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Excellent. *****. Good old fashion Rock-n-Roll. The best cut on this CD is #3 "ONLY YOU KNOW AND I KNOW".I would recommend this to anyone who is a Clapton fan or anyone who likes great female R%B vocals.
The music is a high-energy, feelgood blend of soul, blues, and rock. This outfit probably thought it was the best band in the world, and played like it wanted to prove it.The presence of George Harrison on this record is uncertain. He's the bandleader, and is clearly in control. Although Eric Clapton is credited in the title, this is not a Clapton-centric album like the John Mayall album where he is billed similarly. Even so, if George is on the album, he's pretty much undetectable in the mix. Solos, when taken, are short and to the point.Delaney is a forceful if not particularly melodic singer, and Rita Coolidge's smoky voice does a lot to round out Bonnie Bramlett's voice, which can be thin at times.
Rather, guitars played by EC, Dave Mason, and Delaney Bramlett weave in and out much like Keith Richards/Brian Jones and Richards/Ronnie Wood.
The band is some of the best of the Wrecking Crew/Plantation musicians from Los Angeles.
Delaney Bramlett does not include George in the band introductions, though.
After the disastrous Blind Faith tour, Clapton was ready to disappear into a band, and the warmup act on that tour, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, was it.The dominant presence here by far is Delaney Bramlett.
Some sources claim he played on this date (the entire album comes from December 7, 1969, although other shows were recorded); others dispute this.
Bear in mind that all but Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, and D&B themselves did Joe Cocker's "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour just three months after making this record.This is terrific ensemble playing, really the only time Clapton has immersed himself in that (Cream really doesn't fit the description).
There are no guitar pyrotechnics here.
Although some say George purposely performed anonymously, there are videos from a TV broadcast of a different concert that show Bramlett clearly introducing him.
Clapton, Mason, and Bramlett are all easy to hear, although it's often difficult to tell who is who.If you like energetic, vocal and horn-driven soul with just a touch of guitar flourishes, this album is a fine investment.
The moment I saw this album after the concert I bought it and now have it on CD. I saw this unbelievable group live at a Festival near New Orleans area in 1971. I was at the foot of the stage the whole time and was rockin' and floatin' at the same time. It is the tightest most rockin' powerlive concert EVER. If you have any memories of the 60-70s rock energyor want to hear what it was like.GET THIS.
I HAD THIS ALBUM ON VINYL WAY BACK WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT. THIS IS A GREAT ALBLUM BY DELANEY AND BONNIE, WITH AN ALL-STAR CAST BACKING THEM UP (INCLUDING DAVE MASON, JESSIE ED DAVIS, A FAT HORN SECTION, AND RITA COOLIDGE SINGING BACKUP), AND SOME BLISTERING GUITAR LICKS FROM OLD SLOW HAND, E.C. GREAT SOULFUL LYRICS, GREAT ARRANGEMENTS MADE ON THE FLY, AND WONDERFUL ALBUM FROM BACK IN THE DAY.
This was one of my favorite albums when I was in college. A great live performance with amazing talent. The combination of Jim Gordon and Carl Radle is almost perfect, however tragic.
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