Development of the British Blues and Rhythm

  --- show 38 ---   11-11-2015

Jack Bruce                                            1969-73

Eric Clapton solo album                        1970
Rory Gallagher                                     1971-74

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Today, we present Jack Bruce as pretty much just a member of the band, if that is even possible.  The opening set is with Tony Williams’ Lifetime, whose 1970 release Turn It Over, while the first with Bruce, was the band’s second album and also featured guitarist John McLaughlin, who had been Jack’s band mate in an early version of the Graham Bond ORGANization.  As I recall, the two were snorting drugs with Jimi Hendrix when McLaughlin told Jack that Tony Williams wanted him to join his American group, whose fourth member was organist Khalid Yusin (aka Larry Young), a former accompanist for the legendary saxman John Coltrane.  Drummer Williams had his bona fides as well, having just graduated from the Miles Davis Quintet two years prior followed by a stint with Eric Dolphy.  Because of these backgrounds, the Rock-Jazz Fusion LP was somewhat of a shock to many Jazz purists, causing the band to rely on more Rock-oriented venues to bolster a lackluster sales report.

Although Jack thoroughly enjoyed his experience in the band, heavy touring in both the U.S. and U.K. (encompassing the last nine months of 1970) took its toll and the group disbanded in 1971.  Williams and Yasin continued Lifetime adding other musicians, most notably bassist Ron Carter.  McLaughlin moved on to Miles Davis’ ensemble before creating the Mahavishnu Orchestra. 

Later in 1971, Bruce would put together the album Harmony Row (we played a few tracks from it already) as another endeavor under his own name and then went on to join members of Mountain as they formed the band (guitarist Leslie) West, Bruce & (drummer Corky) Laing.  Felix Pappalardi, who had been a major contributor to Cream’s recordings, had been the bass player with Mountain and now Jack was continuing with the rest of the group.  Although the talent should have produced something reminiscent of Cream the results are disappointing and I am led to understand this, Why Dontcha, is the better of two albums recorded before the band fell apart in 1973.

The last entry for Bruce is on Lou Reed’s 1973 Berlin album.  When I saw that the cast of players included, among some unfamiliar names, not only Jack but also drummer Aynsley Dunbar and Stevie Winwood playing organ and harmonium (whatever that is), I had to give it a try despite comments that it was a dark and disturbing album.  Yes, that is true.  The lyrics deal with Reed’s drug addiction and beating his girlfriend and, ultimately, her suicide.  But I find that the music is solid and the story deserves to be heard.  The musical structure may not be Blues, but …

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Unlike Bruce, Eric Clapton was ready to return to the limelight with his first release under his own name; indeed, not only as the artist credited but also the name of the album.  Last show we heard him joining Delaney and Bonnie on their European tour and it was this band that was the foundation as Clapton went into the studio – drummer Jim Gordon, bassist Carl Radle, and keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, all of whom would join him as the Dominoes later that year (and our next show).  Delaney also was supposed to engineer the mix but other commitments got in the way and Tom Dowd handled the original recordings, but when the opportunity arose he made his own remix and that is the version we are hearing today.  We close the set with a track Eric recorded for King Curtis, Teasin’.

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Well, we are getting our feet planted into the 70s and so many of the players who came to the forefront of the 60s music scene through the Blues are now exploring other avenues to express themselves, but we have a strong representation here by Rory Gallagher.  Indeed, these tracks taken from his 2CD set of BBC sessions are likely the Bluesiest of any of his LPs in my admittedly small collection.  Both of today’s sets came from in-studio sessions on the second disc (the first disc is all live recordings) and span from 1971 to 1974.  Gallagher is backed by bassist Gerry MacAvoy and keyboardist Lou Martin throughout while the drums are played by either Rod de’Ath (mostly) or Wilgar Campbell.

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Since it is still relatively new, I thought I’d mention that KKUP is now streaming on the internet and, while it is still in a developing stage, we have been putting out the word.  I’m not all of that good with high-tech stuff, but it seems pretty easy to access.  If you go to our website at KKUP.org you will see on the home page a strip of options immediately above the pictures of the musicians the next to the last option being LISTEN ONLINE.  By clicking this, it brings up a choice of desktop or mobile.  I can only speak for the desktop but after maybe a minute I was receiving a crystal clear feed.  As already mentioned, this is still a work in progress and we are currently limited to a finite number of listeners at any one time.  I mention this so you will be aware to turn off the application when you are not actually listening.  (I put the player in my favorites bar for the easiest of access.)  Now we can reach our listeners in Los Gatos and Palo Alto, even my family in Canada.  Let your friends elsewhere know they can now listen to your favorite station, and while they have the home page open they can check out our schedule.

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For the Last Time
It Takes Time
Crest of a Wave
Feel So Bad
Hoodoo Man
Tore Down
   Rory Gallagher

To Whom It May Concern - Them

Big Nick
Allah Be Praised
Right On
To Whom It May Concern - Us
   Tony Williams’ Lifetime

Slunky

Bad Boy
Blues Power
Blues in A
After Midnight
Bottle of Red Wine
Let It Rain
Comin’ Home
Teasin’ (King Curtis single)
   Eric Clapton

Why Dontcha

Shake Ma Thing (Rollin’ Jack)
Third Degree
Turn Me Over
   West, Bruce & Laing

Race the Breeze

Hands Off
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Daughter of the Everglades
They Don’t Make Them Like That Any More
   Rory Gallagher

Caroline Says I

How Do You Think It Feels
Oh, Jim
Caroline Says II
The Bed
Sad Song
   Lou Reed