Bloomfield, Mike
If You Love These Blues, Play 'Em As You Please
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1976 original, still in shrink. Mike Bloomfield’s If You Love These Blues, Play ’Em as You Please, was released in 1976 on Guitar Player Records, serving as both a showcase of his blues mastery and an educational guide for aspiring guitarists. The record is notable for its instructional approach: each track explores a different blues style, including Delta, Chicago, Texas, and gospel blues, with Bloomfield providing spoken introductions and explanations. This innovative format, paired with detailed liner notes and transcriptions, made the album an essential resource for guitarists eager to learn authentic blues techniques directly from a legendary player. Musically, Bloomfield’s fluid guitar work and expressive phrasing pay homage to foundational blues artists while demonstrating his own virtuosity and deep respect for the genre’s history.