Bleecker & MacDougal

About Bleecker & MacDougal

Bleecker & MacDougal, issued by Elektra in 1965, is the debut album from Fred Neil, a pioneer folk rock musician. The recording, which unlike many folk albums at the time featured electric guitar backing, had a significant influence on the folk rock movement. Guest musicians included Felix Pappalardi on bass, a young John Sebastian playing harmonica, and Pete Childs on dobro and electric guitar. Except for one track, all of the songs on the album were written by Neil. Bleecker & MacDougal was reissued as Little Bit of Rain in 1970. The album is named for the intersection of Bleecker Street and MacDougal Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. A picture of the intersection featured on the album cover. The San Remo Cafe can be seen in the picture, a gathering spot for writers and musicians for decades. Both streets were important locales for folk and rock music of the period. more »