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30 October 2005

Yeah, More Music. The Sad and Wonderful Story Of Michael Bloomfield and Al Wilson.[More:]Mike was the scion of a wealthy North Side of Chicago family, who was a self described "social outcast." He also had a gift for playing the guitar. Sneaking out to South Side blues clubs he soaked up the idiom and developed a biting, fluid guitar style. Hooking up with kindred soul Paul Butterfield, and their band made several excellent albums. Bob Dylan handpicked him to play guitar on "Like A Rolling Stone." Later he formed the early supergroup The Electric Flag with Nick Gravenites and Buddy Miles where they created a psychedelic big band sound later bowdlerdized by Blood Sweat & Tears. (here's Wine and Killing Floor for your delectation). He continued throughout the 70's doing solo work (here's Memphis Radio Blues), until his body was found in his car. he had been dead a week of a heroin OD.

Al "Blind Owl" Wilson was a painfully introverted kid from Massachussets, a blues obsessive, and a close associate of guitar legend John Fahey. Hooking up with fellow blues fanatics Henry vestine & Fito de La Parra he formed Canned Heat. Unlike many of his "white blues" peers (including sometime Canned Heat vocalist Bob Hite, who often sounded affected and oversung) Wilson had a delicate touch and comfort with the music he played, nurtured perhaps by a lifetime of mental illness, loneliness, addiction, and worsening blindness. On The Road Again and the Heat's cover of Rollin' and Tumblin' are offered for you listening pleasure. Sadly, Wilson succumbed to addiction and died of an OD at 27 in 1970.

Were these guys innovators or progenitors of the styles they loved? Not by a long shot. But they were worthy inheritors and practicioners and their loss is still felt by music fans. Rest in peace, Mike & Blind Owl.
Also, I realize that there's plenty of musical contemporaries of these two who played blues or blues inspired music and did it very well, but these two due to something (biology, emotional makeup, life experiences, I don't know) which led them to connect deeply to the blues on a level that was more emotional than cultural. Plus on sheer talent, they stand head on shoulders over most of their contemporaries. So, I relate to these two as men as much as I do as a music buff.
posted by jonmc 30 October | 14:35
Thanks for reminding me of Al Kooper. I used to be a huge fan, and totally forgot about him.
posted by iconomy 30 October | 14:58
As a bonus, here's a great period piece: the Electric Prunes (of "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night," fame) doing a radio spot for the Vox Wah-Wah pedal.
posted by jonmc 30 October | 14:58
Al Kooper?

I love the Koop, but I didn't mention him here. Was he in the Bloomfield page?
posted by jonmc 30 October | 14:59
also, the third part of this piece on John Fahey includes a sad remembrance of his old friend Blind Owl.
posted by jonmc 30 October | 15:08
Yep, here.

I read the links ;)
posted by iconomy 30 October | 15:51
Nice post, jon.
posted by scody 30 October | 18:32
Damn I am so late to this thread (damn work/life!) but I am a big Canned Heat fan. Without readin the links (I don't have time) I am of the understanding that Al and Bob both had massive collections of original Blues 78s and it was this love of the 'real Blues' that got them started. He was an awesome harp player, too.

Side note: I saw what was left of Canned Heat play about 15 years ago at a club near me. They had Fito de La Parra and Larry Taylor there. I asked Larry what it was like to play Woodstock and he said (in true nasal ex-hippie stoner style) "Aw, it was just another gig man. I mean, Monterey was better".

Had to add that.

And good post.
posted by bdave 07 November | 22:19
Thanks for all the Phish. || MetaChat Survey, Please Enlighten

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