Blues

Michael Packer - I Am The Blues - My Story (2013)

2017-10-26T14:56:03Z

Michael Packer - I Am The Blues: My Story (2013)


1) Mr.Packer – Narration & Vocal (5:26)
2) My Family – Narration  (1:43)
3) Uncle Al – Vocal (2:50)
4) Early Years (Papa Nebo) – Narration (1:43)
5 ) Bad Time Jackson – Vocal (3:42)
6) San Francisco Blues – Narration (:33)
7) I Can’t Keep From Crying – (3:27)
8) Free Beer – Narration (:52)
9) I’m In Love  (3:19)
10) Bob Dylan and Me – Narration (1:56)
11) River of Wine – (2:38)
12) The Love of My Life – Narration (3:59)
13) Love Of A Woman – (3:46)
14) Christmas On The Bowery – Narration  (2:42)
15) Christmas Time on the Bowery – (5:06)
16) Doing Time at Rikers Island – Narration  (8:18)
17) This Train –( 3:49)
18) See That My Grave is Kept Clean – Vocal (4:39)

Michael Packer - vocals, guitar, keyboards
Ed Jackson - percussion & vocals
King Bear - bass
Bad Eddie Suozzo - drums

He just seemed to appear out of the night crowd on 42nd Street in front of B.B.Kings. A man of slight stature… black trench coat … guitar on his back ….hat that looked too big for his head… his deeply etched face and half smile… I knew within the first seconds after meeting Bluesman Michael Packer that I’d come across the real deal. We were there for a CD release party; Michael had been instrumental in the recording both as a musician and mentor. Throughout the evening, when he wasn't on stage with the band, Packer shared bits and pieces of his incredible life. His story about stealing an occupied taxi cab in Lake Placid, NY and leading the police on a chase around Mirror Lake had me almost rolling on the floor in laughter. It was obvious from our conversation that he was a man who lived all the pitfalls and tragedies of a rock and roll musician. His blunt, brutal honesty, delivered in a voice cultured on the streets of New York City , was a entertaining as it was deeply insightful. When we parted at the end of the night , Mr. Packer handed me a copy of his then latest CD. Fascinated by both the music and the man, I made it my business over the next few years to become acquainted with his lifelong body of work. The story is one of life well worth listening to.

Michael Packer- “I AM THE BLUES”- My Story released in 2013 by Iris Music Group is the soundtrack to Michael’s fifty plus years as a performing musician. It’s a “no holds barred” tale, narrated by Packer himself, with remembrances interwoven with music that spans his whole up and down career. A child prodigy, performing at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village at the age of fifteen, Mr. Packer’s talent and lust for life took him out to the San Francisco hippie scene. His bands included Papa Nebo, and later folk rock band Free Beer ,and he recorded for Atlantic Records, Buddha Records, and for RCA. His friends included George Thorogood, Tom Waits, and Paul Butterfield; he got into a bar room scuffle with Bob Dylan. But the excesses of alcohol and drugs derailed his career. Packer takes us down the spiral staircase of heroin addiction, homelessness, and finally jail. A wild life brought him lower than his songwriting and musical genius could lift him. The double loss of the love of his life will bring you to tears. He relates the tale of his uncle, Al Packer, a murderer, cannibal, and thief in the old west. Listening to the accompanying songs, Packer’s great talent as a writer and guitar player are self-evident. Had it not been for all the wrong turns and vices, no doubt Michael Packer would be a household name today. This is the blues.

But this is also a great story of redemption and comeback. Drug free and devoted to plying his craft, today Mr. Packer walks the straight and narrow, at least his version of it, and continues to write and perform his songs around the country. He is a tireless ambassador for the Blues Hall of Fame, of which he rightfully is a member. His style incorporates his varied influences of Blues, Folk, and Jazz. His voice now may be raspier and slightly more worn than it was back when Free Beer sounded a lot like Poco, but it is the perfect vehicle to deliver his current brand of the Blues. I won’t spoil the story by looking at the songs under a microscope. Particularly moving is “Christmas On The Bowery”. Packer bids us goodbye with "This Train is Bound For Glory" and “See That My Grave is Kept Clean". You buy the CD and learn the story for yourself. You’ll be asking yourself “why have I never heard of this guy before.” If you are already familiar with Michael Packer's music, you’ll enjoy the heartfelt stories behind the songs, delivered in a way that only Packer can do. ---Keith Gorgas, nodepression.com

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Michael Packer - Best Of The Michael Packer Blues Band (2006)

2017-10-17T13:32:34Z

Michael Packer - Best Of The Michael Packer Blues Band (2006)


1.Recovered Soul	3:06
2.Took My Gun	4:42
3.I Can't Keep From Cryin'	3:51
4.Straight To Her Heart		4:39
5.Roll With The Punches		2:55
6.Gotta Go (Chicago, New Orleans)	6:00
7.Christmas On The Bowery	5:07
8.All Along The Watchtower		4:25
9.Bleecker Street	4:25
10.I'm Torn Down	6:51
11.The Thrill Is Gone	5:03
12.Somebody Have Mercy		4:48

Michael Packer – guitar, vocals
David Maxwell – piano
Lou Marini, Jimmy Vivino, Felix Cabrera – harp

The Michael Packer Blues Band recorded 3 albums from 2003 to 2006. Featured here on 'The Best Of' are tracks from 'No use Running from the Blues' and the highly acclaimed 'Bleecker-Bowery' CD which includes Packer's remake of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower'and the Michael Packer - Nick Gravenites song 'Born in New York City' now known as one of the most popular songs about New York.

Michael Packer is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who was born in New York City in 1950. After doing his first gig at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village at the age of 15, he formed and recorded with numerous groups throughout the late '60s, '70s, and '80s, including Papa Nebo (with saxophonist Bob Mintzer of the Grammy Award-winning Yellowjackets), Free Beer, and Coolstep. He also worked with the likes of the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Johnny Rivers, Dr. Hook, Clifton Chanier, and the Matt Murphy Band.

After dropping out of the music scene in the late 80's and early 90's, Packer hit the skids. His drinking had escalated and he found himself living on the streets. He did a year in Rikers Island for attempted robbery, but that seemed to be the turning point in his life. Even in prison he had a band.

Packer has been sober 16 years now and life is good - especially his music. He has become a well-known and respected member of the New York City blues scene, and his blues band has received rave reviews in Living Blues, Blues Matters, and Blues Revue magazines. He has released numerous albums, including an anthology of his recordings, which came out in 2008. Packer has also recently found a new home with the Chicago blues label Blue Skunk Music, which has released his new CD Free Beer. As a result of this release, Packer now has the honor of playing second guitar and touring with the two-time Grammy Award-winning legendary Delta blues guitarist David "Honeyboy" Edwards, who knew and played alongside Robert Johnson. To top it all off, Packer will be inducted into The Blues Hall Of Fame on September 25th, 2011. ---bbkingblues.com

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Michael Packer - No Use Running From The Blues (2002)

2017-10-11T14:49:35Z

Michael Packer - No Use Running From The Blues (2002)


1. Your Problems And Mine
2. Took My Gun
3. One Of These Days
4. Take Me To Texas
5. Recovered Soul
6. I Can't Keep From Crying
7. Straight To Her Heart
8. Dreams
9. Downtown
10. Roll With The Punches
11. Goin' New York
12. Life's A One Way Ticket

The CD "No Use Running from the Blues" by Michael Packer is a blend of blues, jazz and rock. The CD includes original material and obscure blues songs. Many of the tunes have a horn section which brings to light the soul of the album.

His style is unique and his flawless confident playing reminds us of the late Stevie Ray Vaughn. ---amazon.com

Singer, songwriter & guitarist Michael Packer knows the blues. He has lived the blues. Born in New York City in 1950, he did his first professional gig at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village at the age of 15. Packer formed the group "Papa Nebo" and was signed to Atlantic Records in 1970. After releasing an album and touring the Northeast, the band eventually broke up with a few members going on to successful solo careers such as Bob Mintzer, saxophonist for the Yellowjackets and Ann Leathers, violinist for Lyle Lovett, Elton John to name a few.

Michael Packer then took his sound to the west coast, playing on the streets of San Francisco during the day and in the coffee houses at night. There, he met George Thorogood, who turned him on to the blues. Eventually, Packer made his way back to New York and hooked up another project, Free Beer. The group had a good deal of success with albums on RCA Records which all hit the Billboard charts. They toured constantly opening for such headliners as Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show, Johnny Rivers, Atlanta Rhythm Section and many more. But as it seems to go in the music world, good things don't last forever and despite the success, Free Beer broke up. In the 80's, Michael Packer opened for various blues artists such as John Hammond, Paul Butterfield and Son Seals. ---woodstockrecords.com

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Michael Packer Blues Band - Free Beer (2010)

2011-02-28T09:25:24Z

Michael Packer Blues Band - Free Beer (2010)


1. Eve Of Destruction 2008 [3:27]
2. Jailhouse Now 	 [2:45]             play
3. Don't You Lie   [3:32]               play
4. Depression Blues         [4:30]
5. Come On Honey	[3:43]
6. Back In Albany	[2:58]
7. E Blues	[4:07]
8. The Letdown	[3:15]
9. Salvation	[3:18]

Musicians:
Michael Packer (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, Hammond b-3 organ); 
Ed Jackson (vocals, bongos); 
Ric Frank (clarinet, tenor saxophone); 
Eddie Souzzo (drums).

Well traveled NYC blues musician Michael Packer must be sitting on top of the world these days. He's not only lately played a few dates with the legendary Delta Bluesman David "Honeyboy" Edwards but recently found a new recording home with Chicago's fledging Blue Skunk Records. In the 70s he also led a band called "Free Beer" that recorded for RCA and Buddah Records. All 3 albums charted on Billboard's TOP 100. Packer has returned to his blues and folk roots and has released a new disc in honor of his former band "Free Beer". ~Graham Clarke

MICHAEL PACKER is a singer-songwriter, guitarist who was born in New York City in 1950. He did his first gig at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village at the age of 15. In 1969 he formed the group 'Papa Nebo" which included saxophonist Bob Mintzer who went on to play with the Grammy award winning "Yellowjackets". Papa Nebo recorded an album for Atlantic records. They were personally signed by Ahmet Ertegun.Today it is a collectors item. Packer soon took his sound to the West Coast with buddy Sandy Allen, playing on the streets of San Francisco during the day and The Coffee Gallery in North Beach at night, Michael met George Thorogood and was turned on to the blues. Eventually Packer and Allen made their way back to New York where they started another project "Free Beer"."Free Beer" was born at Gerdes Folk City in Greenwich Village (1973) where they added singer-songwriter Bob Potter. Free Beer recorded 3 albums for Buddha and RCA records and toured extensively with the likes of the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Johnny Rivers, Dr.Hook, Clifton Chanier to name a few. All of the albums made the Billboard top 100 and they were well on their way. But nothing lasts forever in the music industry and Free Beer broke up.

After the demise of Free Beer in the late 70's Michael opened for John Hammond Jr. and sang with the Matt Murphy Band. In 1984 in Boston he fronted a 10 piece band called "Coolstep" and opened for Huey Lewis on a New England Tour. After dropping out of the music scene in the late 80's and early 90's Michael Packer hit the skids. His drinking had escalated and he found himself living on the streets. He did a year in Rikers Island for attempted robbery but that seemed to be the turning point in his life. Even in prison he had a band. HBO did a special "The Prisoners of Rikers Island in which he appears. Michael Packer has been sober 16 years now and life is good especially his music. He has become a well known and respected member of the New York City Blues scene.

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