BUTTS BAND "BUTTS BAND"

Artist: Butts Band
Album: Butts Band
Company: Blue Thumb
Catalog: BTS 63
Year: 1973
Genre: rock
Grade: *** (3 stars)
Condition: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Comments: --
Quantity available: 1
Price: $20,00

In the wake of Jim Morrison's tragic death, the three surviving Doors staggered along releasing a pair of marginal album. 1972 found drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robbie Kreiger and singer/keyboardist Ray Manzarek in London looking for a replacement for the late Morrison.   They auditioned a number of singers including  Kevin Coyne (of the band Siren), Jess Roden (then with Bronco), and Howard Werth (of Audience).  Werth was apparently the heir apparent, but at the last minute Manzaerk had doubts abiut the whole project and returned to Los Angeles.   That left Densmore and Kreiger to decide The Doors nameplate had run out of creative steam, bringing a well deserved end to the band (at least until three decades later when Krieger and Manzarek tried to resurrect The Doors).  Still in London, Densmore and Kreiger decided to continue their musical collaboration.  They quickly decided to form a band, recruiting bassist Phillip Chen, keyboard player Roy Davis and vocalist Roden for the unfortunately named Butts Band.     

 

promo photo: left to right: Roden - Krieger - Densmore - Davis -- Chin

Signed to ABC's Blue Thumb subsidiary, the group's self-titled 1973 album was chiefly notably for being one of the year's most anonymous collections of rock. With Krieger and Roden contributing the majority of material there wasn't anything particularly wrong with the Bruce Botnick produced "Butts Band".  Roden was a decent (if anonymous) singer; all five members proved competent players their performances never less than professional.  Unfortunately, tracks such as 'Be with Me', 'Baja Bus' and 'Love Your Brother' just didn't generate much heat.  'I Won't Be Alone Anymore' and 'Sweet Danger' were decent FM rockers, while the live 'Kansas City' wasn't bad - credit Krieger's slashing slide guitar for at least generating some excitement.  Probably due to the fact half of the album was recorded in Jamaica, if you had to pick a standout track it was probably the reggae flavored 'Pop-a-Top'. Still, given all the talent in the lineup, the album stood as one of the year's bigger disappointments. (Congrats to Blue Thumb for coming up with such an inspirational album cover ...)   

"Butts Band" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) I Won't Be Alone Anymore   (Robbie Krieger) - 4:35

   
Underscoring Roden's catchy voice, 'I Won't Be Alone Anymore' was a catchy FM-ready blues-rocker that was my choice for the album's best performance.  Great Hammond solo from Roy Davis and Krieger showed why he's one of rock's most talented, if frequently forgotten, guitarists.  rating: **** stars
2.) Baja Bus   (Robbie Krieger) - 4:41
A rollicking bar band rocker with a great great hook, it was easy to see why 'Baja Bus' was tapped as the album's single.   Nice electric piano from Davis and Chen laid down some truly funky bass lines during the song's extended instrumental fadeout.  (Larry McDonald on congas ...)    The track was tapped as an instantly obscure single:

 

- 1973's 'Baja Bus' b/w 'Pop-a-Top'  (Blue Thumb catalog number BTA 242)   rating: *** stars
3.) Sweet Danger   (Jess Roden) - 4:55

A dark, slightly ominous mid-tempo rockers, 'Sweet Danger' was another album highlight.   Always loved the cheesy synthesizers.  The song was also notable as one of the few spots where Krieger cut loose with a wonderful jazzy solo.   rating: **** stars
4.) Pop-a-Top   (Phil Chen - Jess Roden) - 3:25

Built on a reggae rhythm, 'Pop-a-Top' was the album's most blatantly commercial offering.   Fun song with Chen turning in some fascinating bass lines.  Roden sounded great on this one.   rating: *** stars

(side 2)

1.) Be with Me   (Robbie Krieger) - 4:25

A pleasant, radio-ready pop-rock tune, 'Be with Me' would not have sounded bad on your local top-40 radio station, though there's a good chance you would have mistaken it for Sanford-Townshend Band, or Pablo Cruise.   rating: *** stars 
2.) New Ways   (Jess Roden) - 3:57

One of three Roden originals, 'New Ways' was interesting for displaying some nice harmony vocals over a breezy bar band rocker.  Powered by Roden's raspy voice, the track actually sounded a bit like an early Bad Company effort.  Krieger kicked in some tasty slide guitar.  rating: *** stars
3.) Love Your Brothers   (Robbie Krieger) - 4:54

'Love Your Brothers' started out as a rather forgettable bluesy number; got a little better during the chorus and then went downhill when it shifted into a Mick Weaver organ workout.  Once again, Krieger's guitar work provided the highlights.  See the link below for a link to a live performance of the song.   rating: ** stars 
4.) Kansas City (live)   (J. Leiber - M. Stoler) - 4:04

The liner notes didn't indicated where it was recorded, but showcasing some great Krieger slide guitar, Mick Weaver of Wurlizter piano, and Roden tearing out his vocals chords, the live version of 'Kansas City' was the album's standout performance.   rating: **** stars

 

The band briefly toured the States in support of the album after which Densmore and Krieger decided to call it quits and the rest of the band went back in the UK.

 

For anyone interested, neither the sound or video quality are great, but YouTube has an extended clip of the band performing 'Love Your Brother' and 'Kansas City' on a 1974 appearance on the Midnight Special concert television show:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-X4VZaCRPU  Anyone know who the second drummer was ?