Conklin, Lee; Bloomfield, Mike; Kooper, Al; It's a Beautiful Day; Loading Zone; Graham, Bill

Original Concert Postcard: Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper & Friends, It's a Beautiful Day, and Loading Zone (September 26-28, 1968)

San Francisco, CA: Bill Graham, 1968. First Edition. Single Sheet. This postcard designed by Lee Conklin promotes a concert series which took place on September 26-28, 1968 at the Fillmore West featuring Super Session, It’s a Beautiful Day, and Loading Zone produced by the legendary impresario Bill Graham (1931-1991). Lee Conklin is known as the creator of the album cover art for Santana’s debut album in 1969, and his psychedelic art style contributed some of the most iconic poster designs of the era. This design is a conglomerate of abstract figures and images, described in King’s Collector’s Guide as follows: “The most recognizable portion of the central image is a small nude woman in the center. She is the only part of the image in flesh tones. Next to her is a slightly larger lizard with its forked tongue expended. Above them is what appears to be a mouth with a row of teeth with a cherry on top as if it were a dessert. It is possible that Conklin did not intend that portion of the image to be taken as a mouth, but that is what it looks like more than anything else. This particular design of Conklin’s is more difficult to describe been [sic] most” (pg. 479) Al Kooper (b. 1944) was a prolific studio musician before participating in various solo and group projects and ending up as a manager, producer, and composer. Super Session was a one-off collaboration album he produced in 1968 with Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills on guitar for half of the songs each. Mike Bloomfield (1943-1981) was a blues guitarist from Chicago who joined the Paul Butterfield Blues Band just before they released their debut album. He founded The Electric Flag in San Francisco, but the group was disintegrating when Kooper reached out to invite him to jam in the studio. Stephen Stills (b. 1945) was in the process of leaving Buffalo Springfield when Kooper invited him to an impromptu jam session to fill in for Bloomfield on the second day in the studio. The group performing at this show included Bloomfield and Kooper, but we can’t assume Stills was involved since he is not listed. It’s a Beautiful Day was a group formed in 1967 with Pattie Santos, David LaFlamme and Linda LaFlamme. The Loading Zone was a band of the late 1960s and early 1970s that released a total of two albums before disbanding in 1971. Single sheet (appx. 4 & 5/8 x 7”): first edition, second printing with all points in King’s Collector’s Guide (King, BG-138-OPC-B, pg. 479), including a calendar of upcoming Bill Graham events on the verso. In relatively very fine condition with the slightest bumping to the fine edges and corners, most noticeable at bottom left corner of recto. Very Fine. [Item #7967]

Price: $45.00