The Michael Bloomfield Story - part 4

(You can find all 10 parts of this now-complete video bio by searching on "Michael Bloomfield Story")

IN CELEBRATION OF Michael Bloomfield's 67th birthday anniversary, mikebloomfieldamericanmusic.com offers a video biography of the legendary guitarist, detailing his remarkable career with images, interview clips and music. Created by filmmakers Nick Lerman and Alex Wernquest, and site manager David Dann, this 10-part narrative begins with Bloomfield as a young, up-and-coming guitarist recording for John Hammond Sr., playing with Bob Dylan and joining the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. It then follows Michael as he creates the Electric Flag and performs to standing ovations at Monterey, records "Super Session" with Al Kooper and then pursues a career playing music on his own terms. Included are excerpts from previously unheard Bloomfield recordings as well as rare and seldom-seen photos of the guitarist.

Please note that this video should not be confused with, and is not associated with, the soon to be completed feature documentary, "If You Love These Blues: The Life and Music of Mike Bloomfield," a Ravin' Films production. It is expected to be released in 2012.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mike
• Bloomfield
• Mike Bloomfield
• Michael Bloomfield
• blues guitar
• Les Paul
• guitar
• blues
• Jimi Hendrix
• Electric Flag
• Butterfield Blues Band
• Chicago blues
• Super Session
• Bob
• Dylan

[dstrobel3]

Why go to the "trouble' of making this doc w/out checking the "facts" there are countless mis-statements thru out this thing...ex. Chicago blues players weren't playing Les Pauls...the narrators voice is distracting...is he Joe Friday? this is a heartfelt tribute I give you that....but come on....get it right!!!! mention that Nick Gravenites is co author of East/West...nobody has mentioned Mikes insomnia...a key factor in his life...where is supersession....?? yikes doug

[bloomsdisco]

@dstrobel3 Patience, Doug. The sleep issue and Super Session are dealt with in Parts 5, 7 and 8. While Nick did get co-composer credit for "East-West" on the original release, his part in it was derived from a lengthy jam version of his "It's About Time" that MB and he did when they briefly had a band together before Mike joined Butterfield. "E-W" was mostly a Bloomfield conception. And Muddy Waters, Johnny Littlejohn, Hubert Sumlin, Jody Williams and others all played LP Goldtops in the '50s.

[PBANDSNOW]

Bloomfield's Les Paul Godltop had a stop tail bridge. Was the picture of the guitar actually Bloom's (that the next owner customized) or was it just a random Goldtop?

[bloomsdisco]

@PBANDSNOW That's just a generic Goldtop. There are no color pics of Michael's guitar that I know of. He got it in the fall of 1965 from Boston guitarist John Nuese, trading his Telecaster for it. Nuese had bought it from a guy in Providence earlier in the year and didn't like its sound for the country music he was playing. As you know, Michael later traded the Goldtop to Dan Erlewine for the famed '59 LP in the spring of 1967. The whereabouts of both guitars is currently unknown.

[dmce100]

4 parts into this documentary and not ONE fuck*ing video of this guy playing guitar. I've read about Michael Bloomfield and know he is good, but for all this documentary has shown, he could be just a made up figure with a backing track played behind a few phony photographs! Fast forward to some freaking footage of the guy playing the guitar or else watch some other videos. They had video camera's in the 60's right? .....1 hour in and not 1 second of guitar playing footage...f*cking hell...

[bloomsdisco]

@dmce100 I understand your frustration, dmce100. It's a sad fact that there are very few films of Mike. The first film clips we have date from his appearance with the Butterfield Band at Newport in July 1965. We opted not to use those segments because they are readily available elsewhere on YouTube and because of rights issues. The next film clip that exists comes from Monterey in 1967, and is in the video in Part 6. Believe me, if there had been more footage available, it would be in the bio.

[cameltooth1]

Is Bopalena serious? What the fuck r u talking about? Dragnet bullshit!! Marijuana isn't harmless, but it is much less harmless than most everything we use regularly. Acid is too powerful a substance to take lightly, even though i have done it once, it can go bad if u don't stay positive.

[Bopalena]

And one more thing....Maybe you like to take LSD, that magic sugar cube and see colors, blow you mind and take the trip, but remember this....There's another magic cube you should try. The library is full of them. They're called books! Dum dee dum dum! - Joe Friday

[Bopalena]

@dstrobel3 - Well, let me tell you something, you long haired punk - maybe you like to smoke weed, bud, reefer, muggles, chronic, grass, and maybe you think marijuana is harmless, but let me tell you this.....Every time we find a body in a back alley O.D.d on smack we find three sticks of Mary Jane in the pocket. Dum dee dum dum! - Joe Friday

[cameltooth1]

The tension and intensity Mike created in music was/IS very special.

[cameltooth1]

Work song was out of this world sounding. Whoa. After East-West, he was at the height of his powers although he was really good up until his death.