Blues Image

Blues Image - Blues Image - 1969 - ATCO Records

Blues Image (1969), **
Ah - journeymen, those musicians who pass from one group to another without any real stability. In some ways they are a step above session-men because they are actually members of a group, but they may not have the security or the success of a session life. On this album we have future examples of both. This album itself is well performed, well produced and fairly boring blues-rock. Well, it's not entirely blues rock - the liner notes claim that Latin Rock is "their own development." Santana's snub aside, the Latin influence is fairly weak. There's a couple of tracks that have touches and some lyrics in Spanish ("Outside Was Night" and "Yesterday Could Be Today") but mainly the claim appears to be grounded in the fact that they have a dedicated percussionist, future session man Joe Lala. Guitarist (and future journeyman) Mike Pinera has a good grasp of various blues styles (he'll play loud, he'll play soft, he'll play hard), but his vocals are admittedly vanilla. Lala sings on the album's only two decent tracks ("Take Me to the Sunrise" and "Leaving My Troubles Behind" conveniently placed as the first and second tracks on the album), so you have to wonder why he didn't get more leads. Like I said before, it's not badly performed, just really uninspired stuff (the slow traditional "Lazy Day Blues") or with fairly bad lyrics (the chorus of "In Front Behind You" contains the line "a whisper in a broken dream cannot be heard at all"). Lots of skills and potential, but not a whole lot else. Later on they scored a Top 10 hit with "Ride Captain Ride", a good song, and one that is not on this album. Pinera left soon afterwards to join Iron Butterfly and begin his wandering days with middle-road bands. Lala became a top session percussionist after the group broke up the next year. This album has not been re-released on CD, and there's absolutely no reason to track it down on vinyl. Produced by Bill Halverson. [ from http://jhendrix110.tripod.com/OandS.html#BluesImage ]

The Cuban/latin influenced blues rock band, Blues Image, based in Tampa, released this album in 1969. Very much in the mould of the early Carlos Santana, but with mostly below par songs, except perhaps "Leaving My Troubles Behind","Take Me to the Sunrise", and "Reality Does Not Inspire". There is a lot of good keyboard and guitar jamming, but the vocals are only average. Nevertheless, the album has merit based on the album's musicianship, which is adept. Not a great album, but enjoyable. The band's "Open" album is a far better album than the debut album, being more musically developed, and with better quality songs. Members of the band went on to play with artists like Joe Walsh, CSNY, Three Dog Night, and Iron Butterfly

TRACKS

A1 Take Me To The Sunrise 4:10
A2 Leaving My Troubles Behind 3:45
A3 Outside Was Night 3:44
A4 In Front Behind You 3:10
A5 Lay Your Sweet Love On Me 2:12

B1 (Do You Have) Somethin' To Say 3:55
B2 Lazy Day BLues 4:50
B3 Yesterday Could Be Today 2:08
B4 Reality Does Not Inspire 9:08

All songs composed by Mike Pinera, Frank (Skip) Konte, Malcolm Jones, Joe Lala, & Manuel Bertematti

BAND

Bass - Malcolm Jones
Congas - Joe Lala
Drums - Manuel Bertematti
Guitar - Mike Pinera
Piano, Organ - Frank (Skip) Konte

BIO

Known mainly for their 1970 US number 4 hit, ‘Ride Captain Ride’, Blues Image was a quintet from Tampa, Florida, USA. Formed in the mid-60s, they began as a trio featuring Mike Pinera (29 September 1948, Tampa, Florida, USA; guitar/vocals), Joe Lala (b. Tampa, Florida, USA; drums) and Manuel Bertematti (b. 1946, Tampa, Florida, USA; percussion). In 1966 Malcolm Jones (b. Cardiff, Wales; bass) joined and the band took the name Blues Image. Keyboardist Frank ‘Skip’ Konte, originally from Canyon City, California, was enlisted in 1968, at which time the band relocated to Miami, Florida. The band opened their own club, The Image, where besides booking some of the top acts of the day they were able to provide themselves with a ready-made venue for the Blues Image’s performances. Signed to Atco Records in 1969, they recorded their self-titled debut album, which landed at number 112 in the US album charts. The following year, they released Open, which did not do well despite the inclusion of the band’s hit single. A third album was issued in 1970, with Dennis Corell (vocals) and Kent Henry (guitar) but minus Pinera (who briefly joined Iron Butterfly), but proved unsuccessful. Blues Image disbanded upon that record’s release, and although Atco issued two more singles, neither charted. Some members of Blues Image started a new band called Manna. Konte joined Three Dog Night in 1974. Lala became renowned as a session drummer and percussionist, working with, among others, Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young, Manassas, Joe Walsh and Harry Chapin. Pinera joined Ramatam in 1972, then formed the New Cactus Band in 1973, which recorded one album for Atco. He then formed a short-lived band called Thee Image in 1975 and recorded two solo albums, before establishing a career in television and video. [ Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze. ]

MORE

The Blues Image was a one-hit wonder Latin-tinged pop/rock band, that one hit being "Ride Captain Ride," which made the Top Ten and sold a million copies in 1970. The group was formed in Tampa, FL, in 1966 by Michael Pinera (b. September 29, 1948, Tampa, FL) (guitar, vocals), Manuel Bertematti (b. 1946, Tampa, FL) (percussion), and Joe Lala (b. Tampa, FL) (drums). Malcolm Jones (b. Cardiff, Wales) (bass) joined in 1966, followed in 1968 by Frank "Skip" Konte (b. Canyon City, OK) (keyboards). The band moved to New York City in 1968 and managed a club called the Image. Then they moved to Los Angeles, where they signed to Atlantic Records' Atco division in February 1969, and released their self-titled debut album. This was followed by Open (1970), which featured "Ride Captain Ride." But the Blues Image never followed their hit. Pinera left, replaced by Kent Henry (guitar) and Dennis Correll (vocals). Then the Blues Image broke up. A third album, Red White & Blues Image, was compiled from outtakes. Skip Konte joined Three Dog Night, while some other band members reformed as Manna. Pinera later was a member of Iron Butterfly, then Ramatam, and, with Bertematti, the New Cactus Band. He also formed a band called Thee Image and worked as a solo artist. Lala became a Los Angeles session player and worked with Joe Walsh and the various manifestations of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, among others. © William Ruhlmann © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=BLUESIMAGE&sql=11:39ftxqr5ldte~T1

BIO (WIKI)

Blues Image was a critically acclaimed late 1960s rock band. Their most successful song was "Ride Captain Ride" in the last half of 1970, which went all the way to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #4 on the Canadian RPM magazine charts. Blues Image was a well respected band among their peers. In an interview conducted by British magazine Melody Maker, Jimi Hendrix said that Blues Image was "one of the best up and coming bands around". Shortly before Hendrix's demise, Hendrix and Manny Bertematti were seen jamming at the popular underground club, 'The Experience' on Los Angeles' Sunset Strip. Blues Image was formed in Tampa, Florida in 1966 by singer-guitarist Mike Pinera, singer-drummer Manuel "Manny" Bertematti, singer-percussionist Joe Lala, keyboardist Emilio Garcia, and bassist Malcolm Jones. They were later joined by keyboardist Frank "Skip" Konte when Emilio Garcia left the band to become a pilot. Blues Image moved to Miami in 1968, where they were instrumental in helping promoters form the most innovative music venue in South Florida, 'Thee Image'. Blues Image became the house band at the club, which featured bands like the Grateful Dead, Cream, and Blood, Sweat and Tears. The band moved to Los Angeles and signed with Atco Records, releasing their self-titled debut album in February 1969. Their second album, Open (April 1970), included the popular hit "Ride Captain Ride". Featuring Kent Henry on guitar solo and fills, and Pinera playing solo at the end, the song was co-composed by Pinera and Konte. This disc sold over one million copies, and earned a gold record from the R.I.A.A. in August 1970. Pinera left the band and was replaced by singer Denny Correll and guitarist Kent Henry. The band later broke up but did release a third album, Red White & Blues Image in May 1970. The various members of Blues Image went on to become parts of other rock bands. Pinera & Bertematti later played with Iron Butterfly and Cactus. Pinera also played with Ramatam and Alice Cooper. Konte joined Three Dog Night, and Lala played with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Lala's percussion work figures prominently on the Stephen Stills/Chris Hillman led group, Manassas. Henry played lead guitar with Steppenwolf prior to their break-up in the early 1970s. Bertematti toured with Chi Coltrane and Bobby Womack. Correll later recorded a series of successful Contemporary Christian rock albums, helped expand CCM's commercial appeal, and achieved airplay with several singles on CCM radio during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He died in 2002. Gary Dunham, who also toured with the last incarnation of Blues Image, also became a solo CCM artist. Pinera has released several solo albums, most recently In the Garden of Eden.