The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | Blues and blues-rock music |
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was a prominent American group specializing in blues and blues-rock, originating from Chicago. Established in 1963, the initial lineup consisted of vocalist and harmonica player Paul Butterfield, guitarist Elvin Bishop, bassist Jerome Arnold, and drummer Sam Lay. Subsequently, guitarist Mike Bloomfield and keyboardist Mark Naftalin joined the ensemble prior to the release of their eponymous debut album in October 1965. The original sextet, including drummer Billy Davenport who joined during their sophomore album, East-West, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
History
During the early 1960s, Butterfield encountered guitarist Elvin Bishop, who recalled Butterfield's rapid mastery of the harmonica, becoming highly skilled by 1961. The duo secured a steady performance slot at Big John's, a folk venue located in Chicago's Old Town district. This residency led to the addition of bassist Jerome Arnold and drummer Sam Lay, both previously affiliated with Howlin' Wolf's touring band, thereby forming the group in 1963. Their thriving performances attracted the attention of record producer Paul A. Rothchild.
With Mike Bloomfield
While performing regularly at Big John's, Butterfield connected with guitarist Mike Bloomfield, who occasionally appeared onstage as a guest. Impressed by their musical synergy, producer Rothchild encouraged Butterfield to incorporate Bloomfield into the lineup, which resulted in securing a deal with Elektra Records. Their initial recording session in December 1964 did not meet expectations; however, an early rendition of "Born in Chicago" was featured on Elektra's 1965 sampler Folksong '65, generating notable interest. Additional early recordings later emerged on Elektra compilations such as What's Shakin' (1966) and The Original Lost Elektra Sessions (1995).
Seeking to authentically capture the band's sound, Rothchild persuaded Elektra president Jac Holzman to authorize a live recording at New York City's Cafe Au Go Go during spring 1965. Although these sessions also failed to satisfy Rothchild fully, the band's live presence enhanced their recognition along the East Coast. Subsequently, Rothchild obtained approval for a third studio session and took on management responsibilities for the group, utilizing his connections within the folk community to broaden their performance opportunities beyond Chicago.
In July 1965, the band appeared at the Newport Folk Festival, serving as the opening act and participating in an urban blues workshop. Despite limited exposure and a controversial introduction by folklorist Alan Lomax, they drew a substantial crowd. Regular festival performer Bob Dylan invited them to accompany him during his first electric set—an appearance that sparked debate but greatly elevated their visibility.
With keyboardist Mark Naftalin now part of the ensemble, they recorded their debut album, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, released in October 1965. The record included blues classics such as "Shake Your Moneymaker" and "Blues with a Feeling", alongside original tracks. It reached number 123 on the Billboard 200, establishing their credibility despite moderate commercial success.
Following the album's release, drummer Lay was sidelined due to hospitalization and temporarily replaced by Billy Warren before Billy Davenport took over drumming duties in late December.
In July 1966, they recorded their second album, East-West, which was released one month later. This album displayed a wide array of influences—blues (Robert Johnson's "Walkin' Blues"), rock (Michael Nesmith's "Mary, Mary"), R&B (Toussaint's "Get Out of My Life, Woman"), and jazz (Nat Adderley's "Work Song")—and achieved a peak position of number 65 on music charts.
Its title track, an instrumental lasting thirteen minutes, incorporated elements from Indian raga alongside early jazz-fusion and blues rock styles, featuring extended solos by Butterfield and guitarists Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop. Recognized as pioneering in its genre and foundational to acid rock, "East-West" influenced San Francisco's jam bands through its extended live renditions. Bishop remarked that Bloomfield's technical proficiency exceeded that of contemporaries like Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and the Grateful Dead. Several live recordings from this period were later included on East-West Live (1996).
Subsequent lineup
In February 1967, Bloomfield departed from the Butterfield Blues Band and relocated to San Francisco, where he established the Electric Flag. By the time the band appeared at the Monterey Pop Festival, Charley "Bugsy" Maugh had taken over Arnold's role, and the ensemble was augmented by saxophonists Gene Dinwiddie and David Sanborn, along with trumpeter Keith Johnson.
That year, the eight-member group issued their third album, The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw, which marked a stylistic transition toward a horn-centric rhythm and blues approach. The record featured renditions of Charles Brown's "Driftin' and Driftin'," Otis Rush's "Double Trouble," and Junior Parker's "Driving Wheel." This release became Butterfield's most successful chart entry, peaking at number 52. Most of this lineup performed at the Monterey Pop Festival on June 17, 1967. Shortly after, drummer Billy Davenport retired and was succeeded by Phillip Wilson.
The 1968 album In My Own Dream further distanced itself from Chicago blues, embracing a soul-infused horn arrangement with Butterfield providing vocals on only three tracks; it reached number 79 on the Billboard charts. Following this release, Bishop and Naftalin exited the band, with Howard "Buzz" Feiten stepping in. Early in 1969, Maugh was replaced by Rod Hicks; Steve Madaio joined as an additional trumpeter, while keyboardist Ted Harris and saxophonist Trevor Lawrence were also incorporated.
On August 18, 1969, the Butterfield Blues Band performed at the Woodstock Festival, delivering a seven-song set that included "Love March," later featured on the Woodstock soundtrack. In 2009, Butterfield appeared in the expanded 40th Anniversary Edition Woodstock video and box set.
Their 1969 album Keep On Moving, produced by R&B veteran Jerry Ragovoy, sought mainstream appeal but garnered mixed critical reception; it reached number 102 on the Billboard chart. Post-release, Feiten and Wilson were replaced by Ralph Wash and George Davidson respectively; Keith Johnson also departed. By late 1970, Ted Harris left and Dennis Whitted took over drumming duties from Davidson.
A double live album titled Live, recorded in March 1970 at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, captured the band’s distinctive blend of "big-band Chicago blues with a jazz foundation," emphasizing their fusion of blues, jazz, rock, and R&B elements.
The group released Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin' in 1971 before disbanding. In 1972, Elektra issued a compilation titled Golden Butter: The Best of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
In recognition of their influence in connecting country blues with rock audiences of the Fillmore era, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted the band in 2015.
Paul Butterfield passed away in May 1987 due to an accidental drug overdose.
Members
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:CSS image crop | Paul Butterfield | 1963–1971 (died 1987) |
|
all Paul Butterfield Blues Band releases | |||
| Template:CSS image crop | Elvin Bishop | 1963–1968 |
|
all releases from The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965) to In My Own Dream (1968), and The Original Lost Elektra Sessions (1995) onwards | |||
| Jerome Arnold | 1963–1967 | electric bass |
| ||||
| Template:CSS image crop | Sam Lay | 1963–1965 (died 2022) |
|
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965), The Original Lost Elektra Sessions (1995) | |||
| Template:CSS image crop | Mike Bloomfield | 1964–1967 (died 1981) |
|
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965), East-West (1966), all releases from The Original Lost Elektra Sessions (1995) onwards | |||
| Mark Naftalin | 1965–1968 |
|
all releases from The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965) to In My Own Dream (1968), and from The Original Lost Elektra Sessions (1995) onwards | ||||
| Billy Warren | 1965 | drums | none (one live performance only) | ||||
| Billy Davenport | 1965–1967 (died 1999) | East-West (1966), all releases from Strawberry Jam (1995) onwards | |||||
| Template:CSS image crop | "Brother" Gene Dinwiddie | 1967–1971 (died 2002) |
|
'’The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw'’ (1967) to Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin' (1971), plus three tracks on Strawberry Jam (1995) | |||
| Template:CSS image crop | David Sanborn | 1967–1971 (died 2024) | alto saxophone, percussion | '’The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw'’ (1967), In My Own Dream (1968), Keep On Moving (1969), one track on Strawberry Jam (1995) | |||
| Keith Johnson | 1967–1969 | '’trumpet, percussion, piano'’ | '’The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw'’ (1967), In My Own Dream (1968), Keep On Moving (1969), three tracks on Strawberry Jam (1995) | ||||
| Charley "Bugsy" Maugh | 1967–1969 (died 2015) | '’bass, backing and lead vocals'’ | '’The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw'’, In My Own Dream, three tracks on Strawberry Jam | ||||
| Phillip Wilson | 1967–1970 (died 1992) | '’drums, percussion, congas, backing and lead vocals'’ | |||||
| "Howard "Buzzy" Feiten" | "Buzzy" Feiten | "guitar, keyboards, piano, French horn, backing and lead vocals" | "Keep On Moving" (1969) | ||||
| "Rod Hicks" | "Rod Hicks" | "bass, fretless bass, double bass, backing and lead vocals" | "Keep On Moving" (1969), "Live" (1970), "Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'" (1971) | ||||
| "Steve Madaio" | "Steve Madaio" | "trumpet, percussion, backing vocals" | "Keep On Moving" (1969), "Live" (1970), "Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'" (1971) | ||||
| "Ted Harris" | "Ted Harris" | "keyboards, piano" | "Keep On Moving" (1969), "Live" (1970), two tracks on "Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'" (1971) | ||||
| "Trevor Lawrence" | "Trevor Lawrence" | "baritone saxophone, percussion, backing vocals" | "Keep On Moving" (1969), "Live" (1970), "Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'" (1971) | ||||
| "Ralph Wash" | "Ralph Wash" | "guitar, backing and lead vocals" | "Live" (1970), "Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'" (1971) | ||||
| "George Davidson" | "George Davidson" | "drums" | "Live" (1970), two tracks on "Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'" (1971) | ||||
| "Dennis Whitted" | "Dennis Whitted" | "drums, backing vocals" | "Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'" (1971) |
Timeline
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Lineups
| Period | Personnel | Recordings Released |
|---|---|---|
| Summer '63 – late '64 |
|
\n/a |
| Late '64 – Summer '65 |
|
\n/a until later released as *The Original Lost Elektra Sessions* in '95 |
| Summer – Nov '65 |
|
'’‘The Paul Butterfield Blues Band’’'’ ('65) |
| Dec '65 |
|
\n/a |
| Dec '65 – Feb '67 |
|
'’‘East-West’’'’ ('66); plus later archival releases |
| Feb – Spring '67 |
|
\n/a archival tracks only |
| Spring - Summer '67 |
|
\n/a |
| Summer '67 - Summer '68 | `
... (continued similarly for remaining lineups as per original list) |
Discography
Studio albums
- The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (released in ’65; peaked at No.123 on Billboard)
- East-West ('66; reached No.65 Billboard)
- The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw ('67; peaked No.52 Billboard)
- In My Own Dream ('68; hit No.79 Billboard)
- Keep On Moving ('69; reached No.102 Billboard)
- Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin' ('71; peaked No.124 Billboard)
Live albums
- Live ('70; peaked No.72 Billboard)
Compilation albums
- Golden Butter - The Best of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band ('72; peaked No.136 Billboard)