Paul Butterfield‘s Better Days: Live At Winterland Ballroom
Monday live Album
We are going back to the year 1973. The Vietnam War has recently been declared over by President Nixon. Meanwhile, the rock band Kiss has made their debut by playing their very first show at the Coventry Club in Queens, New York. The price of gold has jumped an astonishing $10 overnight, reaching a record high of $95 an ounce in London. So far this year, Carly Simon's "You’re So Vain”, Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition", Elton John's "Crocodile Rock", and Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly" have all dominated the charts as number one hits. In "Battle of the Planet of the Apes”, Caesar needs to save survivors from a harmful human cult and a militant ape group. Meanwhile, Debbie Reynolds voices Charlotte in the film adaptation of "Charlotte's Web". The series "The Midnight Special" has begun a ten-year run featuring many guests and hosts, including Ike and Tina Turner, Steely Dan, Andy Kaufman, and Earth, Wind & Fire, among others. There was definitely something in the air (or water).
The venue is the famous Winterland Ballroom, located in the city of San Francisco. Opened on 29th June 1928, as the New Dreamland Auditorium, it initially served as an ice skating rink before making a significant transition into an entertainment venue for a variety of performances. In the late 1930s, it was renamed Winterland, a title that has since become iconic. The very first gig at Winterland took place on 23rd September 1966, featuring a double bill of Jefferson Airplane and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. With a capacity of 5,400, Winterland played host to an extensive lineup of artists who came to the city, becoming the setting for memorable film concerts such as "The Last Waltz" (The Band) and "The Filth and the Fury" (Sex Pistols).
Over the years, many legendary live albums have been recorded at this venue, including by Electric Light Orchestra, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen, all of whom have left their mark on its rich musical legacy. Winterland closed on New Year's Eve 1978 / New Year's Day 1979 with a concert featuring the Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the Blues Brothers. The event lasted more than eight hours and was broadcast live on radio stations.
On 23rd February 1973, Paul Butterfield's new band, Better Days, is introduced. Butterfield plays his Hohner harmonica, similar to other Chicago blues musicians, focusing on single notes instead of chords for solos. The band performs "Countryside". This is Butterfield's second group, featuring drummer Chris Parker, guitarist Amos Garrett, singer and guitarist Geoff Muldaur, pianist Ronnie Barron, and bassist Billy Rich. It’s tight blues rock at its finest.
Ronnie starts the piano on the track "Buried Alive With The Blues", showcasing classic blues standards for which the band has become well known over the years. The interaction among the musicians is something I genuinely wish I could have witnessed in person. I am glad they took the time to record it for others to experience.
Butterfield slows things down with the heartfelt and charming “Small Town Talk”. This song beautifully captures the essence of gossip, the subtle frowns, and the complexities of love that often intertwine in close-knit communities. It features great dynamics, allowing listeners to fully immerse themselves in the emotional nuances of the story being told.
The start of "New Walkin’ Blues" reminds me of "Moonlight Drive" by The Doors. Maybe that's just how blues music is—how often do we search for our walking shoes while Butterfield sings, making minutes feel like hours and hours feel like days? The smooth “Broke My Baby’s Heart” is written by pianist Ronnie Barron and features barber-quartet-style vocal harmonising.
With a jazzy and upbeat start on the famous “Highway 28”, a lively story of the band, who are determined not to be late for their performance. They need to arrive at Woodstock on time, as Butterfield introduces the band, and all the members take the opportunity to showcase their impressive credentials through an array of sublime solos that highlight their talents beautifully.
"Please Send Me Someone To Love" (written by Percy Mayfield, who also wrote “Hit The Road Jack”) takes the tempo down a few notches. The song ponders the complexities of the world, emphasising that unless mankind takes responsibility to put an end to all its various little sins, hate will inevitably set the world ablaze, engulfing everything in its destructive flames. Jeez no wonder I can't sleep sometimes!
Rounding off the album is the track "He's Got All The Whisky" followed by "Nobody's Fault But My Own". The band concludes this impressive collection with a slow blues groove that allows Butterfield to showcase his exceptional breathing control, seamlessly transitioning between vocals and harmonica. This skillful display is evident not only in the final tracks but also throughout the entire set. The exceptional bluesman will always be remembered as one of the greats.
Listen to Live at Winterland Ballroom and be sure to grab yourself a drink. We highly recommend choosing your favorite IPA, paired with some of your finest whisky for an enjoyable experience!