Retroworld (label)
01 September 2015 (released)
22 September 2015
A lot of bands are called ‘Legends’ but very few even get close to deserving that title. In order to achieve the ‘Legend’ tag you should be a scene shaper, a band or artist that takes the zeitgeist forward and makes something new and unique.
The Electric Flag came out of the folk and beat scenes and attempted to make the music that they wanted, influenced by the Blues and Soul artists that all of the band were listening to rather than making music that was less than the music in their hearts.
Mike Bloomfield was the instigator of the band, along with Barry Goldberg (keys) and Harvey Brooks (bass). Buddy Miles, then 19, was poached as drummer from Wilson Pickett’s backing band and Nick Gravenites was picked as vocalist.
The first music they made was actually the soundtrack of the movie ‘The Trip’ (starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Bruce Dern & directed by Roger Corman) but they developed their own sound after that, adding horns and playing both Blues standards and their own songs.
As you might expect, some of the production is light and the sound isn’t as upfront as some later bands using similar styles (BS&T and CTA for instance) but the playing and the songwriting is exceptional while some of the individual performances are simply sublime.
Their version of Howling Wolf’s ‘Killing Floor’ is superb with the horns and Brooks’ bass lines giving the song a really upfront and groove laden feel while ‘Texas’ – co-written by Miles & Bloomfield – has a Chicago feel and super guitar playing from Bloomfield. Gravenites vocals on both numbers are pure Blues.
Bloomfirld’s ‘You Don’t Realize’ is soul with Blues touches with brassy horns and subtle keyboards from Goldberg punctuating Gravenites soulful vocals.
‘Drinking Wine’ was recorded live at the Monterey Festival and certainly rocks along.
They were also capable of jazzy music which reaches a peak with ‘With Time There is Change’ and ‘Nothing To Do’.
‘Another Country’ is their psych moment; nearly 9 minutes of improv, effects and changing structures – all jammed and as tight as only a band of equals can be.
My personal favourite is ‘Movie Music Improvisation’ which is just that, bringing all the talents to the fore and building into a Blues groove worthy of Booker T & The MGs.
The Electric Flag truly do deserve the ‘Legend’ flag attached to them as the album shows a band who created new music from other styles and forms and set the stage for many other bands to follow them onto – often with greater commercial success.
