My Labors
Artist: Nick Gravenites
Label: Columbia
Released: 1969
Number of Tracks: 8
Duration: 1:11
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Gravenites
Review by Charles "Dutch" Metzker
Nicholas George Gravenites was an American blues, rock and folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his work with Electric Flag (as their lead singer), Janis Joplin, Mike Bloomfield, and several influential bands and individuals of the generation springing from the 1960s and 1970s. He sometimes performed under the stage names Nick “The Greek” Gravenites and Gravy.
He regularly patronized clubs where Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy and other leading blues musicians played. Gravenites spent time both in Chicago and San Francisco in the early 1960s. He wrote the song “Born in Chicago”, which became the opening track on the Paul Butterfield Blues Band debut album, and, with guitarist Bloomfield, co-wrote the title track of their second album, East-West; the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
Gravenites played in clubs with Mike Bloomfield, Charlie Musselwhite and others, and settled in San Francisco in the mid 1960s. In 1967 he formed the Electric Flag with Bloomfield. Gravenites wrote the score for the film The Trip and – together with Mike Bloomfield – wrote and performed most of the soundtrack for the 1973 film Steelyard Blues. According to author and pop music critic Joel Selvin, Gravenites was “the original San Francisco connection for the Chicago crowd.”
My Labors is a strong major-label debut that the Chicago-born San Francisco bluesman was unable to capitalize on. Most of the tracks are from the same session that produced Live at Bill Graham’s Fillmore West by Mike Bloomfield. Gravenites, an exceptional songwriter and decent singer, benefits from the presence of the amazing Bloomfield. He elevates the fierce “Moon Tune” to dizzying heights with two dazzling, lengthy solos. Quicksilver Messenger Service backs former producer Gravenites on several studio tracks.
Side 1
Track 1: Killing My Love – Check out the awesome blistering guitar solo from Mike Bloomfield too cool. – 5:09
Track 2: Gypsy Good Time – more nice guitar work and check out the reference to playing cards (I’m an avid poker player) – 4:35
Track 3: Holy Moly – Great horn work and keyboards. Does she have what it takes? Yes she does. – 3:52.
Track 4: Moon Tune – slowing the pace way down. Why did you have to leave me before I was ready to let you go? – 9:02
Side 2
Track 1: My Labors – What a soulful song with great backup harmony. Will my labors all wash away? – 2:53
Track 2: Throw Your Dog a Bone – Energetic guitar playing brings this one right along. – 2:58
Track 3: As Good As You’ve Been to This World – Live your life the best you can-karma probably figures in on this one-And check out the way the pace picks up towards the end. 2:37
Track 4: Wintry Country Side – I often play this cut in the wintertime if I can catch an afternoon when it’s snowing-It’s cool and evocative for sure. – 13:17
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