Nick Gravenites & Michael Bloomfield - My Labors (1969)

Unless you're familiar with Chicago blues of the 1960s, or from the San Francisco Bay area, the name Nick Gravenites may not be a familiar one. That's because Gravenites has been an important and unfortunately sparsely recorded behind-the-scenes blues player for many years. More people are likely to know Gravenites for the dozens of great songs he wrote: "Born in Chicago" (Paul Butterfield), "Buried Alive in the Blues" (Janis Joplin), "East-West," "Work Me Lord," "Groovin' Is Easy," "Bad Talkin' Bluesman," and literally hundreds of others.

Gravenites' compositions have been recorded by Butterfield, Joplin, the Electric Flag, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Big Brother and the Holding Company, James Cotton, Otis Rush, Jimmy Witherspoon, David Crosby, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Tracy Nelson, Blue Gravy, Howlin' Wolf, Roy Buchanan, Pure Prairie League, and others.

He's also made quite a name for himself as a producer, working on albums by Otis Rush, James Cotton, Michael Bloomfield, Janis Joplin and others. Gravenites' sessionography is extensive; he's performed on more than 45 albums as a singer, guitarist, songwriter, or bandleader.

"My Labors" is a strong major-label debut that the Chicago-born San Francisco bluesman was unable to capitalize on. Most of the tracks are from the same session that produced "Live at Bill Graham's Fillmore West" by Mike Bloomfield. Gravenites, an exceptional songwriter and decent singer, benefits from the presence of the amazing Bloomfield. He elevates the fierce "Moon Tune" to dizzying heights with two dazzling, lengthy solos. Quicksilver Messenger Service backs former producer Gravenites on several studio tracks.

Tracklist:
01 - Killing My Love
02 - Gypsy Good Time
03 - Holy Moly
04 - Moon Tune
05 - My Labors
06 - Throw Your Dog A Bone
07 - As Good As You've Been To This World
08 - Wintry Country Side

Bonus tracks:
09 - It Takes Time
10 - Blues On A Westside
11 - It's About Time

Tracks 1 to 4 & 8 to 11 are live tracks recorded at Bill Graham Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, January / February 1969.
Tracks 5 to 7 recorded in studio by Nick Gravenites and anonymous friends.

Nick Gravenites & Michael Bloomfield - My Labors (1969)
(320 kbps, art work inlcuded)