Search - Robben Ford & Ford Blues Band :: Tribute to Paul Butterfield

Excellent Tribute To Butterfield!

deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 08/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Patrick Ford decided that he wanted to do a tribute album to Paul Butterfield, he called his family, Robben, Mark and Gabriel together with harpist Andy Just, Bassist Dewayne Pate and various other musicians and began sifting through Butterfields first six releases to find songs to cover. The 12 songs selected, some better known than others, are said to best demonstrate both the style and diversity of Butterfield and his band. I suppose to Butterfield fans that may well be a subject for debate. Some may ask, for example, where is "Born in Chicago" or "Two Trains Running".Notwithstanding the eventual selection of songs, the Fords pull off what they set out to achieve. An original sounding CD that recalls Butterfield in his heyday and the Ford bands performance is nothing short of excellent. Listen to the harp playing in "Screamin" and "Everything's Gonna Be Alright", and the harp, guitar and piano solo's on "Work Song". They're enough to send chills down your spine and "Mary Mary" is dead on. If there is a short coming, it is, oddly enough, in one of the most covered blues numbers, "Good Morning Little School Girl". Perhaps it's been covered so many times that it has lost all sense of originality. Otherwise, it's a solid effort from a family that knows how to play the blues."

Fantastic! Robben and the guys at their best!

deepbluereview | 08/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the album/cd that Robben was born to make. If you like the blues, blues-rock, Robben, or hell if you just like music, YOU MUST HAVE this cd. It includes plenty of Robben's trademark amazing guitar work, as well as, all around great musicianship and vocals. Upbeat, toe-tappin', goodtime, rockin' blues (Screamin', One More Heartache, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, No Amount of Loving, Mary Mary, Work Song, Buddy's Advice, All These Blues, Everything's Gonna Be Alright) mixed in with just enough slow, tear-your-heart-out blues (Last Hopes Gone, In My Own Dream, Tollin' Bells) to keep it real. Get this cd, you won't be disappointed!..."

A FITTING TRIBUTE

Patrick Earley | Edmond, Oklahoma USA | 09/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't think of a more qualified band playing today to lay down a tribute to probably the best white blues band in history. The Ford Blues Band is probably the most talented and underappreciated blues band out there. They really poured their musical skills into this, with the most popular of the Ford brothers, Robben leading the way. The song selection isn't bad here either. With 2 of my favorites off their classic East-West album "Mary Mary", and a scorching 6 minute version of the instrumental "Work Song", where harp, piano, and guitar all meet and get their tasty licks in. A couple other favorites here is "One More Heartache", which has one of the best grooves on the album, that builds up to a fired up horn blast that's flat out funky. This is one of Butterfield's alltime best songs. And they do a very respectable version of "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl", a great blues song I never tire of. What I particularly like about this cd is the democratic playing, where everybody gets equal time soloing. This is a top rate tribute all the way, that comes highly recommended."