Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs: 40th Anniversay Guest Post

I cannot think of anyone better (or more qualified!) to write a Guest Post on this blog for the album, "Layla and other Assorted Love Songs," than my very good pal Mike D.  Here is Mike's post:
    In the realm of classic rock vinyl, the achingly personal release by Derek and the Dominos (aka Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon, Carl Radle and special guest Duane Allman) stands in the first rank. From beginning to end, the 14 tracks are a hallmark of blazing guitar, solid songcraft, intense vocals and a rock steady rhythm section.  Recorded during late 1970 at the famous Criteria Studios in Miami, with ace engineers and with top producer Tom Dowd, the original 33 1/3 album was a record that was also a private examination of Clapton's (at the time) unrequited love for the beautiful (and married) Patti Harrison aka Layla. The songs mix American blues and rock sensibilities with Clapton's own stellar British interpretations of those music genres via his time in Cream, the Yardbirds and John Mayall's Blue Breakers. Given the top 6-string reputation of guest Duane Allman and the admiration of the two ace axe-men for each others talent, the guitar nirvana part of "Layla" is guaranteed in splendid manner for all.  This is also a beautifully recorded and engineered vinyl album in it's original ATCO 33 1/3 form, a release which actually still sounds better and with more aural impact in many ways than several later editions (vinyl and CD), including the re-mixed 20th Anniversary triple box set CD. A new 40th anniversary CD set may finally give digital listeners a more true taste of this stunning record.  As a final thought, this is one record that both can be listened to, in order, start to finish to appreciate the full sweep of the emotional and musical coherence of Eric and the band ......... or, one can easily pick out any song (there really is no filler on this classic recording) and listen to a great rock/blues song played intensely by real masters of the form.  With this vinyl recording, it's easy to simply say, "Listen and enjoy !"

Thanks Mike!  Coming from you - this is indeed high praise.  Below is the inner gatefold photo.

This blooger especially likes the song called "Anyday" - the 2nd song on side two.

John Martyn - guest post: Matthew Robertson

John Martyn - guest post by Matthew Robertson.   As the resident John Martyn afficionado from 403 Broadway days, I can understand why Curtis asked me to review this record. And as a point-of-entry for the uninitiated, this album serves as a logical if ultimately unsatisfying sample of John Martyn’s unique gifts.  Cameos by Phil Collins and Eric Clapton lend the album star power and a striving-for-commerial-success glossiness.  It is exactly this overwrought studio ministration, courtesy of producer Phil Collins that robs John’s voice of its raw power.  Still, I won’t discourage you from giving this album a listen.  Nobody ever growled, whispered or pleaded more convincingly than John Martyn, who managed to avoid both easy categorization and the popularity his enormous talent warranted during a long career.  You will get a taste of that.  Hungry for more? Give Grace and Danger a listen, considered by many to be John’s masterpiece.  Some people are crazy about this album.  Released in 1980 and featuring a more restrained assist by Phil Collins, the back story is that John was in the process of a painful divorce during the making of this album, as was Collins. Polished but never to the point of slick, I predict this album will make you a true believer. In fact, I guarantee it.   Now you’re ready for the main course.  Pour yourself a tall scotch and settle in to enjoy Solid Air, which captures the essence of John’s earlier groundbreaking work.  How can something so melancholy be so achingly beautiful?  This is the artist at the height of his powers, redefining folk music, or British acoustic blues, or whatever the hell he is supposed to be playing.   Sadly John is no longer with us. I like to picture him in a grungy pub somewhere with Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley, making a beautiful racket.

Thanks Matt...

Eddie Money - Playin' for Keeps

Eddie Money - Playin' for Keeps.  I think Eddie Money gets a bit of a bad rap (rep) in the talent department.  For my money (pun intended) he really did put out some great and memorable tunes besides his big hit Two Tickets to Paradise.  On this album - I am particularly fond of the song called Trinidad.  But I also really think he captured and emitted (if that is the correct term) a unique tone in the spectrum of over-produced 80's-style "corporate" rock (think Heart, Journey et al.) with a handful of songs such as - Walk on Water, Peace in Our Time, Looking Through the Eyes of a Child, I Wanna go Back, and Think I'm in Love.  And, as much as I hate mentioning CD's here - his greatest hits compilation CD that came out in October 1989 (it nicely capping that decade), I do find that disk in my car often and in one of the bays of six-disk CD player changer.  If he was at some 'fest in the area some summer - I would really try to see him.

Eric Clapton - August

Eric Clapton - August.  From May 1986 - this was an album that came out at the tail end of the Vinyl Era.  CD's first gained momentum in 1983, and by the time this record came out - most record stores had converted their catalogues and inventory to digital.  There are some interesting song co-writing credits here.  Like Robbie Robertson on the title track; Michael Jackson on "Behind the Mark,"  Stephen (On and On) Bishop on Holy Mother, and Marcella Detroit (f/k/a as Marcy Levy - think Slowhand album) on Walk Away.  And the great Lamont Dozier on two cuts, Run and Hung up on Your Love.  Mr. Dozier of course is/was part of the Rock and Roll HOF songwriting trio - inducted along with the Holland brothers into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.  Before embarking on his blues re-entry, this record I would enclude as the meat in the triptych sandwich of Eric's 3 records that span the mid- to late '80's - which were Phil Collins-influenced: 1985's Behind the Sun, this one - August, and the great Journeyman, from 1989.  Eric, I read in his booked, loved the songs by Texas songwriter Jerry Lynn Williams.  Jerry wrote the bookends Pretending and No Alibis, both from Journeyman, and three classics from Behind the Sun.  Sadly, Mr. Williams passed away in November of 2005.