The Original Lost Elektra Sessions

Performer: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Producer: Paul A. Rothchild
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Paul Butterfield (vocals, harmonica); Elvin Bishop (guitar); Mike Bloomfield, Mark Naftalin (keyboards); Jerome Arnold (bass); Sam Lay (drums). Recorded in 1964. Includes liner notes by Paul Rothchild. THE ORIGINAL LOST ELEKTRA SESSIONS stem from the Butterfield Blues Band's attempt to record their debut album. The tapes were scrapped and a whole new album was recorded. Personnel: Paul Butterfield (vocals, harmonica); Michael Bloomfield (guitar, piano); Elvin Bishop (guitar); Mark Naftalin (organ); Sam Lay (drums). Audio Mixer: Dan Rothchild. Liner Note Author: Paul Rothchild. Recording information: Mastertone Studios, New York, NY (12/1964). All but one of these 19 tracks were recorded in December, 1964, as Paul Butterfield Blues Band's projected first LP; the results were scrapped and replaced by their official self-titled debut, cut a few months later. With both Michael Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop already in tow, these sessions rank among the earliest blues-rock ever laid down. Extremely similar in feel to the first album, it's perhaps a bit rawer in production and performance, but not appreciably worse or different than what ended up on the actual debut LP. Dedicated primarily to electric Chicago blues standards, Butterfield fans will find this well worth acquiring, as most of the selections were never officially recorded by the first lineup (although different renditions of five tracks showed up on the first album and the What's Shakin' compilation). ~ Richie Unterberger The songs here, recorded in late 1964 before keyboardist Mark Naftalin joined up, were intended for the Butterfield Band's first album. However, they were junked at the last minute by producer Paul Rothchild, who felt they weren't technically up to snuff for reasons that remain unclear despite his liner note reminiscences. The tapes then proceeded to languish in Elektra's vaults for 30 years, at which point Rothchild dug them out and decided they were better than he remembered. And a good thing, too, because they capture the band raw and in its prime with no apologies necessary. The repertoire overlaps only slightly with the "official" first album (which was recorded a few months later), and musically it's apples and oranges as to which one is better, although some prefer this recording's in-your-face style.

Musician (4/96, p.90) - "...The attention to detail here is quite impressive, the songs are full of high harmonies and pristinely crafted arrangements..."

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