Drunk Again. Pure classic!!!

Some pieces of music will last a lifetime. A friend of mine tended bar in NYC in the mid eighties and saw Paul Butterfield indulge himself beyond a man’s normal intake. Bill – the bartender – cautioned Paul on several occasions and implored him to refrain. If we could only turn time on it's head. I've listened to this album and in particular the signature song for many years and still get a chill from a guy who probed the blues with all his heart and soul. If you want a rich experience with the man and his compelling musical soul, it would be worth your time to give a long listen to “In my own dream”. Prophetic, gripping and perhaps one of the best country blues tributes ever written. God Bless you Paul.

This is a classic lp — but one correction on a previous review. The organ on "Drunk Again" was Al Kooper — not Mark Naftalin. Also, the title of the album is singular "Dream" not "Dreams" — I hope the i-tunes people fix this. The vocals on "Morning Blues" and "Mine To Love" by the great unheralded Bugsy Maugh. The artwork is extraordinary, as are the incredible liner notes by Al Aronowitz. The sonic joy of a good ol' lp is sorely missed on these compressed versions of the songs. Nevertheless, listen to Butter's acoustic guitar and Sanborn's sax solo on the title cut. There is also a cool version of that song on Karen Dalton's "In My Own Time" lp produced by Harvey Brooks on Michael Lang's Just Sunshine label, supposedly about to be re-released. Would love to see the entire catalogue up here, Bearsville & Elektra.

Paul Butterfield was born in Chicago. Studied classical flute -- but dat white boy loved da blues . . . & da harmonica. And, hmmmmmm, could he play da blues. Oh, yas suh, he could -- & did . . . Listen up a bit, ya hear? I heard the Paul Butterfield Blues Band "live" at Fillmore West in San Francisco. Those were the days -- late 1960s & all; my back, flat, on the floor. Eyes forward (upward) lookin' to heaven; feeling the vibration(s) on the hardwood; hearing the music; watching the lights. Listening: Piano. Bass. Drums. Guitar. And, oh, that "harp." Paul Butterfield, born in Chicago. Grew up there. Studied classical flute -- but that white boy loved the blues . . . & the harmonica. Hooked up with Elvin Bishop, he did -- another blues-lovin' white kid. They started absorbing the vibes & jibes of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf & Junior Wells. You can guess where it took them. B&B formed a band -- introducing da blues to Wonder-Bread America, includin' me. "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band signed with Elektra Records after adding Michael Bloomfield as lead guitarist," a source said. Yep. I can believe that. The first album was released in 1965. The second, "East-West," was released in 1966: "It was also critically acclaimed." Paul Butterfield hooked up with John Mayall in 1967 -- but that's another story. There's more to the story, as you can well imagine, but you've got to do some of the work. I can't baby-feed ya or force-feed ya, either. Ya gots ta co-op a bit; spend some moola; listen up & decide for yourself. Am I blowing blues smoke up your wa-zoo or what? You tell me . . . Well, will ya, punk? . . . Here's Butterfield's stuff. Listen to it. Let the musical notes perc-O-late through the metaphysical membranes of your brain, and serve up a cup o' blues brew. Take a sip, hmmmmmmmmmmmm: 1965 – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
1966 – East-West
1967 – The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw
1968 – In My Own Dream
1969 – Keep on Moving
1971 – Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'
1973 – Better Days
1973 – It All Comes Back

I saw them play these songs live (yes, in a collegiate atmosphere: a bar called Mother's in E. Lansing, MI) and was totally absorbed by what they had become, and felt no jazz mistrust at all... Yes, I missed Mike Bloomfield's insane guitar style, but I always felt that Paul managed to assemble a great band around him, no matter what was happening. This one is my 2nd favorite, after East-West, and only by a hair. The title song will also grow on you in time, along with the two previously mentioned tracks in the preceding customer reviews

Two great songs - really great songs - on this album. "In My Own Dream" and "Drunk Again." Drunk Again is not to be missed. Elvin "Pigboy Crabshaw" Bishop has never been better. Listen to the whole thing, all the way to when he plays the guitar solo. You will be blown away, I promise. And check out the Dave Sanborn sax solo on "In My Own Dream."