Super Session
Mike Bloomfield · 1968
54 min · 10 tracks · blues
A vibrant fusion of blues and rock featuring intricate guitar work and spontaneous improvisation that captures a moment in music history.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Albert's Shuffle Start here — The opening track features an infectious groove that highlights Bloomfield's mastery of blues guitar, setting the tone for the entire album.
-
→
Season of the Witch — This track showcases Bloomfield's ability to blend blues with psychedelic influences, creating an expansive soundscape that reflects the era's experimentation.
-
→
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry — Bloomfield's interpretation transforms this Bob Dylan classic into a soulful exploration, emphasizing emotional depth through expressive guitar solos.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album captures a unique moment in blues-rock with its improvisational style and strong guitar work.
What we noticed
- The album features extended instrumental sections where guitar solos dominate, allowing for improvisation and spontaneous musical dialogue.
- Tracks like 'Albert's Shuffle' and 'You Don't Love Me' showcase a call-and-response structure between the guitar and organ, creating a dynamic interplay.
- The running time of several tracks exceeds six minutes, emphasizing the jam session format and exploration of themes rather than strict song structures.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic exploration of sound
- long, immersive listening sessions
- wave-like pacing and flow
- spontaneous musical collaborations
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album helped establish Bloomfield's reputation and popularized jam sessions in rock.
- Career context
- Released on July 22, 1968, Super Session marked a pivotal moment in Mike Bloomfield's career, following his breakout as a top guitarist in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. This album showcased his innovative approach to electric blues and solidified his reputation within the burgeoning rock scene of the late 1960s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Peter Green· Eric Clapton· Johnny Winter
Tracklist
- 1 Albert's Shuffle Start here 6:54
- 2 Stop 4:22
- 3 Man's Temptation 3:25
- 4 His Holy Modal Majesty 9:12
- 5 Really 5:25
- 6 It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry 3:29
- 7 Season of the Witch 11:07
- 8 You Don't Love Me 4:10
- 9 Harvey's Tune 2:10
- 10 Blues for Nothing 4:15
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.