American Blues were an American 1960s Texas-based garage rock band who played a psychedelic style of blues rock music influenced by the 13th Floor Elevators. They are most notable for including two future members of the band ZZ Top in their ranks, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard as well as Rocky Hill.
The band was formed as The Warlocks releasing 2 unsuccessful singles. From 1966 to 1968, they played the Dallas-Fort Worth-Houston circuit. By 1968 they changed the name to American Blues and got signed by the local Karma label. The recording of their debut “American Blues Is Here” teamed them with producer Scotty McKay. The result was an ill-focused album fumbling for a style. Though sales were non existent the album caught the attention of MCA who signed the band to their sub-label Uni Records. Their second release “American Blues Do Their Thing” was a major improvement as the self-produced album was more focused opting for a change in direction. Uni soon dropped the band because the commercial failure of the release.
Around 1968, the band (the two Hill brothers and Beard) decided to leave the Dallas–Fort Worth area, relocating to Houston. At this time, however, guitarist Rocky Hill wanted to focus on “straight blues”, while his brother Dusty wanted the band to rock more. Rocky left the band, and the remaining two members joined the recently formed ZZ Top.
Artist: American Blues
Album: Is Here
Year: 1968 (Reissue 2000)
Label: Akarma
Style: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Blues Rock
Format: mp3/320, flac (image, cue, 44 kHz/16bit)
Tracklist
01 If I Were A Carpenter 5:26
02 All I Saw Was You 3:46
03 She’ll Be Mine 1:51
04 Fugue For Lady Cheriff 2:14
05 It’s Gone 1:59
06 Keep My Heart In A Rage 2:40
07 Mercury Blues 4:14
08 Melted Like Snow 3:15
09 Mellow 2:08
Artist: American Blues
Album: Do Their Thing
Year: 1968 (Reissue 2016)
Label: Big Pink
Style: Blues Rock, Garage Rock, Psychedelic
Format: mp3/320, flac (image, cue, log, 44 kHz/16bit)
Tracklist
01 You Were So Close To Me 3:32
02 Wonder Man 2:24
03 Just Plain Jane 2:36
04 Shady 2:07
05 Comin’ Back Home 5:35
06 Captain Fire 3:20
07 Chocolate Ego 3:06
08 Nightmare Of A Wise Man 3:26
09 Dreams 2:58
10 Softly To The Sun 2:33