Customer Reviews

Blues Image/Red, White and Blues Image

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this 2-albums on one CD package because I enjoyed the Blues Image big radio hit "Ride Captain Ride" and I wanted to see if the band had other songs as enjoyable as that one. Turns out the music on this CD is actually a lot different than that song. I never would have thought this music would be so enjoyable from a supposedly one-hit wonder.

Let me quickly mention what to expect when you play this CD. Tracks 1 through 9 is their very first album called the Blues Image, and tracks 10 through 18 would be the band's third album, Red White and Blues Image. For some reason they didn't put the second album on here, and they chose to go with the third album instead. I have no idea what that second album (titled Open) is like. If it's anything like the first or third album, I'll love it, without a doubt!

The first album is packed with plenty of guitar and keyboard jams and bluesy vocal melodies all over the place. I do think they write vocal melodies in the same way Grand Funk Railroad wrote them in their early days, and the keyboards the Blues Image are using seem to be influenced by Deep Purple because they sound like something straight from a Deep Purple album. You can tell this band loves creating fun, bluesy jams.

The Red White and Blues Image album isn't quite like the debut album. It's more about the vocal melodies. I'd say every song on the third album is melodic and sometimes bordering on either soul or gospel music while mostly focusing on rock and roll, of course. The music on this album has a similar feel and atmosphere to the Doobie Brothers version of "Jesus Is Just Alright With Me" and maybe even some Three Dog Night or Guess Who similarities here and there.

It's amazing when you listen to the Red White and Blues Image album because every song seems to have very emotional singing. You can tell the band members really want the listener to feel the friendly atmosphere and the beautiful singing. The result is that the album works, and works entirely well.

Both albums feature one long jam as the last song on each album. The jam on the first album is just over 9 minutes and contains enough guitars, keyboards, and rhythm changes to make anyone who loves 70's progressive rock happy. The 8 minute jam that closes out Red White and Blues Image is more about the guitar and drums and feels slightly better constructed than the other jam, in my opinion. I'd say it also rocks more than the first jam but both songs are fun and exciting.

Both jams may include moments that might make you feel like you're listening to an early Santana album. I also hear Allman Brothers influences. You really can't go wrong with this music if you like soulful singing, strong vocal melodies, and long keyboard and guitar jamming. The Blues Image may not have been a groundbreaking band, but they played great rock music, and the band sounds like they are having fun on both albums.

The rest of the songs on both albums aren't as long. They're all in between 2 and 5 minutes. I just love the way these guys write good melodies while jamming at the same time and they have the talent to make it melodic and interesting every time. Good stuff.

This is 70's rock at its best, and I'm still surprised how much I like every song. "Ride Captain Ride" may have been their biggest hit (and probably their only hit) but this CD includes 18 wonderful tracks that stand right next to that song. Just please don't ignore this 2-album CD because it doesn't have that one hit song. You'll find plenty to like on here, I guarantee it. Highly recommended.

These (5) five great talented individuals met and formed their band in Tampa Florida circa 1968-69; they recorded their first album "Blues Image" for ATCO and was released in 1970. They blended the American rock, blues with a Cuban/Latin sound that was not very common in those days (only Santana band was experimenting with it California) and were very good at it! A song that was very good was "Leaving My Troubles Behind", which is include here. The other songs are good too. I bought the album (Blues Image) in 1970 when it was first released and still have with me after all these years. Buy this CD it includes the other album Red White and Blues Image which is good too. I'm glad that it's out on CD and available for the new generation to listen and learn what the 60"s and early 70's where all about, in relation to the music that was played in those days. I am very glad that I was part of that generation and the music I grew up with. Also check "OPEN" that is available on CD it has the hit "Ride captain Ride."

Displaying my age, I remember seeing Blues Image in Ft. Lauderdale at "THEE IMAGE" a number of years (how about 30?) years ago and have been a fan ever since. I have loved the classic "Ride Captain Ride" but now I can get by second fav (I have the 45 itself) "Gas Lamps and Clay", a hit down here on the old WSRF and WQAM AM Top 40 hey days.

There place in history is assured, with their contributions and membership in such bands as the later Iron Butterfly, Three Dog Night, CSNY, and Joe Walsh.

This is well worth the wait, and the price. I remember seing auctions asking for over $50 EACH on these.

A Best Buy

I first heard the Blues Image in Miami, Florida, in the mid-1960s. Out of Tampa, Florida, they were arguably the best Florida band of the time and Mike Pinera was heralded as the best electric guitar player in the state. I have been looking for a CD of their first album, simply called Blues Image, for years. I still own the original vinyl record, which I purchased when it was released in 1966(?), but have not transferred it to CD or MP3. Needless to say, I am pleased to find it now available on CD.

Pinera's guitar playing on the first album is remarkable indeed. Also, check out his lead guitar (and the piano solo) on "Fugue U/Parchment Farm/Wraith of Daisy" on the Open CD. Pinera and Joe Lala were terrific singers. The band folded shortly after Pinera left to join Iron Butterfly. Too bad. I have never found another band quite like Blues Image; they were a national hit with their blend of blues, rock, and latin sounds before Santana.

Looks to be a nifty 2-lp's-on-one CD reissue of Blues Image's lesser known albums,their 1969 self-titled first record and their third-'70's 'Red,White And Blues Image'.Until fairly recent,I had no idea these lp's even existed.About as good as their 'Open' album,you know-the one with "Ride Captain Ride" (see my review).A couple of tunes here I was sort of impressed with were "Take Me To The Sunrise","In Front Behind You" and the laid back "Gas Lamps And Clay".Just all around good early seventies blues rock from guitarist/vocalist Mike Pinera and friends.

At last, the 1st and 3rd album released on CD--Blues Image was a great band--check out the 2nd album Open-their best!!! These two albums are also great with excellent vocals and great guitar. A little Latin rock thrown in, too. I saw these guys at the Fillmore in 1969--what a band. The third is the weakest of the three--Mike Pinera is gone and Kent Henry-guitarist (from Steppenwolf) replaces him--the vocals are not as good except when Joe Lala sings--but still a good album to have along with the first two. Get this and Open and you will not be disappointed!!!!

Well, being a fan of BI from way back, I was really looking foward to a cd release of their albums. Right from the start, the poor sound quality (loud hissing-especially when using headphones) of the first album, sort of ruined the listening experience, but the quality of R,W & BI was much better, almost as good as the lp. The first album sounds a bit dated and is more jazzy, bluesy with a latin flavor. It probably would have sounded better with producer Richard Podolar, who produced their other albums. The opening track of R,W & BI (Rise Up) is a different version from the lp. This version is an alternate/extended version. Maybe it is actually the original version.
Although R,W & BI is not their best effort, it is very well produced and if you like the style of Ride Captain Ride (which is on the OPEN album), I think you will like most of this album.
IMO, OPEN is the best BI album.

"Blues Image", The Greatest UNKNOWN Rock & Roll Album of all time. Rock, Latin, Blues, great musicians. Too bad this group broke up.

This release contains both of this band's 1st and 3rd LPs, I heard their first one on the turntable of my cousin. I wore it out. GREAT STUFF!!!!!! Red, White and Blues Image, while not quite as good and minus Mike Pinera, is still pretty decent. You can't go wrong with this CD!

A friend of mine had Blues Image's first album on vinyl when it was originally released. Though I didn't own it myself, I remember liking it a lot, and I must have heard quite a few times because when I got it on CD, and put it on for the first time, I remembered every note as though it were yesterday.

This was one of those overlooked gems of it's time. It must have sold well enough to keep the record company interested enough to allow them to keep their contract but "Blues Image" was definitely not a household name until there second release, which contained their hit "Ride Captain Ride", went on to sell over a million copies. This first release does have more than a few strong tunes on it though. Both "Take Me to the Sunrise" and "In Front Behind You" are genuinely strong pieces.

They are pretty much a blues/rock group, but some of the added percussion gives them a Latin feel. The musicianship is good and though the production and recording might not be outstanding they are good enough to get the point across without the listener hearing the bones. What I also like is they don't seem to feel the need to set up a verse and chorus and then make a bee-line for the end. They take time to explore the song and might play the same passage a couple of different ways. This is really quite inventive.

The second album featured here, "Red White and Blues Image" was their third release and, unfortunately, The lead guitarist and writer Mike Pinera had left the band. It is very noticeable, particularly in the writing. It's a different mood and not nearly as exploratory. It's more main stream and, I find, much less interesting. It doesn't hurt to hear it, but you may need double doses of caffeine to keep you tied in.

I don't know that this would appeal to many of today's listeners, but anyone who was into music in the late 60s and early 70s, that didn't catch this first time around, might want to give it a shot. This is up with the best things happening at that time.