There's a lot on your mind when three players from an up and coming band walk into your radio program soon after you've just turned 18 years old. That was my situation as a college freshman at New York University. 

Ride Captain Ride

Striding out of the Loeb Student Center elevator and into the radio station studio, WNYU AM, was bassist Malcolm Jones, conga player Joe Lala, and organist Skip Konte of Blues Image. The band was in New York City for an appearance at Ungano's Club on 70th Street in Manhattan.

It's April 1, 1970! Blues Image had a contemporary rock hit, Ride Captain Ride, that would eventually peak at #4 on the Billboard pop charts by July.

How nervous was I with only 3 months of amateur experience? Very. At one point, the conversation slipped into a jovial acknowledgement of my plentiful use of the filler word  'um!'

After awhile, as if on cue, all four of us adlibbed a vocal harmonic 'um' in unison as if we were kindred spirits! The band members could relate.

I didn't tell them that this was my first interview with multiple guests, and only my second interview ever!

From audio only to audio plus video

I'll admit that there have been four different versions of my audio only Blues Image interview posted in the Powerhouse Radio archive section of the website.

You may not want to hear the original 40 minute version that included three different songs from Blues Image's 1970 album "Open." That version was never posted. I had to trim the songs to save time. The 'um' chant segment had to go too!

1. The first edited version was 11 minutes, 25 seconds
2. The second edited version was 8 minutes, 38 seconds
3. The third edited version was 7 minutes, 43 seconds
4. The fourth, current (new) and final version is 6 minutes, 12 seconds

I've sunset the audio only versions, but happily version four of the Blues Image interview by Kingsley H Smith is posted on YouTube (You'll go to YouTube). Follow the highlighted link.

I newly recorded many of my questions on video to rescue you from hearing my inexperienced teenager audio meandering.

The guys did a great job presenting an interesting profile about Blues Image. They expressed thoughtful music scene opinions about the current state of performing in the new decade. Enjoy!

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