Live At Winterland Ballroom

Got here as fast as promised. Great CD

When I first started learning to play the harmonica, I thought of it as an instrument that was more of a toy than a serious lead instrument. The more I listened and learned the more I came to appreciate players like Paul Butterfield. He takes the ten-hole diatonic and transforms it to the lead instrument. This album is a great example of the deep, smooth tone that is Paul Butterfield. This is a little slower than what you might be used to from Butterfield, but that gives you the opportunity to soak in every note as Butterfield exalts the humble, unassuming harp, bearing the soul that only he can, brining you to the stage to share what must has been an absolutely amazing evening. Three words of advice with regard to this album, "Buy it, now!" Experience a legend!

Paul Butterfield is one of those people that is better live then they are on a album. Of the couple of live albums by his band, this is the best. All the players was given a chance to perform and the engineering was right on. If you into this type of music, take time for a listen.

Bought this out of pure respect for the band and their studio work. Maybe its me and my love for live music but this show was not very impressive when you know and love what this band is capable of. Sound quality is great and maybe thats part of the problem. With the exception of Paul's harp and vocals i thought it was sloppy and to often off key. Maybe they just were not a great live band.

When I read the initial reviews of the album I was under the impression that Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop were included on this CD. Unfortunately not, and I pretty much got something I already have. While I am a huge fan of Paul Butterflied "Better Days was not one of his better bands and this performance was okay

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.

If you're a fan of Paul Butterfield you should have this recording.

Great live versions of their first album. Lots of superb harmonica and high vocals by Paul. The rest of the band is also wonderful and full of high energy.... Too bad they did not stick together very long.

Following the dissolution of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1971, Butterfield put together Paul Butterfield's Better Days, a more roots-inspired outfit that was still steeped in the blues, but had a more mellow approach which forsook the hard-driving blues and jazz-inspired improvisation of the Mike Bloomfield-era, instead adopting a more cerebral sound which incorporated acoustic and soulful elements, not as mind-blowing as the 'East-West'-era, but nevertheless a quality outfit.During their brief career they issued two albums, 'Better Days' (1972) & 'It All Comes Back' (1973), both of which charted in the lower reaches of the Billboard 200.This album, taped on February 23 1973, captures a 63 minute set during which they perform 9 tracks, 6 of which were featured on the aforementioned albums.There may be no Bloomfield or Elvin Bishop, but Butterfield knew how to pick 'em, assembling a crop of musicians who knew how to find a good groove and roll with the flow in classic '70s' style.There may not be the fireworks of the early days, but there is an almost effortless ease with which the band gel as they lay down smoky blues rhythms with keyboards & piano adding an almost jazz-inspired suppleness, while Butterfield shows his mastery of the harmonica, allowing others in the band to chip-in with vocal duties, although Butterfield does his share.The band's set leans towards electric blues, more so than was the case on their studio recordings, although there are no Bloomfield-esque extended workouts (excepting the near-14 minute 'He's Got All The Whiskey' with its harmonica & drum solos), the band serving up a lean, smooth-rolling sound that flows like water.For Butterfield enthusiasts, this is a welcome release documenting a lesser-known part of the career of a long-lost American blues icon. Try it.

a great live album from the late paul butterfield

Great live concert, wish I had been there.

A different band than on the first album and East-West, but still quite worthwhile.

Paul Butterfield da Chicago, ha attraversato tutta la storia della musica che conta, ma di lui, oggi, non si ricorda quasi più nessuno. Personaggio fondamentale per il blues di Chicago, specialmente per l'armonica, che suonava come i suoi idoli neri, è stato presente in tutti i momenti salienti degli anni sessanta, dalla famosa svolta elettrica di Dylan a Newport, (fu la Paul Butterfield Blues Band ad accompagnarlo), al Monterey Pop Festival, al festival di Woodstock, tanto per capirci. Voce e armonica, è stato forse oscurato, se così si può dire, dal compagno di viaggio, il chitarrista Mike Bloomfield. Qui lo troviamo qualche anno dopo lo scioglimento della Paul Butterfield Blues Band, quando Paul, dopo aver suonato con Dr.John, fra gli altri, ha leggermente sposato l'asse della sua musica dal blues a un suono più roots, funky, vicino alle cose del Dottore, tanto da fondare questa nuova formazione, un sestetto eclettico, che racchiudeva talenti come Geoff Muldaur e il bassista di Hendrix, Billy Rich, fra gli altri. Due dischi in studio, che non lasciarono un gran traccia e questo live, uscito (molto) postumo, nel 1999, ma inciso proprio in quel periodo, 1973, nello storico Winterland Ballroom di San Francisco. Ristampato dalla Wounded Bird Records, è una bella testimonianza di una band notevole, che, com'era d'uopo in quegli anni, dava il meglio di sé dal vivo. Un'ora di musica tosta, che pur non rinunciando al blues e all'armonica di Butterfield, spazia anche in pezzi più roots come i due di Bobby Charles, che proprio in quegli anni si stava facendo un nome. Scelta curiosa, con il classico "Small Town Talk" e "He's Got All The Whiskey", espansa a 14 minuti, con i classici soli di tutta la band. In mezzo, schegge di Dr.John, blues di Chicago e rock. I Better Days erano un gruppo in cui tutti erano protagonisti, alla voce e agli strumenti, ed è un peccato che non abbiano proseguito. Paul Butterfield lascerà il segno anche in Last Waltz di The Band, prima di un lungo pellegrinare come session man e un declino che lo porterà a una morte prematura nel 1987, a soli 44 anni. Ottima incisione e bella testimonianza di un grande musicista sfortunato.