Search - Bluethings Story :: The Blue Things Story

Classic 60's folk/rock a la Bob Dylan.

chuckcooper@sprintmail.com | Andover, Kansas, USA | 07/28/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was amazed when my "challenge" search came up with this album. The band, made up of students from the Univ of Kansas, played the Midwest in the mid to late 60's, and this was their only album. I got a vinyl after their Manhattan, KS concert in '67. The music is classic 60's social commentary folk/rock. My favorite song,"Man on the Street" is a thought provoking survey of big business and their 'concern' for the average person. "Doll House" is a commentary on the personal costs to the girls who work in a bordello. The music itself is a fine example of the times, edgy and insightful, if not perfectly executed. If you already have Dylan, this would be a good addition to a 60's collection. While many of the subjects are timeless, the presentation methods are pure 60's protest. I play this album occasionally, and my kids just don't get it, but oddly enough, a couple of the grand-kids do."

What a loss

one and done | houston | 02/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The fact that the Blue Things only made one album and were never marketed properly leads me to wonder how many other regional groups were out there that we never heard. I saw them many times in Wichita and Lawrence in the mid 60's and worked with them as an opening act in a band (The Breakers). Their music was unbelievable. The bass player (Rich Scott) could play either left or right handed. The song writing was superb. I happened to be flying from Houston to Kansas City in the 90s on the same plane with Bob Dylan. I approached one of his people and asked if he would ask Dylan if he remembered the band. They had recorded "Girl of the North Country" and Dylan had written some of the liner notes on their album. I told the roadie that I had opened for them and knew the band well. Dylan immediately got up and invited me to come sit with him in first class we talked about them for over an hour. He said that he considered the band one of the great undiscovered groups in the era. Who am I to argue? Give them a listen to see what Dylan saw."

Part one of the most comprehensive collection available

Byron Arnold | Baltimore, MD | 02/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection is part one of two Cd's which memoralize The Bluethings Story vinyl collection, which was issued in the mid-late 80's. This collection pulls material from The group's early days when they were known as The Blue Boys and ends with the group's RCA recordings. While the sound quality of these recordings vary, (this collection has many demo studio recordings) the quality of the material is very impressive. The Bluethings certainly followed the style of many of The British Invasion groups, (ie early on The Searchers & eventually The Yardbirds in thier heavier psychedelic days), but they always lent thier own individual style to thier recordings which make them truly unique. They also wrote most of thier material and demonstrated clever songwriting skills which has always impressed me.



While this disc is getting harder to come by these days, (it's vinyl counterpart is almost impossible to find), this collection is a must for any fan of this superior mid-west group.



Treat yourself and turn on to The Bluethings!"