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Mike Bloomfield— It’s Not Killing Me &
Live at the Old Waldorf—Retro World

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Despite being one of the pre-eminent
figures in the US blues revival in the 60s

and his work with some of rock’s biggest

names back then, these days guitarist Mike
Bloomfield is often overlooked. He died in

1981 at only 37 years old, when, as Alan

Robinson’s detailed and candid notes to
this double CD release state, he was

“regarded as a washed-up guitar-playing has-been that was never that much
in the first place”.

The two albums under consideration here are his first album under his own

name, “It’s Not Killing Me” issued by Columbia in 1969, and “Live At The
Old Waldorf”, a compilation from shows in 1976 and ’77 at the San

Francisco venue that was only issued in 1998. Aslan points out the failings

in what was Bloomfield’s eagerly awaited set at the time. His vocals are OK
but nothing more, but more seriously, the material was too diverse –

country, a blues ballad, and more than a nod to The Band, Bob Dylan’s

backing outfit.

‘Far Too Many Nights’ shows what could have been, an excellent blues with

plenty of biting guitar work by the leader, with a fine band behind him.
‘Next Time You See Me’ is the Junior Parker hit penned by Earl Forest and

is another excellent blues, again with some impressive guitar work, fine

horns and a cracking band. ‘Don’t Think About It Baby’ is also worthwhile,
but many of the other tracks are not blues in anyone’s book, and the album

now seems like a lost opportunity.

In contrast, the live recordings on CD2 present Mike playing the blues with

friends and in excellent form, frequently playing slide guitar. This one comes

highly recommended, and is a far better – and bluesier – representation of
Bloomfield’s strengths. And those are actually enough to outweigh the

failings of that first album.

Norman Darwen