This page contains a brief overview on the album SPEEDO HARMONICA JONES: Remembering Bloomfield. Learn more about the artist and explore the track lists and website. If you find any information that needs to be corrected, please let us know.

 
This record could be entitled "A Lifetime Coming",since it seems like I've been waiting my whole life to to record my personal tribute to the man whose music totally transformed my life,the incomparable Mike Bloomfield.
I first met Bloomfield in 1977 at a local club in Roslyn,n.y.,"My Fathers Place".At the time his career was fading and he only played at very few selective gigs on the east coast.I was working as a fledgling reporter for the local L.I.newspaper"Good Times"and my very first assignment was to interview Bloomfield for a concert review and subsequent article.
It was truly a magical interview and at the end,almost 3 hours later,we became fast friends.I had been a fan of his music since I first heard Bob Dylan's"Highway 61 Revisited" album.I religiously followed his career frm Dylan through Butterfield through Super Session,and I poseesed all his sideman and producer albums.
When I was depressed,his music would provide me with the emotional release I needed.I started playing harmonica after hearing the first Paul Butterfield album and myself went through a series of great guitar players trying to emulate the great Bloomfield- Butterfield magic.
Bloomfield and I talked on the phone sporadically until his untimely death in 1981.Just before he died,he invited me to come out to San Francisco and he would hook me up with a band.I told him I would come next year and by the next year he was gone.I've spent the next 20 years trying to pay a proper tribute to his great music.

In the mean time,the Ford Brothers,who were equally influenced by Bloomfield,came up with their own excellent tribute record to him.But unlike their album,my tribute delves deeper into his music and rather than perform a note for note tribute to his great songs,I had decided to use some of his more obscure sides and expand upon them.This record is a complement to the Ford Brothers record as not one song is duplicated.
For those who loved Bloomfield's music,I hope this cd brings back happy memories.For those people who are discovering Bloomfield for the first time,Ihope you try to find the originals of the music we are presenting to you.this was truly a labor of love and I felt the spirit of Bloomfield and Butterfield as I was making this record.
Speedo Harmonica Jones



Notes About The Songs

Track One
"Comin Home Baby" by Ben Tucker 7:01
This tune was originally a big hit for Herbie Mann in 1961.My version is based on the Paul Butterfield version only available on the "Live From The Unicorn" bootleg album,recorded in 1966.This instrumental shows the jazzy side of Bloomfield's playing as I get to evoke the memory of Butterfield on this one.This song is in the same vein as the"Work Song"

Track Two
"Flat Broke Blues" by Eddie Cleanhead Vinson 7:21
Originally recorded around the same time,late 1966 or early 1967,as track one.This song was featured on the lp by Eddie Cleanhaed Vinson,"Cherry Red Blues",which was one of the first sidemen dates by a very young and creative Mike Bloomfield,who was still playing with Paul Butterfield at the time.This song has a Texas shuffle quality about it.Rev.
Curt takes a very sympathetic solo on this number.

Track Three
"Walking Blues" by Robert Johnson 5:49
Ofcurse,this is the track which leads off side one of"East West"by the Butterfield Blues Band,but our version is actually closer to the Robert Johnson original.Brian Kramer plays some brilliant acoustic slide guitar on this one.

Track Four
"Juice Head Baby" by Eddie Cleanhead Vinson 12:47
Another cut originally recorded on the fabulous E.C. Vinson album which featured some incredibly tasty guitar fills from Bloomfield.Here we have embellished the tune and taken it from a 2:30 original to a 12:49 slow blues masterpiece.Check out the sympathetic horn section on this ultra slow blues.The piano solo is reminiscent of Mark Naftalin's solo on "Wintry Country Side".The gitar intro is masterfully handled by Rev.Curt who pays homage to Bloomfields eloquent solo on "Blues On A Westside".

Track Five
"Wine" Trad.arr by Speedo Harmonica Jones 8:19
Based on an old folk blues and the versions by Sticks Mc.Ghee and the Electric Flag.This was the Electric Flag's tour de force closing number.This one features all of our band members stretching out and doing their own thing

Track Six
"I'm Glad I'm Jewish" by Mike Bloomfield 6:07
This is the most delta blues sounding of all our cuts.This was recorded by Bloomfield circa 1979 during his solo career.The tongue in cheek lyrics are augmented by Brian Kramer in the last verse.Brian and I share vocals on this one.This track features just Brian and myself.

Track Seven
"Long Distance Operator" by Bob Dylan 7:07
Originally recorded by Bob Dylan on the basement tapes but my version is the 1971 Capitol recording by James Cotton,"Taking Care Of Business".This long out of print gem featured the only known studio pairing of Mike Bloomfield and Johnny Winter,but this cut featured Bloomfield and Todd Rundgren.James Cotton has long been an idol of mine and this track has a New Orleans funk groove to it.Dedicated at the show to Izzy Young,an early mentor of Bob Dylan.

Track Eight
"Georgia Swing" by Mike Bloomfield 7:15
From that same excellent James Cotton album,this song originally featured Bloomfield and Winter trading off inspired blues licks.Hopefully,someone will reissue the original record someday.This is simply a great fun song to play and listen to and shows what a great song writer Bloomfield was.


Track Nine
"Thank You Mr.Poobah" by Paul Butterfield,Mike Bloomfield,Mark Naftalin 5:45
This was actually a warm up tune for the famous 1965 Paul Butterfield Blues Band first album.After playing this song Mark Naftalin was asked to join Butterfield"s band.We've left a false start in on this track as I take control and this song rocks out in maddening fashion.A great ending to a great show.

Check out the artist's website:
http://speedosbillyrose.com

Track List:
1. Comin Home Baby
2. Flat Broke Blues
3. Walking Blues
4. Juice Head Baby
5. Wine
6. I'm Glad I'm Jewish
7. Long Distance Operator
8. Georgia Swing
9. Thank You Mr. Poobah

Suggested CDs:

• speedo harmonica jones

Other Genres:

• BLUES: English Style
• BLUES: Guitar Blues
• FEATURING GUITAR