If You Love These Blues, Play 'Em As You Please

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Album: If You Love These Blues, Play 'Em As You Please
#	Song Title		Time
1)	If You Love These Blues	More Info...
2)	Hey, Foreman	More Info...
3)	Narrative #1	More Info...
4)	WDIA	More Info...
5)	Narrative #2	More Info...
6)	Death Cell Rounder Blues	More Info...
7)	Narrative #3	More Info...
8)	City Girl	More Info...
9)	Narrative #4	More Info...
10)	Kansas City Blues	More Info...
11)	Narrative #5	More Info...
12)	Mama Lion	More Info...
13)	Narrative #6	More Info...
14)	Thrift Shop Rag	More Info...
15)	Narrative #7	More Info...
16)	Death In My Family	More Info...
17)	East Colorado Blues	More Info...
18)	Blue Ghost Blues	More Info...
19)	Narrative #8	More Info...
20)	The Train Is Gone	More Info...
21)	Narrative #9	More Info...
22)	The Altar Song	More Info...
23)	I'll Overcome	More Info...
24)	I Must See Jesus	More Info...
25)	Great Dreams From Heaven	More Info...
26)	Gonna Feed Somebody On My Bond	More Info...
27)	I Am A Pilgrim	More Info...
28)	Just A Closer Walk With Thee	More Info...
29)	Have Thine Own Way	More Info...
30)	Farther Along	More Info...
31)	Peace In The Valley	More Info...

Album: If You Love These Blues, Play 'Em As You Please
#	Song Title		Time
1)	If You Love These Blues	More Info...
2)	Hey, Foreman	More Info...
3)	Narrative #1	More Info...
4)	WDIA	More Info...
5)	Narrative #2	More Info...
6)	Death Cell Rounder Blues	More Info...
7)	Narrative #3	More Info...
8)	City Girl	More Info...
9)	Narrative #4	More Info...
10)	Kansas City Blues	More Info...
11)	Narrative #5	More Info...
12)	Mama Lion	More Info...
13)	Narrative #6	More Info...
14)	Thrift Shop Rag	More Info...
15)	Narrative #7	More Info...
16)	Death In My Family	More Info...
17)	East Colorado Blues	More Info...
18)	Blue Ghost Blues	More Info...
19)	Narrative #8	More Info...
20)	The Train Is Gone	More Info...
21)	Narrative #9	More Info...
22)	The Altar Song	More Info...
23)	I'll Overcome	More Info...
24)	I Must See Jesus	More Info...
25)	Great Dreams From Heaven	More Info...
26)	Gonna Feed Somebody On My Bond	More Info...
27)	I Am A Pilgrim	More Info...
28)	Just A Closer Walk With Thee	More Info...
29)	Have Thine Own Way	More Info...
30)	Farther Along	More Info...
31)	Peace In The Valley	More Info...

Performer Notes

2 LPs on 1 CD: IF YOU LOVE THESE BLUES, PLAY 'EM AS YOU PLEASE (1976) / BLOOMFIELD-HARRIS (1979)
Personnel: Michael Bloomfield (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, banjo, piano, organ, keyboards, drums); Michael Bloomfield (spoken vocals, bass guitar); Woody Harris (guitar, acoustic guitar); Eric Kris (piano, keyboards); Eric Kriss (piano); Roger Troy, Doug Kilmer (bass guitar); Nick Gravenites (vocals, guitar); Hart McNee (saxophone, baritone saxophone); Rev. Ron Stallings (tenor saxophone); Ira Kamin (piano, organ, keyboards); Dave Neditch, Tom Donlinger (drums).
Audio Mixer: Norman Dayron.
Audio Remasterer: Kirk Felton.
Liner Note Authors: Michael Bloomfield; Norman Dayron; Kenny Berkowitz; Kenny Berkowitz.
Recording information: Mill Valley, CA (??/??/1976-07/13/1979).
Photographer: Norman Dayron.
Arrangers: Michael Bloomfield; Woody Harris.
If You Love These Blues, Play 'Em as You Please was an unusual project for Michael Bloomfield. Although recorded as a blues guitar instructional album for Guitar Player magazine, it ended up being acclaimed as one of his finest solo recordings, of interest to both guitar players and the general listening public. Bloomfield had been in commercial and artistic decline for years prior to cutting this disc, and there's the sense that he welcomed the chance to get back to what he knew and loved the best, selecting and laying down material without having to worry about how well it would sell. That relaxed quality comes through on the performances, in which he goes through a wide assortment of electric and acoustic guitar styles, the songs specifically designed to illustrate guitar sounds associated with heroes like B.B. King, Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, T-Bone Walker, Blind Blake, Guitar Slim, Lonnie Johnson, and others. The cuts with band backing are no-frills, straight-ahead affairs that avoid over-production, interrupted by a few showcases for Bloomfield's considerable and underrated abilities as an acoustic guitarist. His singing, as always, was merely serviceable, but suitably respectful of the material and the styles to which he was paying homage. Sprinkled throughout the program are brief, unobtrusive spoken introductions from Bloomfield himself succinctly explaining the songs, what they're examples of, and how they're being played. Long after it was made, it's still useful as a primer for aspiring blues guitarists, but also reasonably satisfying as a blues record on its own terms. ~ Richie Unterberger

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (No. 968, p.72) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "[A]n intimate lesson that doubles as a moving study of Bloomfield's rare gifts and love of the music..."

Uncut (p.116) - 4 stars out of 5 - "This is easily his best solo work....Bloomfield introduces and executes a series of acoustic/electric guitar styles associated with his mentors..."

Living Blues (pp.72-73) - "[H]e deftly explains the rudiments of the genre before turning in an impeccable performance."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.111) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[H]e deftly explains the rudiments of the genre before turning in an impeccable acoustic performance."