Rock and roll records (J,J, Cale) (LP 2332 - 2335)

J.J. Cale  Okie (Vinyl, Shelter Records, 1974) ****  

Pete Carr  Multiple Flash (Vinyl, Big Tree Records, 1978) *** 

Eric Clapton  Money And Cigarettes (Vinyl, Duck Records, 1983) ***   

Christopher Cross  Another Page (Vinyl, Warner Bros Records, 1983) ***  

Genre: Pop rock

Places I remember: World Record club (Okie), catch up of the Cs.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Baby Says No (Christopher Cross)

Gear costume: The Shape You're In (Eric Clapton);

Active compensatory factors: First up we have three guitarists featured in this final catch up of albums I missed in the A, B, C and Ds. Interesting that all three have stylised guitars featured on their covers.

I bought my original copy of Okie way way back in 1974 from a mail order record club. I loved that cover!

The word was strong on J. J. Cale at the time and this was one laid back confident dude. I loved the record but he didn't hook me and reel me in with it. I didn't collect anything else by him. Which is weird. But some artists I go apeshit over and have to buy everything they've done, and others...

Like Cale, Pete Carr is another relatively unsung guitarist. Multiple Flash is a largely instrumental rock album that floats by because he's so damn good! He does sing (really well as it happens) on his excellent version of Knockin' On Heaven's Door.

Seemingly he can play it all, but without flash, so, hence the unsung bit (in both ways).

Eric Clapton is not unsung, but this album has probably flown under the radar in his vast catalogue. For me, it's a bit like Reptile - a slow grower, and well worth re-discovering.

Ry Cooder, Duck Dunn and Albert Lee are along for the ride. 

Christopher Cross also has some heavyweight help on his second album. Most notably, and successfully, on Baby, Says No with Carl Wilson providing vocal support.

That one song elevates the record onto the next level on its own. Carl Wilson. A genius, sadly taken from us far too young.

The rest of the album is good but not great. That debut casts a huge shadow. 

Where do they all belong? Back up to date now and heading back to Mark 3 Deep Purple.

Tell the truth (Winwood and Clapton) (LP 1041)

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood  Live From Madison Square Garden (CD and video, Reprise Records, 2009) ****  

Genre: Blues rock 

Places I remember: Tron Records in Hamilton (CD); Electric City Music (Napier) for the VHS.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Had To Cry Today

Gear costume: Voodoo Chile

Active compensatory factors: For some reason this is something of a rarity. I had been after a copy for a few years until I stumbled upon one last year in Hamilton's Tron Records (great shop - well worth your time when visiting Hamilton).

Then I managed to find a copy of the video of the concert last month in Napier. 

This was a great reunion concert featuring these old friends and the video adds a lot to the experience as you can sense the friendship from the pair.

Songs come from each of their solo careers, Derek and The Dominos, Traffic and Blind Faith, plus some Hendrix covers that are standouts.

Where do they all belong? A one off it seems as they haven't recorded anything together since then.

No bed for Beatle John (Yoko Ono) (LP 950 - 953)

Yoko Ono/ John Lennon  Unfinished Music #1: Two Virgins (Vinyl and CD, Apple Records, 1968) * 

John Lennon/ Yoko Ono  Unfinished Music #2: Life With The Lions (Vinyl and CD, Zapple Records, 1969) * 

John Ono Lennon & Yoko Ono Lennon  Wedding Album (Vinyl and CD, Apple Records, 1969) * 

The Plastic Ono Band  Live Peace In Toronto 1969 (Vinyl, Apple Records, 1969) **** 

Genre: Beatle pop/rock

Places I remember: Vinyl: Noel Forth helped me get Two Virgins, Wedding Album (from Japan), and Live Peace. Life With The Lions came from Marbecks before I knew Roger and all the CDs are from Real Groovy.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Blue Suede Shoes (Live Peace)

Gear costume: Yer Blues (Live Peace); No Bed For Beatle John (Unfinished Music #2)

Active compensatory factors: These first four albums outside of The Beatles will severely test your resolve and commitment to both John and Yoko. I passed that test but it was a close thing at times.

Unfinished Music #1 (and yes my vinyl version came in a brown paper sleeve with cut outs for the faces and the album name as pictured above) is more infamous for its cover (the pair celebrating their union with a frontal nude shot - as you do) than its contents. 

It's not music as such - more a continuation of the sound collage they started with Revolution #9 on The Beatles.

Except, I really like Revolution #9. Two Virgins is much less effective as a collage.

Unfinished Music #2 collects an appearance the two made at Cambridge University - John on squawking feedback and Yoko on screaming for 26 minutes and 31 seconds, with material from a hospital stay in 1968 during which Yoko tragically miscarried.

She sings No Bed For Beatle John, the baby's heart beat is recorded, followed by a 2 minute silence and then a track where John flicks restlessly around a radio dial. Shesh.

By comparison, Wedding Album is relatively straight-forward with a side of John and Yoko repeating each other's names and a side of various press conferences from their bedisms.

Finally, there is some music on Live Peace in Toronto 1969! Wahoo, and for the most part it's spirited and remarkably coherent - given the band (Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, Alan White and the Lennons) rehearsed on the plane ride to Toronto.

Side One's a fab mix of old rock'n'roll numbers, a Beatle song (Yer Blues) and a couple of solo singles. I love it!

The second side is Yoko doing her thing (all over you) on two songs. Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow) has its moments with John and Eric supplying some grunty guitar but the lengthy John John (Let's Hope For Peace) again tests that resolve.

Where do they all belong? After he got those four albums out of his system, our hero put out a five star classic and only my favourite album of all time (coming soon).

Country life (Delaney and Bonnie) (LP 914 - 920)

Delaney & Bonnie  Genesis (Vinyl, Crescendo Records, 1971) **  

Delaney & Bonnie  Home (Vinyl, Stax Records, 1969) ***  

Delaney & Bonnie  The Original Delaney and Bonnie: Accept No Substitute (Vinyl, Elektra Records, 1969) ***

Delaney & Bonnie and Friends  On Tour With Eric Clapton (CD, ATCO Records, 1970) ***  

Delaney & Bonnie and Friends  To Delaney From Bonnie (Vinyl, ATCO Records, 1970) ***  

Delaney & Bonnie and Friends  Motel Shop (Vinyl, ATCO Records, 1971) ***  

Delaney & Bonnie and Friends  D&B Together (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1972) ****  

Genre: Blues rock

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records; Slow Boat Records; Vinyl Countdown; Spellbound Wax Co.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Never Ending Song Of Love (Motel Shot)

Gear costume: Country Life, Only You Know And I Know (D and B Together), Coming Home (On Tour), Piece Of My Heart (Home)

Active compensatory factors: Prolific for a short period, Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett were the antidote to organized and commercial big rock. Instead they gave off a family, good time, down home vibe that was catnip to the friends that came onboard from 1969 to 1972.

Genesis is an album made up of stuff from 1964 - 65 and 1967, before they became an item. Instead it's a Delaney album with Bonnie on three tracks. Delaney's talent is right there though - no wonder he and Leon Russell were musical mates.

First album proper with the two of them is Home, on the Stax label, another false start in some ways. More in the soul frame of mind (Stax remember), it features the Stax regulars (Booker T, Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, Al Jackson as well as Leon Russell and Isaac Hayes) as the backing band. So it sounds good - these guys can't not sound good, but the material doesn't yet feel like Delaney and Bonnie. Bonnie's soulful version of Piece Of My Heart and Delaney's Hard To Say Goodbye are stand outs.

The big early one is Accept No Substitute, as it wooed stars like George Harrison (he tried in vain to put it out on Apple Records but the Elektra contract was already signed) and Eric Clapton. The sound becomes more of a gospel/soul/rock/blues amalgam on this one.

Notable friends along for the good times were Leon, Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle, Bobby Keys, Jim Price, Jim Keltner, and Rita Coolidge. Yes, Eric was paying attention! He recruited the band for his first solo album and later for Derek and The Dominos.

The playing is great again and more in tune with the Delaney and Bonnie vibe. She is the star show of this album, that and the live in the studio feel.

Most of the friends joined the tour with Eric Clapton that year, except Leon. Eric takes a back seat, happy to be just another band member. 

To Delaney From Bonnie has more of the same gospel/rhythm and blues/rock stuff going on, While Motel Shot is a more acoustic run through some trad folk and gospel edged songs.

My favourite album of theirs is probably the least heralded because they were splitting up as a couple - ironically called D and B Together. Somehow, they sound very much at ease on these songs and Bonnie's vocals are superb. If you were looking for an entry point I'd go there before heading back to Home and Accept No Substitute.

Where do they all belong? I've put it with the blues rock albums as it fits with Clapton/ Derek & The Dominoes more than it does in the soul section in my fevered brain.

Learning how to love you (George Harrison) (LP 900 - 905)

George Harrison  Thirty Three & 1/3 (Vinyl, Dark Horse Records, 1976) ****  

George Harrison  George Harrison (Vinyl, Dark Horse Records, 1979) *****  

George Harrison  Somewhere In England (Vinyl, Dark Horse Records, 1981) ***

George Harrison  Gone Troppo (Vinyl, Dark Horse Records, 1982) ***  

George Harrison  Cloud Nine (Vinyl, Dark Horse Records, 1987) ****  

George Harrison  Live In Japan (Vinyl and Cassette, Dark Horse Records, 1992 - 2017 pressing) ****  

Genre: Beatle related pop, Dark Horse Records  

Places I remember: Mostly Marbecks Records, Live In Japan vinyl is from HMV in Oxford St.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: All Those Years Ago

Gear costume: Crackerbox Palace, Blow Away, When We Was Fab, This Song

Active compensatory factors: George's rebirth on Dark Horse Records after the dire Extra Texture (his last on Apple Records) was remarkable. 

Thirty-Three & 1/3 is a terrific bunch of playful, tuneful, fun songs. This Song is a very typical Harrison song in the spirit of Only A Northern Song, Taxman, Old Brown Shoe and so on. He has a gift for a kind of self-deprecating response to challenging situations. Crackerbox Palace is a joyous homage to Friar Park (great video too).

Mostly though, Thirty-Three & 1/3 is a love letter to Olivia. I think we can point to her as the inspiration for the lightness of touch throughout the album.

Other songs on the album speak to his core beliefs, but there is no heavy handedness about See Yourself, or It's What You Value.

George Harrison is even better! A belter of a soft rock album. For me it's a five star effort - every song shines forth brilliantly and George seems very happy and content throughout, thanks to Olivia and Dhani's arrival. 

The next two - Somewhere In England and Gone Troppo have their moments as George settles in, but, post John Lennon's murder, they are understandably missing the joy of Thirty Three & 1/3 and George Harrison. Having said that, they have both grown on me over the years. I was initially luke warm about them as albums, but listening to them now is quite rewarding.

Cloud Nine is a return to some of the joy of playing he had in the old days (the usual crew are supplemented by Jeff Lynne's creative presence) and, of course, there are the big hits! Got My Mind Set On You and When We Was Fab are glorious examples of what makes George Harrison fab, gear and those other pimply hyperboles. 

He even smiles on the cover shock horror!

The Live In Japan double album is a curiosity. Eric Clapton had persuaded his old mate back to the stage in 1991 - a mere twenty years after The Concert For Bangladesh. The Traveling Wilbury's had just done their final album and it appears that that experience had emboldened George to hit the boards again.

He still sounds tentative in his stage announcements, describing the concert as a 'nice experience', but Eric, George and the band treat Japanese fans to some of George's Beatle classics along the way, as well as a greatest hits show of his solo records. As a final document, it certainly fits the bill (if you'll pardon the pun).

Where do they all belong? On to the GOAT next time around as I travel through the Beatles as solo artists.

Reach for the night (Jack Bruce) (LP 888 - 889)

Jack Bruce  Shadows In The Air (CD, Sanctuary Records, 2001) ****  

Jack Bruce  Silver Rails (CD, Cherry Red Records, 2014) ***

Genre: Blues rock 

Places I remember: Slow Boat Records, HMV Oxford St.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Keep It Down (Silver Rails)

Gear costume: Out Into The Fields (Shadows In The Air).

A remake of the West Bruce and Laing song.

Active compensatory factors: These are late period solo studio albums. Silver Rails was his final album - he died seven months after it was released.

Shadows In The Air has a formidable cast, with Eric Clapton, Dr John, Gary Moore, Vernon Reid all making appearances during the album.

Clapton appears on the remakes of White Room and Sunshine Of Your Love. Of course musicians have every right to redo their songs in different settings but both of these revisits are nice to haves, not essentials. 

Silver Rails has a decidedly frail Jack on vocals which lends a weight and poignancy to the songs. 

Last ever sequenced final album track is No Surrender. That about sums up the attitude of this mighty bass playing G.O.A.T.

Where do they all belong? A slew of live albums to come yet. Plus I still have a few late period studio albums to collect: Monkjack; More Jack Than God and a 'lost' album that was finally released - Jet Set Jewel. There's also an excellent live album with Robin Trower that I need to find a physical copy of (it's on Spotify). Plus if I feel like a completist after all those - the synth album Automatic. He was prolific!

Rambling on my mind (Eric Clapton) (LP 851)

Eric Clapton   E.C. Was Here (Vinyl, RSO Records, 1975) ***   

Genre: Blues rock 

Places I remember: Spellbound Wax Company (Gisborne)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Further On Up The Road

Gear costume: Presence Of The Lord

Active compensatory factors: This is a bit of a mish mash of a single live album with songs coming from four different dates spanning two years - 1974 and 1975. Smacks, therefore, of a cash-in by Robert Stigwood and I wonder how much say E.C. had in its release given this comes from well within his booze fueled stupor years.

So, there's no continuity as far as a concert experience goes - just six songs over two sides. Plus, there's the throwaway cover and a somewhat tossed off title (what the hell were they thinking?)

But, on the plus side: the song selection, with some deep cuts, is great, the band is on form (Yvonne Elliman is terrific on Presence Of The Lord - she steals it!) and old Clapper doesn't disappoint in the vocal department. 

On balance then - a three star effort.

Where do they all belong? In the blues rock section with Cream, Jack Bruce et al.

Everything's all right (Billy Preston) (LP 542 - 543)

Billy Preston That's The Way God Planned It (Vinyl and CD, Apple Records, 1969) ***** 

Billy Preston Encouraging Words (Vinyl, Apple Records, 1970) ***** 

Genre: Apple Records

Places I remember: Marbecks Records, Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: That's The Way God Planned It (album version with George and Billy trading licks is the greatest!)

Gear costume: My Sweet Lord (on Encouraging Words). Billy recorded this before George and the strictly Christian approach works well.

Active compensatory factors: I have had these albums for about 45 years or so and they sound as fresh as they did back then.

For me TTWGPI shades Encouraging Words because of its pure joy but both are classics. It is incredibly hard to listen to these albums without breaking out in big grins continually. There are so many highlights.

Maybe Encouraging Words is less exuberant but it's also a joy to listen to and I think George deserves a lot of credit for this. Both albums are perfectly produced - clearly bringing out Billy's humility and sincerity. Bravo George! 

Where do they all belong? That's it for Billy on Apple Records. Next up is Ravi Shankar in the CD department.

Well all right (Buddy Holly) (LP 536)

Blind Faith Blind Faith (Vinyl, RSO, 1969) **** 

Genre: British pop/rock 

Places I remember: JB Hi-Fi Palmerston North. It's taken me a long time to buy a copy of this classic album. 50 years in fact! I'm not too sure why. Anyhow, this is a reissue on prime vinyl and it's pretty amazing in its quality. So - worth the wait!

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Presence Of The Lord

Gear costume: Well All Right

Active compensatory factors: Their only album with the front cover that has had a lot of press in itself, because even in 1969, and more obviously in 2021, it's wildly inappropriate. However the back cover is also very much of its time - all four superstar members are holding cigarettes!! Shock horror!

The music? Well that's actually pretty damn good still! Of course it is - this is Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton we're talking about! Even messed up on various drugs, including heroin, they can out play nearly everyone else on the planet.

That's shocking to realise!

Where do they all belong? One album is all they produced before flaming out, but it's a corker. Still.

Running on faith (Eric Clapton) (LP 507)

Eric Clapton Journeyman (CD, Reprise, 1989) *** 

Genre: Blues 

Places I remember: Another CD inherited from Lindsay Hope

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Bad Love

Gear costume: Running On Faith, Run So Far

Active compensatory factors: Widely acknowledged as a return to form at the time, Journeyman has a lot of good songs. Quite a few of the tracks ended up on the Unplugged setlist - which is a good indication of quality.

Note of caution though: there's a whiff of the lingering eighties production values throughout, with the drums and synth sounds. Shudder!

Beatles completists please also note: George Harrison appears on one track - Run So Far, playing some trademark guitar and doing some harmony vocals.

Where do they all belong? And that's it for Eric on CD in my collection.  

There's always work (John Mayall) (LP 407-408)

John Mayall with Eric Clapton Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (Vinyl, Lillith Records 1966, this version 2008) *****
John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers A Hard Road (Vinyl, Lillith Records 1967, this version 2011) *****

Genre: Blues 

Places I remember: The Warehouse (Hastings NZ)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Steppin' Out, It Ain't Right (Beano album)




Gear costume:  Dust My Blues (A Hard Road)



Active compensatory factors: The Bluesbreakers albums are legendary artifacts - the first one, also known as the Beano album, was the only one to feature a young guitar slinger named Eric Clapton, and the second one was the first to feature Peter Green.

Phew - some heavy dudes! What I love about them is that they are so different stylistically but both so brilliant. 

After Beano, Clapton bailed out to join Baker and Bruce in Cream. It was definitely a logical progression for him.

The Beano album is a fine one and the pinnacle of his pre Cream days, but the Bluesbreakers didn't suffer at all from his departure. A Hard Road is a completely new sound thanks to Peter Green's exceptional guitar playing, and great in its own way.

Where do they all belong? Basically, this was the start of Mayall's long and extremely distinguished career. And he's still going strong - his latest album came out last year!

Hoochie Coochie Man (Willie Dixon) (LP 267)

Eric Clapton From The Cradle (CD - Reprise Records, 1994) ****

Genre: Blues  

Places I remember: Record store in Salisbury. Bought a few weeks ago while on holiday there. 

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Hoochie Coochie Man




Gear costume: Third Degree/ Reconsider Baby/ Driftin'

Active compensatory factors: I owned this a few years ago and in a rash moment of madness, I flicked it off. I know it was rash and mad because I've gone to my CD racks a few times to find it and it ain't there! Doh!!

While on holiday recently, in Salisbury before school started, I saw a copy, cheap, in a second hand record shop. Bam! Right there.

It's as good as I remember it, too. Slowhand returned to the blues for this outing and it's all the better for having a cohesive focus on that art form to which he's so adept. 

Where do they all belong? Good companion piece to the giant slaying Unplugged album.

I'm so glad (Cream) (LP 220 - 226)

Creme de la Cream vinyl box set (1980)

Cream Fresh Cream (Vinyl - RSO, 1966) ***
Cream Disraeli Gears (Vinyl - Polydor, 1967) *****
Cream Wheels Of Fire: In the studio (Vinyl - RSO, 1968) **
Cream Wheels Of Fire: Live at the Fillmore (Vinyl - RSO, 1968) ***
Cream Goodbye Cream (Vinyl - RSO, 1969) ****
Cream Live Cream (Vinyl - RSO, 1970) ***
Cream Live Cream Volume II (Vinyl - Polydor, 1972) ****

Genre: Blues (a stretch, I know, but it keeps all the Clapton material roughly in one place)  

Places I remember: Roger Marbeck's Cannongate St house, early eighties.  

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Sunshine Of Your Love (Disraeli Gears), Crossroads (Live)




Gear costume: Badge (Goodbye), Strange Brew (Disraeli Gears) 


Active compensatory factors: Welcome to the longest Goo Goo entry for ages. That's because I'm tracking through the contents of my Creme De La Cream vinyl box set.

But first: some context.

It all started with I'm So Glad on an el cheapo knock off Cream compilation album (called Swlabr) on Polydor's el cheapo knock off Karussell label, bought from a supermarket back at the dawn of time. 

I'm So Glad, as featured on that album in long/live form, hooked me. Forever.

Fast forward to 1980 and I'm helping Roger Marbeck dig out wet clay from under his house. As a thank uou, Roger gives me this box set: all the studio and live albums together, along with Extra Cream (a bonus 12 inch single). He's a great guy is our Roger!

In a four year whirlwind of activity, the Cream super group juggernaut conquered the world and then flamed out. 

Here's everything they recorded!

Things began with Fresh and my copy's crazy stereo separation (Ginger and the bass on the right, Eric and vocals on the left) is the first bizarre aspect of note (it was also released on mono but quickly deleted - shame coz it's probably the better way to hear this).

Maybe it's done to showcase the three master musicians' individual genius and Eric's guitar pyrotechnics are, indeed, mind blowing, but it sounds weird and on the tinny side at times (especially on Four Until Late).

Highlights:  Spoonful still sounds remarkable, Rollin' and Tumblin' is an extraordinary firestorm thanks to Bruce's gob iron and vocals (my mother always hated this song!), and I'm So Glad retains its, erm, freshness.

Disraeli Gears is by far the best of the two studio albums (double album Wheels Of Fire and Goodbye are mixtures of live and studio tracks), even though it includes the weak Blue Condition and bizarre Mother's Lament to end each side.

Highlights aplenty: apart from the amazing riff at the heart of Sunshine Of Your Love, take your pick from Strange Brew, Tales Of Brave Ulysses (Clapton on spectacular wah wah) or SWLABR, or We're Going Wrong or Take It Back and Dance The Night Away is a psychedelic musical representation of the cover all on its own.

Third offering was the double Wheels Of Fire - one studio album and one live (it was released as a double at the time but the Creme de la Cream set presents them as the two individual albums that were later released).

It's my least favourite Cream album. The studio sides are patchy and the live tracks bloated.

Highlights: Crossroads is, of course, a highlight of Clapton's entire career and Traintime on the live album is worth your time (still can't get through all of Spoonful or Toad without getting distracted). Studio album highlights are even less plentiful - White Room is barking mad and shouldn't work but somehow does;  and Born Under a Bad Sign is energetic.

As  a final statement (the remaining two live albums come from roughly the same source as those that appear on Wheels Of Fire), Goodbye Cream is a doozy!

Highlights: That brilliant version of I'm So Glad that I heard first on the Karussell album is here (the sound of three great musicians kicking the shit out of the blues), the best version of Politician (great guitar by Slowhand), and Badge with George Harrison on rhythm guitar. 

The two live albums are enjoyable without being essential. Curiously, even though it seems a cash in two years after the first collection, Volume II is much the better album thanks to the greater brevity and variety 0n show.

Rather than a full concert, we get individual tracks - never my favourite approach, as you know.

Live Cream highlights: A Lawdy Mama that sounds like Strange Brew, an epic Sweet Wine that takes in some interesting side roads and a less frenetic but worthy Rollin' and Tumblin'. 

Live Cream Volume II highlights: muscular versions of Deserted Cities of the Heart, White Room, Politician, and Hideaway. The version of Sunshine Of Your Love ain't too shabby either!!

Where do they all belong? More Clapton related material when we roll around to the CD collection again - specifically Journeyman.