The Buddy Miles Express was a musical group fronted by American drummer and vocalist Buddy Miles. It was formed after the 1968 breakup of Miles' earlier group, Electric Flag. They released a total of four albums.
Background The Buddy Miles Express was formed after the Electric Flag, of which Miles was a member, broke up in 1968.Encyclopedia of Classic Rock, By David Luhrssen, Michael Larson – Page 234 Miles, Buddy (1946–2008)Record World, January 4, 1969 - Page 8 record world ALBUM REVIEWS, Pick Hits, THE ELECTRIC FLAG Columbia CS 9714. In addition to Miles, the group also contained four other former Electric Flag members,Billboard, October 12, 1968 – Page 12 Talent, Signings Terry Clements, Marcus Doubleday, Virgil Gonsalves and Herbie Rich.Liberation Hall - The Electric Flag, Live 1968, At The Carousel BallroomDownbeat, June 26, 1969 - Page 23 Record Reviews, Pages 23-24 Buddy Miles Express EXPRESSWAY TO YOUR SKULL—Mercury 61196
Buddy Miles was from Omaha Nebraska.Nebraska Hall of Fame - BUDDY MILES So were his Electric Flag bandmates, Stemsey Hunter, Herbie Rich and Hoshal Wright.Michael Bloomfield an American Guitarist - An American Music Band, cont., Michael Bloomfield's Electric Flag • Page 3The Reader, October 21, 2013 - Blues Meets World By Kyle EusticeNebraska Music Hall of Fame - HERBIE RICH Hoshal Wright, a friend of Buddy Miles who came in to replace Mike Bloomfield when he left the Electric Flag didn't end up doing any recording with the Buddy Miles Express. However, it appears that guitarist Wright played with the Express briefly at the beginning before Jim McCarty came on board.Chicken on a Unicycle - WHISKYAGOGO WHISKY A-GO-GO SHOW LIST 1966-1970 September 18-22, 1968 Buddy Miles Express
The group was brought to Mercury Records by the label's New York-based producer Anne Tansey.Cash Box, September 28, 1968 - Page 34 New Buddy Miles Exp. Signs With Mercury
History 1968 The group made its official debut at the Whisky a Go Go on 18 September 1968. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Burdon and Graham Bond also came along. It appears at this stage Jim McCarty hadn't yet joined the band, and it was Hoshal Wright who was the guitarist. At some stage in 1968 saxophonist Bill McPherson had joined the band.Pacific Northwest Bands - The Regents BIOGRAPHICAL PAGES Billy McPherson ~ SaxophoneGeorgia State News Hub, February 5, 2021 - The McPherson Legacy Lives on at Georgia State The McPherson Legacy Lives on at Georgia State, A Celebrated Musician
It was reported by Billboard in the magazine's 28 September issue that the band had signed with Robert L. Fitzpatrick for their personal management and public relations. Buddy Miles had also signed an agency pact with Brian Williams of APA.Billboard, September 28, 1968 - Page 68 From The Music Capitals of the World, NEW YORK
Billboard announced in its 12 October issue that the group had signed to Mercury Records and was to record under the direction of Lou Reizner, the head of Mercury's London operation. Miles also recruited Jim McCarty, whom he had contacted on the west coast. McCarty had been with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. He accepted Miles' offer as he wanted to work with a band that had that "big sound" with its horn section.
In the 16 November 1968 issue of Billboard, it was reported that the group was making its first appearance in New York for a benefit concert for Biafra at Bill Graham's Fillmore East. The Express were announced as the headline act.Billboard, November 16, 1968 – Page 14 Talent, Quicksilver Fast and Furious, Express Rolls
The group played at the Madison Square Garden in New York. The performance was reviewed in the 16 November issue of Cash Box. The band was described as a top-notch rock / soul outfit with Miles being the loudest drummer in rock. The reviewer also wrote that his beating the drums in a seemingly relaxed manner produced savage results. Herbie Rich the organist sang lead on one song, "Herbie's Tune". However, the performance was marred by microphone problems. With the amplification coming back to normal, the group's driving instrumentation that was evident on the first two songs was augmented by Miles' vocals on the last three songs. The song "Wrap It Up" was performed as the encore.Cash Box, November 16, 1968 - Page 48 Talent On Stage, CREAM-BUDDY MILES EXPRESS-TERRY REID
Debut album and single Their debut album Expressway to Your Skull was released on Mercury SR 61196 in 1968.Billboard, November 30, 1968 – Page 77, 78 The liner notes for the album were written by Jimi Hendrix.Scuse Me While I Kiss the Sky: Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child, By David Henderson – Page 251 The November 30 issue of Billboard picked "Train" and "Spot On the Wall" as fuel for the group's chart rise. The single for the album, "Train", was produced by Lou Reizner.
"Train" was released in two parts on single, Mercury 72860 in late 1968.Cash Box, December 7, 1968 - Page 26 Cash Box Record Reviews, BUDDY MILES EXPRESS (Mercury 72860) Train-Part I (2:40) Jean Griffiths reported in Record World'''s London Lowdown that the Buddy Miles Express was now signed to the Mercury label, and the release of the single "Train" Parts 1 & 2 on 15 November in the UK was going to make an impact there.Record World, November 23, 1968 - Page 52 record world's EYEVIEW EUROPE, London Lowdown, By JEAN GRIFFITHS It was reviewed in the 7 December issue of Cash Box. With its heavy blend of contemporary sounds, it was also described as having enough soul to make it a strong contender.
1969 With a new horn section, the group appeared at the Fillmore East with the Mothers of Invention and the Chicago Transit Authority. John Sanna of Record World gave a review of their performance, saying that Miles puts soul into rock and both he and the songs were electric. He also wrote that Miles finished off the set with the Sam & Dave song "Wrap It Up" and he did as only Buddy Miles can do it.Record World, March 8, 1969 - Page 26 Concert Review, Inventive Performance
The group's single, "Funky Mule" bw "Don't Mess with Cupid" was released in the United States on Mercury 72914 in April 1969.45Cat - Buddy Miles Express - Discography, USA, Funky Mule It was also released in the Netherlands on Mercury 27 442 MCF.45Cat - Buddy Miles Express - Discography, Netherlands, Funky Mule It was reported by "R&B Beat Where It's At" in the 12 April 1969 issue of Record World that the single "Funky Mule" was selling in Philadelphia.Record World, April 12, 1969 - Page 38 record world r & b BEAT WHERE IT'S AT, Philly sales on "Funky Mule," Buddy Miles It would later be reported by Cash Box in the publication's 16 August issue that "Funky Mule", along with "Man Who Paints the Pictures" by "Fever Tree was experiencing tremendous airplay at all of the national radio stations in the Netherlands.Cash Box, August 16, 1969 - Page 60 Cash Box Holland
The group released the single, "Miss Lady" bw "69 Freedom Special". Both sides were produced by Jimi Hendrix. It was a four-star pick and had a positive review in the 8 March issue of Record World with the reviewer referring the record a "nitty gritty deck" and informing the reader that the group tells it like it is.Jimi Hendrix : Experience the Music, By Belmo and Steve Loveless, 1998 - - Page 66 Buddy Miles Express, ELECTRIC CHURCHRecord World, March 8, 1969 - Page 26 record world SINGLE REVIEWS, FOUR STAR PICKS, BUDDY MILES EXPRESS-Mercury 72903. MISS LADY (Miles Ahead -Three Eridges, ASCAP) The single was also reviewed by Chris Welch in the 31 May issue of Melody Maker. Welch wasn't kind to Miles' drumming or bass playing. he did write that Miles' strength was in his personality and tremendous drive and that he could achieve an atmosphere in a way that better drummers couldn't achieve. He finished off with writing that Miles sang with great guts and fire.Melody Maker, May 31, 1969 - Page 13 The promise of a silver lining SINGLES, BUDDY MILES EXPRESS: "Miss Lady" (Mercury) The song would later be covered by Sweet Wine in 1970,45Cat - Sweet Wine - Miss Lady Don Adams in 1972,DonAdamsTributePage channel, Jan 26, 2011 - Don Adams - Miss Lady and Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa in 2013.Hitparade.ch - Beth Hart / Joe Bonamassa – Miss Lady
Also in 1969, Electric Church was released. Jimi Hendrix produced one side and Ann Tansey of Mercury Records produced the other.Billboard, May 24, 1969 – Page 57 Audio Retailing, 'Church' in Merc. Six-LP Package For the week ending June 7, 1969, their album entered the Billboard Top LPs chart at 147.Billboard, June 7, 1969 – Page 57 Top LPs
"Memphis Train" Steve Cropper was flown from Memphis into New York, where he played on and produced "Memphis Train". Funkiest Man Alive, By Matthew Ruddick · 2023 - - Page 200 MEMPHIS QUEEN It was backed with "My Chant" which was produced by Jimi Hendrix. Both songs were released on single, Mercury Records 72945 in 1969.45Cat - Buddy Miles Express Memphis Train It had good reviews in the 19 July issues of Billboard, Cash Box and Record World.Billboard, July 19, 1969 - Page 17 Spotlight Singles, Top 60 Spotlight, BUDDY MILES EXPRESS -MEMPHIS TRAINCash Box, July 19, 1969 - Page 36 Cash Box Record Reviews, Choice Programming, BUDDY MILES EXPRESS (Mercury 72945) Memphis Train (2: 55)Record World, July 19, 1969 - Page 200 record world FOUR STAR PICKS Single Reviews, BUDDY MILES EXPRESS -Mercury 72945. MEMPHIS TRAIN (Pronto, BMI) It was a hit, peaking at No. 114 on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 for the week of 16 August,Billboard, August 9, 1969 - Page 102 BUBBLING UNDER THE HOT 100, 121. MEMPHIS TRAIN ... Buddy Miles Express, Mercury 72945Billboard, August 16, 1969 - Page 80 BUBBLING UNDER THE HOT 100, 114. MEMPHIS TRAIN ... Buddy Miles Express, Mercury 72945Billboard, August 23, 1969 - Page 99 BUBBLING UNDER THE HOT 100 and then at No. 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.Billboard, August 23, 1969 - Page 99 Billboard HOT 100 FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 23, 1969, THIS WEEK 100, 1 Wk. Ago _, 2 Wks. Ago _, 3 Wks. Ago _, MEMPHIS TRAIN Buddy Miles Express (Steve Cropper) Mercury 72945, Weeks On Chart 1 It also peaked at No. 23 on the Cash Box Looking Ahead chart for the week of 30 August,Cash Box, August 23, 1968 - 39 Cash Box Looking Ahead, 40 MEMPHIS TRAIN (Pronto - BMI) Buddy Miles (Mercury 72945)Cash Box, August 30, 1969 - Page 41 Cash Box Looking Ahead, 23 MEMPHIS TRAIN (Pronto - BMI) Buddy Miles (Mercury 72945)Cash Box, September 6, 1969 - Page 40 Cash Box Looking Ahead and at No. 27 on the Record World Singles Coming Up chart for the week of 6 September.Record World, August 30, 1969 - Page 27 record world Singles Coming Up, 28. MEMPHIS TRAIN (Pronto, BMI) Buddy Miles-Mercury 72945Record World, September 6, 1969 - Page 24 record world Singles Coming Up, 28. MEMPHIS TRAIN (Pronto, BMI) Buddy Miles-Mercury 72945
Further activities Around September 1969, Robert Fitzpatrick took legal action against the group, Mercury Records and the Ashley Famous Agency for breach of contract. He sought around $30,000 in damages and also to stop the group members from being paid until he was reimbursed.Billboard, September 6, 1969 – Page 8 5 Suits Charging Pact Violations Are Filed
That same year, Jim McCarty left the band and joined Cactus.The Guinness Who's Who of Seventies Music, Colin Larkin – Page 70 Cactus
1970s On April 25, 1970, the group plus Ballin' Jack opened for Jimi Hendrix at The Forum in Inglewood, California.The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World, edited by David V. Moskowitz – Page 352 The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1966–1970)
In May 1972, the group appeared at the 2nd British Rock Meeting Concert, an event which ran from May 20 to May 22. The event, which was held in Germersheim, West Germany, also featured acts including Humble Pie, Pink Floyd, Atomic Rooster, Linda Lewis, Osibisa and Curved Air.Echoes: The Complete History of Pink Floyd, By Glenn Povey – > May 1972, Sunday 21 May CONCERT