Projections (The Blues Project album)

Projections is the second album by American blues rock band The Blues Project. Produced by Tom Wilson and released by Verve/Folkways in November 1966, the album was their first studio release and examined a more rock-based sound.[2] Jim Marshall was credited as the photographer of the album cover.

Projections
Studio album by
The Blues Project
ReleasedNovember 1966
RecordedFall, 1966
GenreBlues rock, psychedelic rock
Length49:24
LabelVerve/Folkways
ProducerTom Wilson
Billy James on "Flute Thing" and "Fly Away"
The Blues Project chronology
Live at The Cafe Au Go Go
(1966)		 Projections
(1966)		 Live at Town Hall
(1967)
Singles from Projections
  1. "I Can't Keep From Crying"
    Released: November, 1966
  2. "Steve's Song"
    Released: February, 1967
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Soon after the release of this album, Al Kooper left the band in the spring of 1967 to form Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Recording

Keyboardist and vocalist Al Kooper was the most prominent member of the band, having recently played on Bob Dylan's seminal album Highway 61 Revisited. However, Projections was very much a group effort, developing the band's unique style that drew upon blues, jazz, folk, soul, and psychedelic influences.[3]

According to Danny Kalb, the record company was not interested in the band's artistic merit and "just wanted to make a few bucks". The band was disappointed by this lack of creative input and did not see the album cover or hear the mix until the record was released.[4]

Song Notes
  • Kooper's energetic arrangement of "I Can't Keep From Crying" incorporated psychedelic and gospel elements.
  • "Steve's Song", the first song ever written by guitarist Steve Katz, was intended to be titled "September Fifth", but a miscommunication between MGM Records and the band's manager resulted in the generic title used for the release. It features a baroque introduction featuring flute playing from Andy Kulberg, and Kooper on the Ondioline.
  • "Two Trains Running" was guitarist Danny Kalb's tribute to Muddy Waters, one of the band's biggest influences. This 11-minute rendition is significantly different from the original version and was developed as the band played it live. On the Projections version, one of Kalb's guitar strings went out of tune near the song's end; Kalb instinctively tuned it back up without the band's stopping, creating a memorable moment.
  • "Wake Me, Shake Me" came from a traditional gospel song and was a vehicle for improvisation that the band often used to close their live shows.
  • Kooper's jazz-rock instrumental "Flute Thing" features a prominent flute lick played by Kulberg, as well as solos from Kooper, Kalb, and drummer Roy Blumenfeld.
  • Comparing “You Can’t Catch Me” as recorded with the original Chuck Berry lyrics reveals that the singer on the track initially skips the second stanza. He then loses his place after the line, “Sweetest little thing I ever seen…,” and mumbles a bit before picking up the remaining lyrics in the stanza. There’s a bit of vamping after that, suggesting some frantic signaling within the band as the tape rolls. Then they go back to the second stanza to finish the song.

Track listing
  1. "I Can't Keep From Crying" (Arranged by Al Kooper) – 4:25
  2. "Steve's Song" (Steve Katz) – 4:55
  3. "You Can't Catch Me" (Chuck Berry) – 4:14
  4. "Two Trains Running" (McKinley Morganfield) – 11:20
  5. "Wake Me, Shake Me" (Arranged by Kooper) – 5:15
  6. "Cheryl's Going Home" (Bob Lind) – 2:35
  7. "Flute Thing" (Kooper) – 5:58
  8. "Caress Me Baby" (Jimmy Reed) – 7:12
  9. "Fly Away" (Kooper) – 3:30

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r2184 Album review
  3. SEIGAL, BUDDY (11 March 1993). "The Blues Project "Projections" (1966) / Verve" – via LA Times.
  4. "50 Years Ago: The Blues Project Release Their Tour de Force, 'Projections': Exclusive Interviews". Ultimate Classic Rock.
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