The Album

In 1976 a visionary Musician Record Producer by the name of Mike Williams approached four very talented and young Musicians with the idea of putting together a record sampler, a compilation of four artists representing a mix of Folk Music, Country, Pop, Blues and Eclectic Songs from the Austin Music scene. After some deliberation and discussion the birth of the BF Deal Sampler Vol. 1 had begun.... The group of songwriters, engineers, musicians and producer took themselves to Odyssey Recording Studio and proceeded to spend hours compiling one of the most under-rated works coming out of the Austin Music Scene of the 70's. The four artists were Frank Zigal, Will Walker, Nanci Griffith and John Garza, each one presenting three songs for this musical sampler.
The Producer

Mike Williams is a country, folk music singer, songwriter and record producer. Founded the B.F. Deal record label in Austin, TX in the mid-seventies, which released Nanci Griffith's debut album in 1978. Mike Williams also produced albums for Allen Damron, Austin TX musician and Kerrville Folk Festival aficionado.
For more about Mike go here Read More.
At this time the whereabouts of Mike are unknown to the creators of this site. At last communication he was living in New York with his wife. Although we would love to forward your emails for Mike, as we have done in the past, his last known email address is no longer viable. We suggest contacting the Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation as we know he has played there recently.
The Line Up

The Musicians and Crew of the BF Deal Sampler were a talented and diverse bunch, ranging from Bluegrass, Rock, Jazz and multifaceted fields of Music, Art, Politics and Graphic Design. The sessions were down and dirty (Live Takes) and rehearsals were sparse. The quality of the musicianship speaks in the…
Bill Blachly – The Engineer
Sam Yeates – Cover Art
Stephen Doster – Lead Guitar
Spencer Starnes

Spencer Starnes played bass on several cuts on the Sampler, an outstanding musican, and now the owner and engineer at Bee Creek Studio a recording studio he founded in 1982. Spencer Starnes is an experienced bassist, engineer and producer with three Grammys to his name; one for his musicianship as bass…
Patterson Barrett
East Side Flash

Bennet Spielvogel, or better known as the East Side Flash, was one of the most instrumental (no pun intended) musicians on the Sampler, he played Dobro, Piano, Acoustic Lead Guitar. Since those days Bennet has played and recorded just about everyone in the Folk,Country and just about every genre of…
The Music
The BF Deal sampler was (as the liner notes put it) a down and dirty recording live and untouched by automated hands. The only editing there is was done by Bill Blachly, the engineer who's expertise only added to the recording and never diminished it.
If you doubt what we say, judge for yourself, and go HERE to listen to the songs of the BF Deal Sampler V1.