Session." His story is told in the words of his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879306173
• ISBN13: 9780879306175
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Backbeat
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 1.1" x 1.1"

Customer Reviews

Essential for any Bloomfield fan

This is, and will probably remain, THE book on Mike Bloomfield. The only other book worth having is Ed Ward's "Rise And Fall Of An American Guitar Hero", which is out of print and very expensive in the secondary market; Ward's book also has some inaccuracies. For many people, Mike Bloomfield is someone they know from the famed "Super Session" album from the late 1960s. Others may know him from the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Few, however, realize the true breadth and depth of his recording career or his intelligence and humanity. This book goes a long way to painting a picture of who and what Mike really was. This book is basically a long collection of quotes and remembrances of Mike by the people who were part of his life. In a loose sense of the word, it is a biography. It captures, more importantly, Mike as a person and the truly extraordinary person he was. The CD is worth the price of the book alone, containing three solo acoustic tracks from Norman Dayron's apartment in January 1964 and four live performances from October 1964 (three electric and one piano). The discography is about as good and up to date as is available. I am working on a proper discography, which I hope to have published within a year. If you like Mike Bloomfield or his music or are just plain curious about this extraordinary human being, this book is absolutely essential.

Insightful Tragedy

After seeing Rory Gallagher play live, I sought out every electric blues album I could find. Super Session introduced me to Michael and captured the blues sound that I had been searching for. This book provides great insight into Michael's contribution to the Chicago Blues, the "day Dylan went electric," etc. The book consists entirely of interviews, which initially made me hesitant, but once I started, I couldn't put it down since they are very effective at personalizing the stories. I knew that Michael died tragically of a heroin overdose and that he was somewhat difficult & unpredictable, but this book really opened my eyes to the turbulent rollercoaster of his life and the lessons they provide. Michael was the quinessential bluesman whose life reflected what the blues are all about. I am not an emotional person, but I was vividly moved after reading the book. I wished he would have tried to fill the gaping hole in his life by getting down on his knees and seeking divine help rather than trying to fill it with the poison he chose instead. If you're new to Michael's music, some of his electric blues masterpieces are 'Wintry Countryside' & 'Blues on a Westside' from the Filmore West album (now on Nick Gravenite's My Labors CD), 'Sweet Little Angel/Jelly Jelly' on Live at the Old Waldorf, 'It's my own Fault' (w/Johnny Winter) on the Filmore East CD, 'East-West' & 'I Got a Mind to Give up Living' w/the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and 'Texas' w/Electric Flag. Buy the book and treasure his memory. Buy the CD's and enjoy some great electric blues.

Great book about the guitar hero Michael Bloomfield

Finally we got a new book on the influental US guitar hero Michael Bloomfield. It takes us inside the story of this great musicians life. It's not glitter for sure, but it's real. A must for every guitar afficionado. A highly recommended buy for blues and guitar lovers.

Listen To This Book

The cadence of this book moves at a tempo similar to Michael Bloomfield's life and music. Sometimes the words fly so fast they take away your breath; in other parts, every syllable inflicts white-hot pain in your soul. A floating, oral history biography isn't a new literary device, but it's certain the most excellent approach for someone so multidimensional as Bloomfield. Even the most hardcore fan will discover dozens of new stories in this book. To the newly initiated, the book explains a vital period of blues history. I surrendered to the book's spell, which is every bit as delicious and intricate as a prolonged Bloomfield solo on a good Saturday night. The bonus rarities CD is worth the price of admission alone, so how can you miss on this purchase?