One of my favorite activities is discussing music with my daughter. I am always amazed and heartened by the fact that even though we are years apart, we have a common bond in our love of bands and their lineage. Whether it is a group from the 60's or 90's, the commonality involves where the group started, who were the founding members, what made them popular, what caused them to break up and why some members of the band failed where others succeeded.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Doors were probably one of the greatest groups ever. In my opinion, they are in the Top 10 of all bands. The searing lyrics, the sexuality of Jim Morrison, the exquisite piano work of Ray Manzarek, the distinctive guitar of Robbie Krieger and the rhythms pounded out by John Densmore are the hallmarks of rock history. The Doors gave us lyrics we had never heard before. Even their album covers were unique and different. They truly blazed new trails.

Once the band broke up and it Morrison died, it became clear that the Doors were no more and we all mourned the passing of an incredible group. The remaining three members put out an album that was a disappointment.. At this time, a small label called Blue Thumb was begun by a man named Bob Krasnow. He was a visionary and a counter culture person who had an incredible flair for marketing his acts. (A future "In My Life" will be devoted to Blue Thumb Records and it's effect on the music industry) The label roster included such diverse acts as Dave Mason, Leon Russell, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Capt. Beefheart, Albert Collins and a group called the Butts Band.

The first rule for the buyer of the obscure is to look at the label. Many record companies churn out far too many records and really have no desire to produce a quality product. On the other hand, a small label like Blue Thumb gives the buyer a pretty good possibility that although the group may be unknown, the product could be excellent. Imagine my surprise in rummaging through the record racks to find an old friend in Blue Thumb with a strange sounding name of a group that included Robbie Krieger and John Densmore from the then deceased Doors. Even the album cover was cool. It was a picture of a beat-up guitar amp that had seen many a bar gig and many a bar fight. Although I knew Krieger and Densmore, I was unfamiliar with the other members of the band. The producer was also known to me. He was Bruce Botnick who had worked extensively with the Doors. There were enough positives that swayed me to buy this album.

Too often, one member of a famous group completely overshadows the others. In the case of the Doors, we were mesmerized by Jim Morrison and really didn't get to know the others guys as well. Perhaps it was Morrison's persona or the way Elektra Records marketed the group, but Manzarek, Krieger and Densmore were background players to Morrison. What an enormous surprise awaited me when I played this album. Krieger and Densmore were joined by a lead singer named Jes Roden, bass player Phillip Chen and keyboardist Roy Davies. The Doors alumni were exquisitely intertwined with great vocals, harmonies and songs. All of a sudden, guitar and drums were right up front and powerful. Jess Roden is one of those guys that has a perfect rock'n'roll voice. I always felt that John Lennon had the most captivating rock'n'roll voice. Roden is a close second. After he left Butts Band, he released a number of albums that are gems. ( a must for all you obscure record collectors!) There are only eight cuts on the album filling a mere thirty five minutes of incredible rock'n'roll. The album was recorded in London and Jamaica which may explain the diverse quality of the songs. None of the songs sound the same and all are excellent. It's rock, jazz, reggae all perfectly played and produced. Every musician is highlighted and each one shines brilliantly. I would strongly recommend this album to you if you can find it.

One Way Records, a small label in Albany, NY has released a CD (OW 30993) with the complete recordings of the Butts Band. One Way has released both the first and second Butts Band albums. Sadly, the second album produced by the group was a major disappointment. They brought in Jerry Fuller to produce the band and lost most of the members from the first album except Krieger and Densmore and added a cast of forgettable players. The second Butts Band record was and is an awful album. You may ask how this could happen. How could such a great group turn into such a poor group. Well, Blue Thumb was bought by ABC Records. The producer was that was brought in was totally wrong for this project and the loss of Jess Roden was the final straw. I am reminded by what John Lennon said when the Beatles broke up. He said that he was glad the group disbanded because it would break his heart to see the Beatles hang on for a few more years and become a Vegas lounge act. In essence, that's what happened on the second Butts Band record. Commercialism won out over integrity. Sadly, this is not an isolated event as it keeps happening to some of our favorite artists. One Way has issued both albums on one CD. Listen to the first eight cuts. It will be worth it. I cannot say the same for the rest of the CD.