Butter was a badass. Probably had to restrain himself from saying they sucked or punching someone out. Whose idea was it to have a jazz band back a blues harp player?
The piano player should have been beaten and then shot right after the show. The drummer beaten with his own sticks. This is a great look at the 50's meets the 60's. Paul lives on!
@yogijb Yes, on one level maybe, but I think this is more like a studio jazz band tries to do what they think is the blues... but they don't really have a clue.
Wow... a genuine cultural artifact... and if I didn't know this was for real (I'm old enough to remember the show), I would think it was an SNL or SCTV sketch. The Dylan references, and Butterfield's anonymity, and the fact that they got NY session/jazz guys and not r'n'b guys to back him up, and the fact that it's in B&W, makes me think that this is about 1965.
(Geek-alert: Collyer, the MC, was the voice of Superman in several media. Look it up.)
I was a really big fan of both the Butterfield Blues Band ( Bloomfield Version ) and The Jim Kwsskin Jug Band and I still have all of those records. Can you imagine if he had Mike, Elvin, Sammy and Mark on that stage...?! They would have turned that studio into a riot zone...!!!
@BluesGeek I'm joking of course. Paul's boy Gabe runs a listening room for Blues and Filk lovers in Sopchoppy, Fla. right below Tallahasse. A chip off the old block and a real gentleman he is!!
@12347771 That guy is NOT Bowser. Go do your homework before you shoot your mouth off. Bowser is a guy from the Bronzx named Jon Bauman. Heres something else you had no clue about Shana-Na was at Woodstock in 69.
@ONENIGGER2ANOTHER Sorry I know he wasn't Mr. Bauman. Jon actually went before congress to help enact the law that now protects classic acts from having their names and stage personas stolen by fakers hoping to get booked by using their names. So no more fake drifters, Fake Vogues etc. Thanks partly to him. That's a professional in my opinion. G'day
@12347771 Your correct he was instrumental in doing that. A lot of people don't realize he is nothing like his alter ego Bowser actually quite the brilliant sort.
@HeartoftheDragonColo Hee hee Yes I know, Just throwing around some 50s TV names to see if anyone out there is still alive.........Should have dropped Durwood Kirby, Lonesome George Geobel, Dave "Peace" Garroway
ect. I'll bet the clip of Arthur Godfrey firing Julius La Rosa on the air is on youtube some where...........Peace
I saw this program in June 1966, and have tried to find a copy of it for years! Not Butter's band, of course, which is kind of funny. The question about Jim Kweskin's Jug Band (another very cool band) was quite prescient, considering Butterfield's later collaborations with Geoff Muldaur. Butterfield was the coolest guy in music then, and remains my favorite singer, after 46 years.
Actually bluesbrrd, that wasn't such an odd question...The Jim Kweskin Jug Band was a pretty popular group in the mid-60's...mainly known for the song "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune".
Amazing bit of TV and music history. I agree with the comments about the house band not cutting it. They're a band of jazzers, with the drummer trying to avoid playing a backbeat (too "unhip") and the rest of them lacking the muscle needed for that kind of music. The panel seemed to ask irrelevant questions about formal musical terms and the Modern Jazz Quartet, although Orson Bean seemed to clue in on Butterfield's association with Dylan, thus the silly "Dylanism" question.
This is from the late 65 early to mid 66 period----based on his playing style and appearance. What a remarkable fnd----where on earth did you get this----fantastic
the house band was doing lounge jazz licks, and thats not where butter was coming from... his days at big johns in chicago with arnold, lay, bishop, and bloomfield -were the finest. way beyond the stones at a similar period. miss em....
One of my favorties, Paul, he had to be great to play with this group..lol. Off beat off beat off beat, the group that is...Love Butterfield playing!!!
@BeatleUniversity Yeah, like you should know every black (negro) guitarist, like there would be only one or two black dudes in Huston playing guitar LOL LOL LOL - people where that comfortable
or Johnny "guitar" Watson, or Freddie King or Blind Lemon Jefferson, or Lightin' Hopkins or Lowell Fulson... lot of black guys playing blues around Texas at the time was my point lol
yeah, I know...Sam Lay (drums), Mark Naftalin (organ), Jerome Arnold (bass) , Elvin Bishop (guitar), and of course Mike Bloomfield (guitar) - that was the lineup for the first full studio album on Elektra...saw them at the Fillmore West, and at Newport '65 backing Bob...
Paul Butterfield, I had seen him play many times at the Cafe Au Go Go, in what was called Blues Bags. 1966, 1967 He was doing the East West material, as well as his previous albums. Even seen Waters/Hooker/Charlie Muscle White, Big Bill Broonzy/ same nights, and The Blues Project, That was all a partial list of one nights gig.
This is the most fun Youtube I have ever seen. My man! In reality how many of the rest of us young harp players thought we were Butterfield. I know I tried to channel him all the time. Still do. d
Butter was a badass. Probably had to restrain himself from saying they sucked or punching someone out. Whose idea was it to have a jazz band back a blues harp player?
smokestanklightnin 3 days ago
4:20 yikes!
kindredbandyou 1 week ago
Wow, that band really sucked. But of course Butterfield rocked!
rockafella60 1 month ago
8:52 - That awkward moment when the host says "good group to play with too huh"
aerospacepat 2 months ago
wonder if Elecktra forced him to do this show for promotional purposes. If so I'm glad they did.
lordritchie 3 months ago
In the face of adversity, Butterfield pulled it off.
mandoalbee 4 months ago
Heard once that this existed. Amazing.... lol.
limbojim222 4 months ago
Look at Butterfield's "Driftin and Driftin" from the Monterrey Festival, HQ and beautiful.
ghairraigh 4 months ago
9:10 - 9:15 Number 3 is a "Wigger." Come on that is freakin funny!
snicksnack88 5 months ago
Not a blues band but way cool to see the man play some blues!
MrJohntube12 5 months ago
talk about rare footage....
buffalobilly 6 months ago
This was in or 1966. The "Studio Band" is totally clueless.
JumpinJohnny0 6 months ago
Like this if you're a blues fan and was able to ID the real Paul Butterfield immediately.
Wonka275 6 months ago 8
Great stuff
ClevelandHost 11 months ago
WOW! need an ANACIN.
TrashcanBoogie 1 year ago
What a switch-a-roo. The bands on pills, and Butter is straight.
tynertyner 1 year ago
Many thanks.
A great artefact but as some of you folks say, it's How Not To Play Blues - apart from Butter, of course!
guitarandharp 1 year ago
The piano player should have been beaten and then shot right after the show. The drummer beaten with his own sticks. This is a great look at the 50's meets the 60's. Paul lives on!
yogijb 1 year ago 6
@yogijb you're right, the whole band should have been shot at sunrise!!!!
BLUESMANRONCHICAGO 8 months ago
@yogijb Yes, on one level maybe, but I think this is more like a studio jazz band tries to do what they think is the blues... but they don't really have a clue.
pdshane 8 months ago
I loved this video. The band was a little lame but Butterfied was Butterfield.
bluesguy02 1 year ago
Tom Poston, one of the squarest guys ever, saying "I dig"...LOL!
recordman64 1 year ago
this is simply priceless
ArtofDreaming1 1 year ago
Wow... a genuine cultural artifact... and if I didn't know this was for real (I'm old enough to remember the show), I would think it was an SNL or SCTV sketch. The Dylan references, and Butterfield's anonymity, and the fact that they got NY session/jazz guys and not r'n'b guys to back him up, and the fact that it's in B&W, makes me think that this is about 1965.
(Geek-alert: Collyer, the MC, was the voice of Superman in several media. Look it up.)
tuxguys 1 year ago
Comment removed
howtoplanaparty 1 year ago
@tuxguys Butterfield started bein famous a little in summer of 1965
howtoplanaparty 1 year ago
I was a really big fan of both the Butterfield Blues Band ( Bloomfield Version ) and The Jim Kwsskin Jug Band and I still have all of those records. Can you imagine if he had Mike, Elvin, Sammy and Mark on that stage...?! They would have turned that studio into a riot zone...!!!
ThomasDeLello 1 year ago
Paul had an affair with Dororthy Kilgallen while Art Linkletter watched during this taping.
Mike Bloomfield went out for drinks............Oh that's Bowser from Sha Na Na in the middle)
12347771 1 year ago 3
@12347771 smoke some more crack dude...
BluesGeek 1 year ago
@BluesGeek The band sucks. Look at Butterfield's wry smile when the guy talks about how good the band is!
ONENIGGER2ANOTHER 1 year ago
@BluesGeek I'm joking of course. Paul's boy Gabe runs a listening room for Blues and Filk lovers in Sopchoppy, Fla. right below Tallahasse. A chip off the old block and a real gentleman he is!!
12347771 1 year ago
@BluesGeek LMAO DATS FUNNY.
sharemysoul1 6 months ago
@12347771 That guy is NOT Bowser. Go do your homework before you shoot your mouth off. Bowser is a guy from the Bronzx named Jon Bauman. Heres something else you had no clue about Shana-Na was at Woodstock in 69.
ONENIGGER2ANOTHER 1 year ago
@ONENIGGER2ANOTHER Sorry I know he wasn't Mr. Bauman. Jon actually went before congress to help enact the law that now protects classic acts from having their names and stage personas stolen by fakers hoping to get booked by using their names. So no more fake drifters, Fake Vogues etc. Thanks partly to him. That's a professional in my opinion. G'day
12347771 1 year ago
@12347771 Your correct he was instrumental in doing that. A lot of people don't realize he is nothing like his alter ego Bowser actually quite the brilliant sort.
ONENIGGER2ANOTHER 1 year ago
@ONENIGGER2ANOTHER I think you gotta have brilliance to sustain yourself in any area of show business
12347771 1 year ago
@ONENIGGER2ANOTHER Butterfield played Woodstock, too.
ghairraigh 4 months ago
@12347771 say what?
cliffworks4321 1 year ago
@12347771 Funny-except of course neither Dorothy nor Art were in this show.
HeartoftheDragonColo 8 months ago
@HeartoftheDragonColo Hee hee Yes I know, Just throwing around some 50s TV names to see if anyone out there is still alive.........Should have dropped Durwood Kirby, Lonesome George Geobel, Dave "Peace" Garroway
ect. I'll bet the clip of Arthur Godfrey firing Julius La Rosa on the air is on youtube some where...........Peace
12347771 8 months ago
wow embarassing tv show,
paul rocks
Freethinker12341 1 year ago
OMG I used to watch this.... and I missed this? Love it !!! thank you !
bluesist 1 year ago
ooops......sorry abt the double post.
Vodichka9 1 year ago
I saw this program in June 1966, and have tried to find a copy of it for years! Not Butter's band, of course, which is kind of funny. The question about Jim Kweskin's Jug Band (another very cool band) was quite prescient, considering Butterfield's later collaborations with Geoff Muldaur. Butterfield was the coolest guy in music then, and remains my favorite singer, after 46 years.
Vodichka9 1 year ago
OMG that studio band! What, did they take one look at Butterfield's 'real' band and say "No Way...."?
whitefeet1 1 year ago
i GUESSED #1! But I agree, some of the questions are off the wall. A jug band? I would guess this is about 1964-65.
I love the 1950's & 60's in culture, movies, music. People still had some style and class...
bluesbrrd 1 year ago
Actually bluesbrrd, that wasn't such an odd question...The Jim Kweskin Jug Band was a pretty popular group in the mid-60's...mainly known for the song "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune".
franklowell 1 year ago
@franklowell
I was glued to the radio as a kid,
and my parents listened to jazz, folk
and popular music, but I never heard
the jug band. My mom had a date with
one of the Wayfarers - LOL!!
bluesbrrd 1 year ago
@bluesbrrd the panel asked questions about things they knew of. obviously, they knew little of da blues...
fanzappa 1 year ago
Amazing bit of TV and music history. I agree with the comments about the house band not cutting it. They're a band of jazzers, with the drummer trying to avoid playing a backbeat (too "unhip") and the rest of them lacking the muscle needed for that kind of music. The panel seemed to ask irrelevant questions about formal musical terms and the Modern Jazz Quartet, although Orson Bean seemed to clue in on Butterfield's association with Dylan, thus the silly "Dylanism" question.
russallert 1 year ago
Paul has the coolest voice ever!
PhilipSkovgaard 1 year ago
So cherry!
chelliegirl 1 year ago
wow, unbelievable...what a rare gem.
pretorious700 2 years ago
This is from the late 65 early to mid 66 period----based on his playing style and appearance. What a remarkable fnd----where on earth did you get this----fantastic
bloomharp 2 years ago 2
january '66 in fact
whest 2 years ago
LOL - I said 64-65! 6 of one....
bluesbrrd 1 year ago
WOW! What a shock! Never new Butter was on To Tell The Truth! I bought all his band's albums as a teenager! Thanks for posting!
upinhere7 2 years ago
the house band was doing lounge jazz licks, and thats not where butter was coming from... his days at big johns in chicago with arnold, lay, bishop, and bloomfield -were the finest. way beyond the stones at a similar period. miss em....
ColdChicago 2 years ago 2
Good group to play with?! LOL Yeah right!!
One of my favorties, Paul, he had to be great to play with this group..lol. Off beat off beat off beat, the group that is...Love Butterfield playing!!!
cedricleecason 2 years ago
4:20 "a Negro blues guitarist..."
How times have changed.
Doesn't it look like the questionnaire is strung out on something? He sure is stressed.
BeatleUniversity 2 years ago
@BeatleUniversity Yeah, like you should know every black (negro) guitarist, like there would be only one or two black dudes in Huston playing guitar LOL LOL LOL - people where that comfortable
Xelanderthomas 2 years ago
He had to mean T-Bone Walker, don't you think?
Faireweatherfriend 2 years ago
or Johnny "guitar" Watson, or Freddie King or Blind Lemon Jefferson, or Lightin' Hopkins or Lowell Fulson... lot of black guys playing blues around Texas at the time was my point lol
Xelanderthomas 2 years ago
Lot of great names for sure. I thought T-Bone Walker because of Stormy Monday, which was well-known on both sides of the fence.
Faireweatherfriend 2 years ago
I thought of Lightnin' Hopkins but I believe he's from Austin TX.
bluesbrrd 1 year ago
Or Lightnin' Hopkins.
banjochris 2 years ago
Ha ha! Amazing - but never heard of any of the panellists since...
blogward 2 years ago
One of them was pretty visible as a regular on Newhart in the 80s.
BlackMonk66 2 years ago
@blogward
Tom Poston was a regular on the Newhart show and Orson Bean (still alive) still shows up on some TV shows (Two and Half Men).
airmojo 2 years ago
yeah, I know...Sam Lay (drums), Mark Naftalin (organ), Jerome Arnold (bass) , Elvin Bishop (guitar), and of course Mike Bloomfield (guitar) - that was the lineup for the first full studio album on Elektra...saw them at the Fillmore West, and at Newport '65 backing Bob...
LarryKos 2 years ago
Drummer sounds like he's trying to play Peppermint Twist . Great video,Thanks
ntp608 2 years ago
Paul Butterfield, I had seen him play many times at the Cafe Au Go Go, in what was called Blues Bags. 1966, 1967 He was doing the East West material, as well as his previous albums. Even seen Waters/Hooker/Charlie Muscle White, Big Bill Broonzy/ same nights, and The Blues Project, That was all a partial list of one nights gig.
zenbock 2 years ago
yeah, that's one sad house band
joetube1 2 years ago
Unbelievable, but the band...not in the groove...
LarryKos 2 years ago 2
It's early in the morning...& they hadn't smoked any reefer yet...
BluesGeek 2 years ago 2
@LarryKos That 's not Paul's band .
ntp608 2 years ago
The real Paul Butterfield was the coolest of the three by far.
sallygal7 2 years ago
The cat in the middle looks like Lurch!!! (Ted Cassidy)
sfmusic 2 years ago
@sfmusic Actually, he looks like a British blues guy of that time, Long John Baldry.
tuxguys 1 year ago
I knew it was 1 from the start !!!
twoslices 2 years ago
a few days ago this clip had only 300 hits...but thanks to harp-l it now has over 1000....lets eat brownies!!!
BluesGeek 2 years ago
AWESOME!!! The "how many holes" question was the killer, though....
blake46long 2 years ago
Hah! Awesome! Great stuff for someone who was too young to have had the opportunity to see him live. Thanks for posting!
ttharold 2 years ago
Gosh, and I thought was number 2. LOL!
Great stuff. Thanks for posting this.
--Mojo Red
Harplicks 2 years ago
That was so cool
Diggsblues 2 years ago
This is the most fun Youtube I have ever seen. My man! In reality how many of the rest of us young harp players thought we were Butterfield. I know I tried to channel him all the time. Still do. d
bigdennism 2 years ago
love this!
tenbarsteam 2 years ago
This is too cool!!!!! I remember this show!!
anotheraoluser 2 years ago