AMERICAN BLUES
''DO THEIR THING''
1968
27:33
1 - You Were So Close To Me 2:32
2 - Wonder Man 2:03
3 - Just Plain Jane 5:29
4 - Shady 3:20
5 - Comin' Back Home 3:06
6 - Captain Fire 3:26
7 - Chocolate Ego 2:57
8 - Nightmare Of A Wise Man 2:34
9 - Dreams 2:14
10 - Softly To The Sun 1:32
Frank Beard /Drums
Doug Davis /Piano
Dusty Hill /Bass, Vocals
Rocky Hill /Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW
American Blues were Dusty Hill [Joe Michael Hill] (bass), Rocky Hill [John Rockford Hill] (guitar), Frank Beard (drums), Doug Davis (piano, 1968). Dusty Hill and Frank Beard went on to ZZ Top after the group disbanded in 1969.
Released by MCA’s Uni subsidiary, 1969’s “The American Blues Do Their Thing” was a major improvement (over their first lp).. Self-produced, the collection found the band opting for a major change in direction.
Written by the Hills, material such as the lead-off “You Were So Close To Me”, “Captain Fire” and “Just Plain Jane” found the band attempting to capitalize on San Francisco-styled psychedelics. Elsewhere, the collection found the group mining a more conventional rock format; “Wonder Man” and “Shady” reflecting a distinctive Cream-influence, while the blazing “Comin’ Back Home” (complete with Beard and Rocky Hill meltdown solos) offered up a nice Hendrix imitation. Sure, it was largely derivative, but that didn’t lessen the enjoyment factor. A commercial failure, Uni promptly dropped the band.
(On a personal note, we’ve always wondered about the discrepancy between the front and back covers showing a trio and the liner notes listing four members.) Beard promptly left to join the newly formed ZZ Top, quickly recruiting Dusty as bassist. (Bad Cat)
BIOGRAPHY
BY ALLMUSIC
Formed in Dallas, Texas, USA, in 1968, the American Blues evolved out of local club attraction the Warlocks when Rocky Hill (guitar), Dusty Hill (b. Joe Hill, 19 May 1949, Dallas, Texas, USA; bass), Doug Davis (organ) and Frank Beard (b. 11 June 1949, Frankston, Texas, USA; drums) took their new name upon adopting a more ‘progressive’ sound. The American Blues Is Here, released on the local Karma Records label, featured their reworking of Tim Hardin’s ‘If I Were A Carpenter’ and generated sufficient interest to secure a major contract with Uni Records. The American Blues Do Their Thing offered a form of hard rock psychedelia, as evinced by such titles as ‘Chocolate Ego’ and ‘Nightmare Of A Wise Man’, but the album failed to spark national interest. The group disintegrated soon afterwards, with first Beard, then Dusty Hill, joining ZZ Top.
''DO THEIR THING''
1968
27:33
1 - You Were So Close To Me 2:32
2 - Wonder Man 2:03
3 - Just Plain Jane 5:29
4 - Shady 3:20
5 - Comin' Back Home 3:06
6 - Captain Fire 3:26
7 - Chocolate Ego 2:57
8 - Nightmare Of A Wise Man 2:34
9 - Dreams 2:14
10 - Softly To The Sun 1:32
Frank Beard /Drums
Doug Davis /Piano
Dusty Hill /Bass, Vocals
Rocky Hill /Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW
American Blues were Dusty Hill [Joe Michael Hill] (bass), Rocky Hill [John Rockford Hill] (guitar), Frank Beard (drums), Doug Davis (piano, 1968). Dusty Hill and Frank Beard went on to ZZ Top after the group disbanded in 1969.
Released by MCA’s Uni subsidiary, 1969’s “The American Blues Do Their Thing” was a major improvement (over their first lp).. Self-produced, the collection found the band opting for a major change in direction.
Written by the Hills, material such as the lead-off “You Were So Close To Me”, “Captain Fire” and “Just Plain Jane” found the band attempting to capitalize on San Francisco-styled psychedelics. Elsewhere, the collection found the group mining a more conventional rock format; “Wonder Man” and “Shady” reflecting a distinctive Cream-influence, while the blazing “Comin’ Back Home” (complete with Beard and Rocky Hill meltdown solos) offered up a nice Hendrix imitation. Sure, it was largely derivative, but that didn’t lessen the enjoyment factor. A commercial failure, Uni promptly dropped the band.
(On a personal note, we’ve always wondered about the discrepancy between the front and back covers showing a trio and the liner notes listing four members.) Beard promptly left to join the newly formed ZZ Top, quickly recruiting Dusty as bassist. (Bad Cat)
BIOGRAPHY
BY ALLMUSIC
Formed in Dallas, Texas, USA, in 1968, the American Blues evolved out of local club attraction the Warlocks when Rocky Hill (guitar), Dusty Hill (b. Joe Hill, 19 May 1949, Dallas, Texas, USA; bass), Doug Davis (organ) and Frank Beard (b. 11 June 1949, Frankston, Texas, USA; drums) took their new name upon adopting a more ‘progressive’ sound. The American Blues Is Here, released on the local Karma Records label, featured their reworking of Tim Hardin’s ‘If I Were A Carpenter’ and generated sufficient interest to secure a major contract with Uni Records. The American Blues Do Their Thing offered a form of hard rock psychedelia, as evinced by such titles as ‘Chocolate Ego’ and ‘Nightmare Of A Wise Man’, but the album failed to spark national interest. The group disintegrated soon afterwards, with first Beard, then Dusty Hill, joining ZZ Top.