For those unaware, Blues Image rides again with a new album Next Voyage forthcoming and a new tour. The album features original guitarist and vocalist Mike Pinera, and includes the greatest songs from his history with Blues Image and Iron Butterfly, revisited with orchestra and horn section.

Produced by Michael Franklin, who produced Jon Anderson’s 1000 Hands part One and Robby Steinhardt’s Not in Kansas Anymore, in Franklin’s tradition of special guests, the album features Pat Travers, Jonathan Cain from Journey, Charlie DeChant, and others. [Michael and Tim Franklin have toured as members of Blues Image for 30 years].

1. Butterfly Bleu
2. Something to Say
3. Love Is The Answer
4. Isla
5. Leaving My Troubles Behind
6. In A Gada Da Vida
7. Fugue / Paid My Dues
8. Captain’s Suite (Next Harbor / Ride Captain Ride / Safe Harbor / Ride Captain Ride)

This all-encompassing, most joyous of musical flashbacks recording opens on the inter dimensional, guitar riff-full, simply sublime Butterfly Bleu and the stinging guitar from Mike Pinera of Something to Say, and then brings us the timeless rock gem Love Is The Answer and the beautifully complemented melodies and rhythms within Isla.

Along next is one of my own personal favorites, the deliciously themed, Hammond-driven Leaving My Troubles Behind which is itself backed nicely by the psychedelic hard rock tune that turned hippies into head bangers, Iron Butterfly’s epic In A Gada Da Vida, the recording rounding out on the duo of the melodic Fugue and the clawing guitar sound that had us rocking back in the 70s, Paid My Dues, closing on the truly uplifting opus of Captain’s Suite (Next Harbor / Ride Captain Ride / Safe Harbor / Ride Captain Ride).

Blues Image:
Mike Pinera - Guitar and vocals
Tim Franklin - Bass and vocals
Eddie Metz Jr. and Greg Alban - Drums
Michael Franklin - Keyboards and vocals

Special Guests:
Pat Travers - Guitar
Jonathan Cain of Journey - Wurlitzer
Charlie DeChant - Saxophone
Tommy Calton - Guitar
Steady Joseph - Percussion
Randie Paul - soloist on Love is the Answer
Suzie Park - soloist on Something to Say
Naomi Bradshaw - soloist on Pay My Dues

Blues Image is an American Blues Rock band formed in Tampa, Florida in 1966 by singer-guitarist Mike Pinera. Blues Image became the house band at the club Thee Image, which featured bands like Cream, Grateful Dead, and Blood, Sweat & Tears.

The band moved to Los Angeles and signed with Atco Records, releasing their self-titled debut album in February 1969. Their second album, Open (April 1970), included the hit single Ride Captain Ride. Written by Pinera and Skip Konte, the song has been used in many films. Pinera left the band to join Iron Butterfly in the fall of 1969.

Blues Image - Next Voyage [Official Promo Video]