Search - Mike Bloomfield :: Root of Blues

Don't Miss This One!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jerry D. Neal | Grand Rapids, MI USA | 08/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I agree with everything that's been said about this album (and all of Bloomfield's other albums (ditto his singing capability), with ONE VERY SERIOUS EXCEPTION: if you had to condense all of Bloomfield's virtues into ONE TRACK, what would it be? The answer is on THIS ALBUM, and for that reason alone this album should be in your Bloomfield collection, PERIOD. I have all of Bloomfield's work with Dylan, Butterfield, the Electric Flag, and Al Kooper, and all of the speed, soul, fire, and creativity he displayed on those albums, and a whole hell of a lot more (despite a somewhat shaky start), he cuts loose with only here, on "WDIA." He plays far better here than he ever played before (and quite unfortunately he never equalled this later). And unfortunately it's also too bad that the all of rest of the cuts here don't come anywhere near that kind of quality. Get Super Session and A Long Time Comin, and this, and you've got Bloomfield's best work. Then get the two albums he did with Butterfield. (Get Highway 61 Revisited only if you want too). A lot of people don't understand why Bloomfield is so revered as a guitar god when he could propduce something as lame as It's Not Killing Me, The Band Kept Playing, or Live At The Old Waldorf. But listen to "WDIA" only just once and you'll understand immediately why Bloomfield's guitar playing mattered. I guarantee you, you'll be blown away."

What the heck?

tin2x | Staten Island, NY USA | 12/14/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I also reviewed Laserlight's other Mike Bloomfield release ("The Gospel of Blues"). These records share some common roots. Both include material from Guitar Player Records' 1977 release and additionally both have tracks currently in release on Shanachie's album "Blues, Gospel and Ragtime Guitar Instrumentals".However in this CD's case ALL of the material was put out on Guitar Player Records, and there is only 1 duplicate with the Shanachie release ("WDIA", listed as "Memphis Radio Blues" on Shanachie). The Amazon listings for the other tracks are accurate although the liner notes on mine claim there is a 10th called "Mama Lion".The interesting thing with this and the other Laserlight release is that despite errors in the liner notes there are what appear to be comments by Bloomfield himself on each track shedding light into the history or performance. That's pretty cool for (the price)!Most tracks feature Bloomfield singing, and while he didn't have great pipes he has such affection that it's easy to forgive his lack of ability. Of course some people say that Howlin' Wolf couldn't sing either. So it's all a matter of taste.What you don't get a lot of on this CD is Bloomfield soloing in the way that made him a legend. In fact he's mostly on acoustic guitars. Like all his later work this is a testament to his love for the material and wanting to record it, have fun, and get some rarer tracks out there and spread the word of his heroes. He tried to cut loose on "Death In The Family" but in the mix his electric guitar is drowned out by some obnoxiously loud horns. All the songs on the CD apart from "Kansas City" are originals, but most are copping a style. It's educational and the material is much better than "The Gospel of Blues". That record is largely instrumental and overlaps so much in content and style with the Shanachie release that this is the better of the Laserlight releases. The sound is good enough apart from the poor mixing I mentioned on one track. If you want to get a little blues education from a man who loved the music you could do a lot worse than plopping down the (money) for this one. Don't expect to rave about this like people do about "Super Session". At the same time it's a nice little CD that won't hurt your wallet and has something pass along. A stylistic education, and some solid work from the poo-poo'd latter years of one of America's most influential guitarists.Of all the releases of Bloomfield's work that floats around on little labels this might be my favorite."

The Root Of Blues CD

John Joe-shin | Newcastle, De | 02/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Good Disc. Bloomfield was a great fingerstyle blues/ragtime guitar player. For some reason I never cared for his electric playing much. My copy (on laserlight/delta music no.12-357) has ten cuts. Mama loin is omitted on amazons track list."