The Wood Brothers "Shoofly Pie"

Dig this little number.  "Shoofly Pie" by The Wood Brothers.  Sizzling slide guitar and an insane groove!  Smokin'!  That's all that can be said about it.  Fun stuff!

Randy & Michael Brecker "Strap Hangin' "

Yours truly blogged the record this song is on, called "Some Skunk Funk" at an earlier date.  Well, here's the video of one of the best tracks on the whole album.  All of them are good.  But this one is noteworthy for it's groove.  The rhythm section sizzles and the horns blaze on "Strap Hangin' ".  Dig it!

Larry Carlton "Minute By Minute"

Two versions (studio and live) of Larry Carlton's brilliant instrumental cover of "Minute By Minute" originally written and recorded by the Doobie Brothers.  The electric version, with Carlton playing a Fender Telecaster is particularly enjoyable to listen to.  Short, but sweet.  The studio track is longer, with Carlton finger picking an acoustic guitar, and a solo for tenor saxophone, plus accents with a full horn section.

Larry Carlton & Robben Ford "Cold, Cold"

Check out this slow burning blues.  Robben Ford and Larry Carlton, "Cold, Cold".  Wow!

Jean Luc Ponty "Lost Forest"

Another beautiful composition by Jean Luc Ponty, master violinist.  This is "Lost Forest".  Enjoy.

George Harrison "Isn't It A Pity"

One of, if not my favorite George Harrison solo numbers.  "Isn't It A Pity".  Harrison is my favorite Beatle.  I wouldn't call myself a full on Beatle's fan, just a casual listener who has respect for their music.  But, I dig George Harrison's solo work, a lot, and his collaboration in the Traveling Wilbury's with Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Jim Keltner.

 

Carol Kaye "Slick Cat"

Bassist Carol Kaye playing the tune, "Slick Cat".  Dig this one, bassists, and music lovers alike.  This is an early example of what I like to call "uncut" funk.  Talk about a jam!

record collection revisited: Derek & The Dominos "Live @ The Fillmore"

After recording "Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs", Derek & The Dominoes embarked on a tour to support the record.  They were reduced to a quartet after Duane Allman's departure to fulfill touring and recording with the Allman Brothers Band, and after Allman's untimely death, like the Allman Brothers, Derek & The Dominoes also continued for a time.

This album, "Live at The Fillmore" was recorded in 1973 and shows a slightly more stripped down version of the quartet band which still has a lot of muscle to it's sound, especially in the vocal harmonies between Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock on keyboards.  Whitlock relies on piano through most of the album, while wailing on the B3 for a few numbers, too.  Although, Clapton's voice here, seems a little bit strained, probably for obvious reasons.  That doesn't necessarily detract from the fire of the performance by him, or his band mates, including the rhythm section of Carl Radle on bass, and Jim Gordon on drums.

By this time, The Dominoes sound, though muscular and surefooted, lacked the polish that was on the "Layla" record.  But that does not hamper the performance.  It puts it in a different realm, where they were becoming much more focused on jams and coherently playing, although in some cases, looking at Clapton's career at this point, maybe coherent is a seldom used term.  Still, the performance on the record, taken from the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, California, can be appreciated by diehard Clapton fans, and maybe, new listeners alike, especially to the Derek & The Dominoes records as a whole, before Clapton embarked fully on a solo career almost exclusively, with very few exceptions, from 1974 onwards.  

In addition to numbers (both originals and covers), associated with The Dominoes, Clapton does play a few songs from his 1970 self titled solo release, and from his short lived super group partnership with Steve Winwood in Blind Faith in 1969, during this set.  The Domino's cover of "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix is in here, along with Big Bill Broonzy's "Key To The Highway", "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" by Freddie King, and of course, Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" most famously covered with Cream, and on some of Clapton's recent solo tours including his 2006-2007 tour, and in his more recent shows between 2008 and 2010 partnering with Steve Winwood, revitalizing the idea they had set forth in Blind Faith, but never really were able to achieve.  

Disc 1

  

1. Got To Get Better In A Little While

2. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?

3. Key To The Highway

4. Blues Power Disc 1

5. Have You Ever Loved A Woman

Disc 2

1. Tell The Truth (Clapton plays some wicked slide guitar on the latter half of this number, honoring Duane Allman's contribution to the original recording)

2. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out

3. Roll It Over

4. Presence of the Lord (Blind Faith)

5. Little Wing

6. Let It Rain

7. Crossroads

Check out the live set if you so desire.  It's different than the studio album by a long way, but still satisfying to diehard Clapton and Derek & The Dominoes fans.