Search - Paul Butterfield :: Live at Winterland '73

A fine live set from a very under-raeted group

Jim Gallanis(jcgsbg@execpc.com) | Milwaukee, WI | 09/11/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a tight, well played live set from Paul Butterfield's last and perhaps finest band, Better Days. Better Days consisted of Butterfield on harp and vocals, Geoff Muldaur on keys, guitar, and vocals, Ronnie Barron on piano and vocals, legendary studio musician Amos Garrett on lead guitar, Bill Rich on bass and Christopher Parker on drums. Better Days was relatively short-lived, releasing only two studio albums on the Bearsville label in 1973 and 1974. This set is a very welcome addition to their body of recorded work. Better Days was one of the rare bands made up of veteran musicians who brought a wide variety of musical backgrounds and experiences into a seamless mix. Paul Butterfield was a harp player second to none; he certainly merits inclusion in the short list of harmonica greats, along with Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter Jacobs, Junior Wells and a few others. His gritty vocals brought a strong Chicago-blues component to the Better Days sound. Geoff Muldaur was a veteran of the east-coast blues school, having played with Jim Kweskin and also releasing several fine albums his then-wife, Maria Muldaur. Geoff played rhythym and slide guitar and keyboards with Better Days, in addition to sharing the vocal work with Butterfield and Ronnie Barron. Barron, a New Orleans native, played piano and sang with a deep and beautiful cajun sound. Amos Garrett was a well respected studio musician who had played with Kweskin, Geoff and Maria Muldaur, and others. His solo on Maria's hit "Midnight at the Oasis" is widely considered a masterpiece by guitarists. Garrett was probably the finest guitarist to play with Butterfield since Michael Bloomfield left the original Butterfield Band in 1967. Better Days was reminiscent of their Woodstock neighbors, The Band, in several respects. Each group had three strong lead vocalists who could easily have carried their own band. In addition, each group was comprised of veteran players who knew enough to sublimate their egos to the music---there is no showing off, there are no virtuoso turns (quite an anomoly for the early 70s!) These folks were smart enough and experienced enough to know what to leave out, as well as what to play. This live set is a nice showcase of what this fine group of musicians had to offer. Butterfield shines on the opener, "Countryside", a previously unrecorded number by this group. Geoff Muldaur has two excellent vocal turns here, "Small Town Talk" (written by Bobby Charles and Rick Danko), and Nick Graveneties' "Buried Alive in the Blues". Amos Garrett has a lower profile on this set than I'd like, but his solo on Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone to Love" is a thing of beauty. This show was recorded on February 23, 1973, at Winterland Ballroom. The lineup that night was the Elvin Bishop Group, Michael Bloomfield and Friends, and Paul Butterfield's Better Days. The Better Days set was followed by a reunion of the original Butterfield Blues Band alumni, Butterfield, Bloomfield, Bishop, and Mark Naftalin. One can only wonder if that reunion jam was recorded....I certainly hope so, and I hope Bearsville (or whoever owns the rights to the tapes) will release the reunion set. It's music with great historical as well as artistic value...how about it, Bearsville?"

Get this one while you can!!!

J. R Sategna | Martinez, California United States | 12/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an absolute great live album. The sound is great and Butterfield's Better Days Band are in excellent form. I wonder why this never came out in the domestic market so it could be better availiable. This is one album that should be bought for all Butterfield fans. The vocals are first rate and it includes an introduction by Bill Graham. Too bad the whole show which included Mike Bloomfield was not released. Get this now--just a click away."

Awesome Live Performance

Thomas A. Buechi | Corona, CA | 04/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great performance by one of the best bands ever. Shows Better Days at their best!"