Let it Rain....

Here is a scan of my 45 RPM record from 1972.
(click on the picture if you want to see the detail)

I am sure I probably assaulted someones over-grown lawn in the delta of Mississippi with my Dad's 3.5 horse-power discount store push lawn mower to earn the money to buy this vinyl. Maybe that is why I still have it, to remind myself of how hard I worked back then to buy something I truly love to this day. It was probably a humid 99 or so degrees that day and earning a dollar was not so much fun for a young kid but I always thought of the music on the other end of the last strip of grass in the yard. This scan is my 45 record of "Let it Rain" as recorded by Eric Clapton. This one was produced and arranged by Delaney Bramlett. I just pulled it from an old yellowed case in my collection. I knew it was still there as I could still see the red Polydor label in my mind.

I guess by now you may have heard that Delaney Bramlett died on Saturday. http://delaneybramlett.com/
I remember buying this disc after hearing the song and falling in love with the music. Given I was in Mississippi at the time I thought it was very cool that a boy of the South was hanging with the likes of EC. I recently heard an interview with Eric and he made some comments about the very early 1970's. At the time, he wanted to be a side man instead of the lead guitar he had been playing in the band Cream. When he met Delaney and Bonnie he fell in love with the fact they were a true rhythm and blues band from Mississippi. He said he could finally just play the guitar without the worry of being the lead guitar. From the tone of this particular interview he really enjoyed this time of his career.

Delaney made his mark on the music world with everyone from Leon Russell to George Harrison...on and on...my personal thought is we just lost another musician from the South who did the country proud with his contribution to our generations sound. I will miss him as I already miss the others who have passed on and made their mark on what I like to listen to. Thanks Delaney and Bonnie. You will always rock.

LET IT RAIN

The rain is falling through the mist of sorrow that surrounded me.
The sun could never thaw away the bliss that lays around me.

Let it rain, let it rain,
Let your love rain down on me.
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let it rain, rain, rain.

Her life was like a desert flower burning in the sun.
Until I found the way to love, it's harder said than done.

Now I know the secret; there is nothing that I lack.
If I give my love to you, you'll surely give it back.

Johnny Winter at the Xmas Jam.

Johnny Winter on stage in Asheville. Warren introduced him as one of his guitar heros. I have been following his music for most of my life. http://www.johnnywinter.net/welcome/
Johnny's set opened with his tightly-knit band cranking out some instrumental licks. It was the classic blues introduction to allow the proper time for the star to appear. As Johnny walked out we all stood and thundered our approval. He walked very quickly to the stage and never said a word. He grabbed his guitar and tore into a blaze of guitar work. As I watched him play I thought of the times I have seen him in person - see my post from October 2004 , once even shaking his hand and helping him to his car after a show and I am thinking how cool it is to be seeing him all these years later. I can remember being in the fifth grade in Meridian, Mississippi listening to Johnny and Edgar on their albums. That was a few days ago.

Johnny's hands are perfect for the fretboard and he literally seems to just float through songs never even showing any effort to play anything. He never opens his eyes as he plays it seems but he is very much connected to what is happening.
As Johnny played his last song and walked off to the side of the stage shaking hands with some fans the crowd stood again and shook the room begging him for one more song. He came back and once again he let it roll...I never tire of seeing legends like this perform. Go Johnny Go.

The Allman Brothers Band....

There is no other and there will never be another.
http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/

Greg Allman

Greg Allman. http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/
Greg looked pretty good on stage. From what I heard it was a tough year for him health-wise. He was looking energetic back stage right before they went on. He sounded pretty good too. The band was great. I have seen the Allman Brothers perform all the way back to 1974. This version of the band is as good as any they have had.
For me the best moment of the ninety-plus minute set was when they went from "Mountain Jam" right into Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused." and then right back to "Mountain Jam." John Paul Jones slipped on to the stage with an electric bass in his hands. Of the almost ten hours of music I had seen this night this was a moment. I won't forget it. The O2 bottle next to the Hammond B3 Greg is sitting in front of reminds me to enjoy the moment. Not sure why it is there and I really don't want to ask.

Some of the Allman Brothers Band Guitars....

Some of the Allman Brothers Guitars are lined up on the side of the stage. I counted seven drum sets on movable risers at the back of the very large stage area. There was a ton of gear here...That is the late Allen Woody's father sitting on the front of the stage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Woody

Derek Trucks at the Xmas Jam.

One of my favorites.Derek Trucks. http://www.derektrucks.com/ Derek brought his wife Susan Tedeschi with him. http://www.susantedeschi.com/ He played some awesome slide. At one point he just really smoked a solo and I think I stood and clapped my hands for a solid minute. He just electrifies me with his guitar work.

Steve Earle!

Steve Earle. http://www.steveearle.com/
In this photo Steve is on stage with Mickey Raphael, Warren Haynes, and the guy from Joan Osborne's band who is very good on lead guitar. Someone please email me with his name. I have seen him play three times and I still don't know his name! Most of you will know Mickey from Willie Nelson's band. He is a very fine harp player and all around nice guy.
http://www.mickeyraphael.com/

The Del McCoury Band

Del McCoury and his band playing bluegrass at the xmas jam. http://www.delmccouryband.com/
This band is so cool because they are so traditional. No amplification on the instruments, only microphones. Rock, Blues, Bluegrass, heavy metal, this jam has it all and it works well. The crowd loved them! That's Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones on mandolin as well as Joan Osborne and Travis Tritt kicking in some vocal work. Very cool stuff.

Warren and John Paul Jones

Warren and from Led Zeppelin...John Paul Jones. John was all over the stage playing mandolin, bass, and keyboards on both nights. He played with many of the groups and really showcased his amazing musical talent. He is a wiz! It was awesome to see him play.
http://www.johnpauljones.com/
http://www.warrenhaynes.net/home.html

Joan Osborne at the Christmas Jam

Joan Osborne on stage at the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam XX. http://www.joanosborne.com/site.php
http://www.xmasjam.com/
I make it no secret that I am a HUGE Joan Osborne fan. I first saw her at the Hard Rock in the French Quarter in New Orleans. I wish could remember what year that was but I just can't put my finger on the date. It has been a few years. She blew me away. I stood in the front row of that place watching her tear up some vocals on her original material.
I remember being on my feet for several hours waiting for the show and the crowd in that place. It was sold out and very hot.
At the Christmas Jam Joan was not rocking as hard as she used to. A bit more laid back but the vocals were still great. She was all over the stage singing with everyone and she did a set each night by herself...very cool.

The View of the Floor at the Xmas Jam.

A sold-out crowd on Friday night at the Jam. The fog is smoke...not too much of it tobacco if you know what I mean. It is almost like a flash back to the 1970's concert scene...The last beat of the Allman Brother's "One Way Out" ended at 4:20 AM. I was there until the end as was 99% of the rest of the crowd. What a show. What a night of awesome music.