If you want to know why producer Gary Usher is revered in some circles, play The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading next to the pretty much self-produced For Children of All Ages. A name as trendy as the Jefferson Airplane - and a sound that is absolutely the Airplane - meets the Mamas & the Papas; the '60s guitars sound smart; the 1967 liner notes by Lawrence Dietz tell you nothing about the group; and the front cover looks like something Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper encountered during Easy Rider. "It's a Happening Thing," like much of this record, tries too hard. Decades after it was recorded, there is charm in a band like the PBC (which rhymes with PCP) being such an authentic figment of someone's countercultural imagination. Sandi Robison is stunning on "Then Came Love," and the production by Gary Usher really is impressive - it makes the record something special…
On January 1, 1977, Mike Bloomfield performed two incredible sets at McCabes Guitar Workshop in Santa Monica, CA. Both sets were completely different, each one showcasing Bloomfield's legendary skills on the guitar but what made the late show totally unique was the first half was performed acoustic and the second half, electric. Bloomfield's impact, his effect on both musicians and public alike is undeniable. He was a multi-faceted artist: a masterful writer, arranger and guitarist. He was also one of the most in-demand session musicians in the country, backing the likes of Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary, and a host of great bluesmen.