To those of you who keep writing, we found the vinyl on eBay. It looked like new and maybe this kind be do-able for a quality recording for an all-time great reproduction of this historic, beloved music: this recording belongs to future generations for posterity of great timeless music. Thanks for all of your inquiries-- anything is possible. Please read the latest, greatest news below:

-----Original Message-----
From: The estate of Buddy Miles
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 9:12 AM
To: ro@rkpuma.com
Subject: Buddy Miles

Roberta,
It was great talking with you yesterday.  "The Estate of Buddy Miles is pleased to inform the wonderful visitors of RKPuma.com that Buddy's back catalogue is in the process of being digitized and will be available for purchase soon through online retailers like iTunes and Amazon.com. This process should be complete and available to the public by September 1st of 2010. We also are in the process of re-releasing the catalogue on vinyl and hopefully will be able to get a time table for that in the later part of the year. We at the Estate of Buddy Miles are thankful to the fans of Buddy's musical works, and encourage them to visit our official Facebook Fan Page and BuddyMiles.com as well as follow us on the latest news and discussions.
" - Keep Groovin' - The Estate of Buddy Miles Staff -

In 1999, saw Buddy Miles, "LIVE" for the first time; been trying to find his recording of the same title: Buddy Miles Live, (under label: Mercury - 1971) ever since the LP (that's vinyl kids) was pilfered. It's been missing since an early 70's Spit bungalow party. Other kewl jazz disappeared too, but the only item mourned was the "Live" album with 12 minutes, 44 sex, devoted to "Them Changes" unavailable on any other recording. And no, as exquisite as Miles Davis' art is, there's no relation. And also no, not the red/yellow boxed LIVE CD with Santana-- the recording usually offered by well-meaning friends in search of that ethereal, blue & rose elusive album cover, this last quarter century.

The weathered Riverview Theater in Norfolk, VA (also legendary but nearly forgotten) hosted virtuoso Miles, without fanfare.  Driving by after taking the boys for cones at Doumar's, and glanced at it's disheveled marquee in disbelief: "BUDDY MILES TONITE!"... dumbstruck that this onetime session drummer for blues/funk icon Otis Redding --everyone's personal god of soul, was appearing and jumped the curb to inquire within.

Buddy is best known for his association with Jimi Hendrix (and Billy Cox) in the legendary Band of Gypsys, when they'd recorded an album just before Hendrix' early departure. He began in his father's band, The Bebops at age twelve and played with everyone from Ruby & the Romantics, the Ink Spots, Stevie Wonder, Wilson Pickett, David Bowie, Bootsy Collins, Phish and Muddy Waters to recording a live album with Carlos Santana in 1974. Trivia note: that's Buddy's voice in the "Heard It Through The Grapevine" animated California Raisins' television spot in the mid-80's. No wonder them Claymatin' dried-up fruits had the funk. To learn more about many of these artists, visir the juke box:..

Pulling up to the stage door, to ask a roadie about parking, with a fourth generation tape of "We Got To Live Together" blasting in anticipation of it all; you'd guess the visceral sound might seem purely domestic by metal standards today. Eager to see the current audience of this innovator, spanning jazz, R&B, funk, blues as an unsung pioneer of true "Black Rock"-- spent the cash at Doumar's, inquired at the deteriorated box office if they took checks or credit cards. The scruffy (35-ish?) pony-tailed dude in the cage allowed entry for only twelve clams. He said he'd pitch in the five short: vividly recalling the era of hey-hey days and digger's prices.

On entering the theater "improper" (some of the barely functional original old flip-seats now line the wall) we gathered to stand in the front third of the theater floor gazing at the stage. The rest of the group were ready when the sweet, beauteous Buddha, Funk Lord of a figure appeared, taking a seat behind his drums and began to play and sing. Buddy noted my green "Girl Scout Gone Bad" complete with logo T-shirt, quickly selected for just this effect. Of the hundred or so attending the unheralded (COAST FM vaguely announced the gig) it seemed just a handful were 50-ish. The (20-ish?) kids there, "Woodstockers" for their peace/love twirling-dance styling/granny dresses, must've resurrected parent's LPs (or 8-Tracks?) because requests rang out for "Them Changes". You can't keep a good sound down.

Buddy performed so kewl, with his vocals/drums as his three very average white band-mates allowed.  He also spent a good deal of time talking from behind his drums downstage. Of course he'd be "reminiscing" (name-dropping Dylan and Neil Young), as if not cognizant his own name is legendary. He also spoke for too long of the tragic shootings that week in Atlanta and most wrongly (and selfishly) assumed it would blend into the prized cut, "We Got to Live Together". This particular concert wouldn't have appealed to most audiences (even funk enthusiasts) BUT this was it, LIVE! Da' thang...

The band might well have been the reason that nothing much recognizable was played (okay, bias) but how could they possibly duplicate those riffs? They did a Miles original called "The Change" which was too similarly named to his signature piece. Whenever anything seemed remotely familiar it quickly morphed into some altogether different derivation. Foxy Lady done as a ballad? Well, you gotta' hand it to 'em for being experimental. You had to appreciate their humility for playing that old wreck of a house (not to mention this old wreck of a fan).  Since chump change was depleted I ran to Hurricane's across the street for a quick beverage and found lead singer, Bruce of Big Fun (né The Jailtones) who returned with me, remarking "This is da' real thang..." as we stood before the old proscenium, where Buddy had moved from his drums to front stage center, microphone in hand, dangling his feet: one hip Humpty.

With over 40 albums, a half dozen world tours, TV specials and commercials behind him and perhaps the most loyal of fans since Redding and Hendrix, this Riverview gig could have provoked tears from followers. The old theater itself was more a metaphor for the performance than the performer. It's been hard to register with people who this artist is/was for the last decade, since almost no-body had heard anything about him for as long. But something's happening. We're obviously not the only ones wanting an encore by this funk-force. Not long ago, you couldn't find Buddy on the web: it seems now he's getting where he could and should be. Maybe with a bit more mileage, you'll get that Live! album yet...

[Thanks to an anonymous fan AKA "gone" & the 'Net, We GOT IT! ]:

Subj: I have......
Date: 00-07-31 20:44:23 EDT
From: (P.M. Franklin)
To: ro@rkpuma.com
In my possession as I write this-- BUDDY MILES LIVE!!! MiGawd, I've forgotten how good this thing really is. It arrived today, & I'm going to try to have it worn out by tonite. You'll have a copy soon, if you wish.

Naturally, I wrote him back and said indeed, "I WISH!":

Subj: It CAME!
Date: 08/10/00
To: (P.M. Franklin)
Wow--- I expected a tape-- there it is with the original album cover on front of the CD package. I can't wait.

Thankfully yours, R K
http://rkpuma.com

The back of the double album reads:
"In July of this year (1971) Buddy Miles and his band toured throughout the U.S.A. carrying along the spirits of untold thousands of enthusiastic fans in the wake of their joyous, driving music.  Buddy arranged to have concerts in Seattle, Santa Monica and Bakersfield recorded; the results of which are heard on this magnificent 2 LP set.   In length, sound and spirit, it is truly a Buddy Miles concert.  --Robin McBride"

Selections are listed as:
Joe Tex * Take It Off Him And Put It On Me * Down By The River * Wrap It Up
Place Over There * The Segment * Them Changes * We Got To Live Together

1/26/01: in Florida, our gone friend met with and presented copies of various rare Buddy recordings to him; and there are plans for wider distribution. Buddy also appeared in our 'hood during that tour (1/23/01 at Harry's Bar & Grill, here in Ocean View) when he'd entered the stage area in a wheelchair; with obvious failing health, and the crowd roared. For all of you who have written regarding the recording:
this BUD's for you!

11/10/01: Today we were rockin' in the SUV, listenin' to the Otis Redding & Carla Thomas recording of  "Tramp" and realized that "We Got To Live Together" was derivative (uh, today they call that sampling) of Otis & Carla's classic. Dunno' why we never caught it before, but if you be samplin': do it from the best! --R K

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