Michael Bloomfield & Friends Winterland 1973

As a tribute the the late, great Michael Bloomfield on his birthday, we once again celebrate with a here-to-fore unheard performance from his heyday. This time it's Michael's rendition of Ray Charles' "I Wonder Who," a tune familiar to fans from his Fillmore West "Super Session" album. But this performance comes from a soundboard tape of show done with an Friends band in 1973 that includes Mark Naftalin on keyboards. Michael plays and sings his heart out, and the Winterland crowd responds enthusiastically.

[@stevetessier6568]

Mike Bloomfield was my very good. And close friend in my long ago youth. He took me under his wing in Chicago. When I was skipping school. He was a mentor and a teacher. A most valued and a trusted friend. He bought me my first Electric Guitar. A Black 1954 Fretless Wonder Les Paul. We saw in a South Side Pawn Shop. Nobody Cried harder than me. When Bloomers died. God Bless his Soul. He was my big brother. From another mother. I miss him so much....!! ♥️♥️

[@rodqueen2910]

I don't undestand why there is heroin

[@andybowen1249]

@De Oppresso Libtard been a slave to it for more years than I care to remember, albeit I never knew most of this. I’ve lost most of my friends to it and I’m going to another funeral tomorrow of someone who died of methadone. Have to be honest though, nearly all of em are what I would call wreck heads. I’ve never had a death wish and have never overdosed. Great name by the way

[@fernmulato134]

@@andybowen1249 same bro , cant even lie , as im here listening to mike and reading the comments im here hitting sum lines of heroin man just did a shot 30 mins ago , im barely 17 but shit it is what it is yunno , love bloomfield tho 🖤🤘🏽 one of the best to ever do it , pure fuccin soul 🙌🏽 1love 1love 🖤👆🏽

[@mikebarker7626]

mikes first les Paul was a black fretless wonder

[@tjcolatrella943]

@@mikebarker7626 Yes it was, I was with him once when he carried it over his shoulder with no case going into Manny's Music in NYC on 48th Street! I first met him when I was barely 16..

[@tonebender7897]

There is a only a small handful of guitarists who can give me the chills and Mike Bloomfield is well and truly in that handful - RIP brother

[@garysalt2718]

Amen!!

[@tomsawyer4865]

Amen !

[@Martiniization]

Michael Bloomfield's blues cannot be missed. You feel it, whether you want to or not, whether you're looking for it or not.

[@user-hu7en6ur9g]

when you say a guitar player plays clean, thats the ultimate compliment. Michael played clean.

[@briancroner3717]

Michael was one of the major ground breakers for electric blues.

[@raymondhavlicek6643]

I’ve been playing guitar since I am 7...and I have been listening to Mike’s playing for a big chunk of that time. He truly was a genius of the electric blues guitar. Every note right the heck on the point that his playing invades your soul. Wish I could be half as good. He was truly amazing. I get a kick out of learning his solos and instrumentals.

[@hollygolightly7475]

My ears are in heaven

[@timothyredden5757]

Cruising for a bruising my favourite. Talented dude.

[@nicholasbrunetto966]

truly one of the greats mike left us to young however his memory lives on

[@richgaluppo4417]

Thank you VERY MUCH !!!!

[@dskim5848]

Mike always made it sound so sweet!

[@mrblackmao]

Michael Bloomfield - Wonderful expressive power to make people ecstatic!

[@stephenbell9257]

Thank you for bringing this previously hidden recording to light. I hope you have more gems from this session to release. I have been a Bloomfield fan for 50 years and previously thought I had heard just about all of his recorded performances.

[@bloomsdisco]

You're most welcome, Stephen. I do have many other unheard Bloomfield recordings, the best of which I hope to post in the future, usually around MB's birth and death anniversaries, as a way of keeping Bloomfield's legacy alive and well. Next one should be coming July 28. Stay tuned!

[@Vodichka9]

I think he was one of the best guitarists ever. And he was humble, too humble, about his talents.

[@phillieg26]

My all time favorite guitarist! He played both electric and acoustic guitar with such feeling.

[@ramonsanchez2429]

Michael Bloomfield was a great player who led the Blues with Riffs not repeated very few like him ,if great friendship with Al Kooper, Buddy Miles, Stephen Stil ,Mark Naftalin keyboards l and Others ,they achieved great concerts together throughout their year of acting 🎸🎸🥁🎹🎷

[@bobswabski3590]

The best.

[@garysalt2718]

I was a member of the 440th Army Band at Ft. Bragg in 1968. We had a musician by the name of Don Lehnhoff who was our musical celebrity at the time who played trombone. He was drafted and was in the Army unwillingly. He had been playing for the big band Mitch Ryder had chosen to accompany him after he broke up with the Detroit Wheels. Anyway, I am in my bunk asleep early in the morning when Don had placed a phonograph player right in the middle of the barracks and begun to play the Electric Flag song "Another Country". I didn't know what the fuck was going on. I hear this siren and started to panic. Then the riff comes in. I was blown away instantly by this extremely talented band. Then later on Michael Bloomfield plays this beautiful solo. I have been a Bloomfield fan ever since. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJnOgY2roqeef7c

[@ricardo4max]

I played the crap out of that album!

[@user-sf3ps8vl7s]

Hello Mike bloomfield was a great guitarist his music comes to life you just need to smoke a joint and listen to mike bloomfield you won't be disappointed.cheers

[@rollinstone302]

Mike Bloomfield the best ever!

[@HebdebaV]

you ever listen to rory gallagher

[@dada1952]

He sounded awful on this.

[@billiam8270]

@@dada1952 His live performances were all over the map, including being out of tune many times. But, when he was "on", he was incredible. I saw him in Dec. 1967 with the Electric Flag and he was in top form, maybe inspired by the presence of BB King that night. But clearly, his disdain for being a "guitar god" combined with insomnia and heroin, and finally arthritis in his fingers, put a big damper on his last decade-plus. He peaked 1965-68. Sad, huh? I absolutely love his playing more than any other guitar player and to see him live was a real treat.

[@jerrydixon7635]

He was the best loved hi playing no effects just him and his guitar

[@franklmac]

Michael brought JOY to the audience by his playing of Blues. Contradiction in terms? NOPE. That's what blues is all about and Michael knew it from the beginning with his many lessons in the southside of Chicago. I saw all those years of learning come alive at the Fillmore West and it was truly one of the most joyful musical experiences I have ever had, maybe, will EVER have.

[@john-zw9rw]

YEAH... This is too much... Great Recording..release it..... I need more.....Thanks for the snack

[@joukarfoy]

I was there.

[@franklmac]

Mike is not a great singer but the man reeked of soul. Totally agree with his mom who described him the same way. To watch him live was to climb up the soul universe right along with him. Mike had the ability to take you there and experience timelessness at the same time.

[@skipgeorge4550]

His singing was great

[@santinarainey9644]

He sounds damn good to me.

[@debbiebatt1685]

Thanks for sharing this Bloomfield Gem!

[@alfiehenshall688]

Reminds me of Peter Green / B.B King his playing style . 👍🎸😎

[@dada1952]

He couldn't hold Greeny's guitar case... sloppy and boring IMO.

[@ramonsanchez7961]

Great the Best of The Best Blue man Another máster 🎸🎶🎹🥁

[@josephlemko3027]

The man was terrific. His solos leave me speechless.

[@elegantlywasted4580]

Yes,Sir

[@josephlemko3027]

@@elegantlywasted4580 Great to hear from a Bloomfield fan. Stay healthy✌!

[@markchacon7002]

miss my guy i was blessed🙏to meet him early 68 around 🇺🇸Electric🇺🇸Flag days salty as they come Michael 2Jew Blues Bloomfield was no doubt the Best🔯 sad how he check~out 🌍🌠🎼🎸🎤🔌♍

[@graziano1493]

Favoloso il mio chitarrista preferito

[@LarryDepontes]

I wonder who gonna be your sweet lovin man when I've gone

[@bernardliu8526]

How come I always come back to Bloomfield, Green, and Taylor ? Because they are still the creme de la creme of white blues guitarists ! (Robben Ford is not sad enough, but Coco Montoya, who sings well, is right up there too.)

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

Clapton was better in his prime than mick taylor

[@mattlott8766]

​@@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer Clapton was god in his prime

[@JohnNathanCO]

I'll have to check out Coco Montoya, haven't heard that name in awhile! He used to run a blues open stage one night a week at The Central on Sunset. Later became The Viper Room, I think? Coco brought some heavy cats in, saw Mitch Mitchell play one night, Mick Taylor, Richie Hayward from Little Feat , other touring guys...1983 or so. Anyway, sure wish I'd seen this show. Winterland was my hang in '73 and '74.

[@aliensporebomb]

Something about his tone and the fact that while he could play flamethrower hot, he wasn't afraid to show his sensitive quiet side, sometimes in the same song.

[@dennisjohndreher7258]

Love the 12 bar blues.

[@randalmcmurphy1893]

farout. Michael you left us far too soon.

[@hectorgonzalez9170]

Heroin is a horrible drug. RIP.

[@goldenbutterrevue517]

It already shows up in his playing by this time.

[@russjalichandra5491]

May be the reason Bloomfield wasn’t as huge as Clapton is because he played the blues in USA where blues is not widely popular among the white audience up until the Brit blues boys made blues a cool thing in US later on.

[@daidegan]

definitely.... and the fact that he didn't promote his own songs, nice guy that he was.

[@garysalt2718]

If I understand properly, Bloomfield had absolutely no desire to be a rock star. He was dedicated to the music he loved. too bad he became a slave to heroin.

[@debbiebatt1685]

@@garysalt2718 Clapton had much more versability and could write songs.

[@TheNoncritical1]

@@debbiebatt1685 And sing too.

[@Molt408]

Bloomfield never had anyone close to Ginger and Jack backing him.

[@jonnybeck6723]

Thanx so much for digging this up and posting. He had a singing style and quality largely unappreciated IMHO cheers

[@RobHollanderMusic]

Thanks for this great, rare, and excellent sounding recording. I believe the album you refer to is "The Live Adventures" album, and that record was recorded at the Fillmore East - not West. I was just a kid and lucky enough to see Mike and Al Kooper (and ironically Paul Butterfield band was also on the bill- but they did not jam together at all ) at my first Fillmore show.

[@DaveandWendy1]

Nope. West. Check the liner notes.

[@DaveandWendy1]

Regardless, it's a great record.

[@davidranger13]

Smooth... ✌😎

[@tomsawyer4865]

Dynamic band ...a great blues man mike....am done...ohh yeaaah

[@keithwelch9351]

So tasteful

[@MrMojabo]

was there but he didn't play the end of the arena,,, they had the stage on the side. he played like it was all over. this sounds so good, I was 20

[@TheBorjamz]

So Fine

[@rpdugoni]

Saw him there in 72 and 74. Loved his playing! He is deeply missed. He did a few shows there in 73. Not sure if I made this one....10/2/73 New Riders Of The Purple Sage Mike Bloomfield Jerry Garcia & Merle Saunders.

[@IMCcanTWEESTED]

Those '73 Hitachi portable stereo cassette tape recorders had their pitfalls.

[@sandragriffiths9692]

But better that than no recording😊

[@rbplease]

I saw MB & Friends at Winterland the first half of that year and would like to figure out if this is that show. Do you happen to know if he was added to the bill as a last-minute substitution for the headliner, It's A Beautiful Day? (I believe Wet Willie and possibly Dr. John were on the undercard.) I will have a follow-up question!

[@evanbluz946]

Hello, where did you find this treasure ? I looked around the web but I've not found anything... Thanks for sharing

[@bloomsdisco]

This selection comes from Bloomfield's friend and producer Norman Dayron. You won't find it anywhere else but here. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danabourgeois5439]

Awesome performance. What’s that strange left/right stereo pan all about?

[@chrisburr9124]

OK Bloomer!

[@s1914]

Subscribed.

[@titok49]

gosh who is he?I never heard of him?

[@RagtimeAnnie]

WOW ! - Now that you've been initiated, Keep checking out Mike Bloomfield and listening to all you can find- his music is AMAZIN !

[@doktvraw]

ΔΕΝ ΞΕΡΩ ΓΙΑΤΙ ΑΛΛΑ ΑΥΤΟ ΤΟ ΠΑΛΗΚΑΡΙ ΘΕΛΩ ΝΑ ΤΟΝ ΑΓΑΠΑΩ ΓΙΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ

[@Jonathan-L]

Who played the organ on this recording?

[@Johngonefishin]

Possibly Mark Naftalin, Bloomfield's buddy and the keyboardist in the Paul Butterfield Blues band.

[@DaveandWendy1]

Maybe Barry Goldberg?

[@markchacon7002]

One of the other both were tight w/ M.B.🌉🎹🌉🎹🎙️🌉⛵

[@abradfordajb]

Nice show ..... too bad this audio has a bad stereo field, it's making me dizzy.

[@chigjuanspartacus2822]

white man blues.........torture to listen to......damn,,,,

[@tuviafogel]

You have the IQ of cactus.

[@sandragriffiths9692]

Don't listen then😤

[@chigjuanspartacus2822]

@@sandragriffiths9692 I did