The Electric Flag Erma Franklin – Live at The Carousel Ballroom 1968,Rock, Funk Soul, Blues

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The Electric Flag - Erma Franklin – Live at The Carousel Ballroom 1968,Rock, Funk - Soul, Blues


The Electric Flag - Live at Carousel Ballroom 05/18/1968
The Electric Flag was a group that never fully realized its potential. With Mike Bloomfield (guitar), Nick Gravenites (vocals), Buddy Miles (drums, vocals), Barry Goldberg (keyboards), Harvey Brooks (bass), Kerbie Rich (baritone sax), Marcus Doubleday (trumpet), and Peter Strazza (tenor sax), drugs and personal problems significantly shortened their career.

The group formed in 1967, primarily traveling around the San Francisco area. Their first project was the soundtrack for the film "The Trip," starring actor Peter Fonda. Mike Bloomfield composed all the songs, which were recorded in ten days. They performed at the Monterey Jack Film Festival, and drug problems began to surface. Goldberg left the band and was replaced by Michael Fontana, who lasted a few months. Continuous lineup changes continued until the recording of their first album, "A Long Time Comin'," in March 1968. Problems continued, resulting in Bloomfield's departure and leading to the band's dissolution. In 1974, they tried again, releasing "The Band Kept Playing," but due to its lack of commercial success, they only played sporadic concerts.

Bill Graham once again organized concerts at his Carousel Ballroom. On May 17, 18, and 19, 1968, Pacific Gas and Electric, Don Ellis and His Orchestra, and, of course, The Electric Flag performed. A good dose of good blues-jazz-fusion rock with a magnificent horn section. The show begins with two instrumentals featuring Peter Strazza, Kerbie Rich, and Marcus Doubleday. Due to sound problems, Bloomfield's guitar sounds a bit distant. They continue with a song from their first album, "Texas," with Body Miles singing, a full bluesy vibe.

J.C. Miñana

Disc 1

Uptight (Everything's Alright) 0:00

Day Tripper 3:48

Driving Wheel 7:01

The Theme 14:40

Goin' Down Slow 30:52

Instrumental Jam 33:17
(Erma is introduced)

Big Boss Man 41:53

Disc 2

Dr. Feelgood 45:00

I Heard It Through The Grapevine/Mercy/Tell Mama/Chain of Fools 50:34

Piece of my Heart 54:39

Hold On I’m Coming 58:06

Encore

Everyday I Have The Blues 1:05:42

Killing Floor 1:12:52



Erma Franklin is sister to the well-known Aretha. Erma’s career for Shout! Records resulted in several single releases in 1967 including Big Boss Man and her take of Piece Of My Heart, which Janis Joplin defined as her stomping ground.

This recording was made when Erma took the stage at the Carousel Ballroom in San Francisco for three nights in April from the 19th to the 21st in 1968. Backing her was Mike Bloomfield’s Electric Flag, a blues rock group.

Much of the research done in identifying the date, venue and personnel was by Dave M of the westcoastacidandpsychedelia Yahoo group. Says Dave: “The week before at the Carousel (April 14, 1968), there had been an unscheduled Sunday show and jam session featuring Quicksilver Messenger Service and numerous other musicians. The tape circulates, and since Gary Duncan jokes about Easter Sunday, it makes it easy to reliably date the show. All this points to another Sunday jam session, so if I had to guess I would pick Sunday, April 21 for the date of this show. Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”

Dave also makes some conclusions about just who was playing what. You can read it all here

This is a typical San Francisco show for its variety of styles and its close knit community of musicians. Franklin’s repertoire covered The Beatles to Stevie Wonder and even down to Elvis with Big Boss Man. The Electric Flag surprise with a Miles Davis cover. She was an R’n'B singer who was not averse to pop or rock.

Erma Franklin’s best known recording was the original version of Piece of My Heart she recorded with Bert Berns. At this concert, she gives a shout of support to a younger Janis Joplin for “making it all happen with this song”. She left the music business in the ’70s. Erma Franklin died in 2002 at age 64.

Erma Franklin - vocals
Mike Bloomfield - lead guitar
Terry Clements - tenor sax
Virgil Gonsalves - baritone sax, flute
Stemsy Hunter - alto sax
Marcus Doubleday - trumpet
Herbie Rich - organ (possibly some baritone sax on 5)
Harvey Brooks - bass
Buddy Miles - drums, lead vocals (tracks 1,2,3)
Nick Gravenites - lead vocals (tracks 6,7)