This page contains a brief overview on the album JIM BEE: So What's New to Just Friends. 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.

 
"WE PLAYED DURING THE GREAT YEARS FOR A BAND, LOT'S OF PLACES TO PLAY, PEOPLE LOVED TO LISTEN AND TO DANCE, ON TOP OF THAT, NOBODY WENT HOME AT 10:00 LIKE THEY DO NOW".

SOOOOO, DO YOU WANNA DANCE? DO YOU WANT SOME GREAT EASY BACKGROUND STUFF? DO YOU WANT SOME PURE SCHMALTZ? MAYBE A VOCAL OR TWO?

BINGO!!!!!!! THESE RECORDINGS ARE FOR YOU!

A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON JIM BEE

In the late 1960's, in Galesville, Wi, (near La Crosse Wi), Jim Bielefeldt formed our group called the "Jim Bee Four". The group consisted of Jim Bielefeldt (Jim Bee), lead guitar, John Bielefeldt, bass, Kent Drugan, drums, and Ed Sullivan, rhythm guitar and banjo. We were later joined by Paul "Bud" Whillock on bass.

In 1967 we went on the road for a year, played in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and ended up in St. Paul, Minnesota at the "Show Boat Lounge".

Tracks one through fourteen on this C.D. were all recorded by this group.

Track's 1,2,5,6,9,10 were all recorded in my house basement in one evening on a reel to reel tape recorder. The unbelieviable thing to also note is that the lead guitar, rhythm guitar and bass were all played through one Fender "Twin Reverb" Amp.

Tracks 3,4,7,11,13 were recorded live in 1967 at the Show Boat Lounge in St. Paul, Mn.

Tracks 8,12,14 were recorded in a studio near La Crosse.

In 1968 the group split up, everybody went their own way. All of the music was stored on reel to reel tape, forgotten until 2002, thirty four years later after moving to a new home I found the tapes, and transferred them to C.D. You can imagine how much fun it was to listen to what you were doing back in the 60's. So why quit now, right?.

The bad news is Jim's brother John passed away. The good news is John Bielefeldt's son Tom, (Jim's nephew) is also a great musician. So Jim talked to Tom about sitting in for his dad and recording a few new songs to go along with some of the 60's sessions, a something old, something new sort of thing. Tom thought it was a great idea, to jump in with us 65 year old's and do some recording, you guessed it, back to the studio again.

Tracks 15 through 25 are the result of our latest session. Jim Bee lead guitar, Tommy Bee, bass, and Ed Sullivan rhythm guitar.

All of the arrangements were done by Jim, to be real honest with you, Jim would play and we would just do our thing, the more I think about it we never were much for having anything cut in stone, we pretty much "wing it". It has to be noted that besides all of Tommy's talents on the bass, he is an excellent lead guitarist as well.

It is our hope that you will enjoy along with us, a bit of our past and a bit of our present. If we have any regrets at all, it would be the fact that it took thirty four years to get together again as a group.

"I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to have Jim Bee as a "Friend/Brother" for the better part of my life, let alone to have the privilege to play with such a talented guitarist and musician".

...Ed Sullivan

Track List:
1. So What's New
2. El Cumbanchero
3. Cabaret
4. Sweet Georgia Brown
5. Poinciana
6. Willow Weep For Me
7. Mobile
8. Granada
9. Ain't Misbehavin'
10. Delicado
11. Chicago
12. Malaguena
13. Mame
14. Alabama Jubilee
15. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
16. I'm Confessin' / I'm A Fool To Care
17. Witchcraft
18. That Old Feeling
19. Night and Day
20. Dream
21. How High the Moon
22. It's Been A Long, Long Time
23. Here's That Rainy Day
24. Masquerade
25. Just Friends

Other Genres:

• EASY LISTENING: Lounge
• JAZZ: Ragtime
• FEATURING GUITAR