Grateful Dead

Steve Winwood is one of the most underrated virtuosos of classic, but especially, British rock. His voice is just astounding 56 years ago when he sounded 50, and now when he's in his mid-70s. His keybord work is top notch, he's on hell of a bass player (Traffic was really lucky), and, in my opinion, he is by far a better guitar player than his bandmate in Blind Faith. I like a lot of things Clapton has done, but mainly through the involvement of others, such as loving Cream with Jack Bruce's awesome bass and Ginger Baker's insane drums; Derek and the Dominos because of Duane Allman, and his addition livened up sessions that had devolved into Clapton shooting up, and napping in the studio. But I've always rated him the third best of the Yardbirds legends. RIP to Jim Gordon. He and Carl Radle and Bobby Whitlock weren't just the Dominos, they had been the rhythm section for Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends when Clapton was playing with them (after George Harrison had a run with the band, and before Duane had a tenure of shows with them as well), and they were also used for most of All Things Must Pass. Pretty impressive. Also, it was Jim Gordon who wrote, and played the piano part for the coda of Layla, which just was gonna fade out rocking (originally it was going to be more like the unplugged version, but everyone including Tom Dowd hated it, and Duane took a John Lee Hooker lick and turned it into one of the greatest rock riffs of all time), but they heard the tape that Gordon had recorded during a night session where he wanted to put something down for a solo album. They convinced him to let them use it for an ending section to Layla, and a magical slide duet was born. A sad story in the end, but for a brief stretch, he was one of the biggest drummers in the world, and his recording legacy is pretty massive.

....deep cuts on XM radio played John Barleycorn Must Die on the way home from work today.
Sometimes I wish it wasn't a seven minute commute. But most of the time I'm glad it is.
Going home for lunch is awesome.

First four Black Sabbath albums
Motorhead another perfect day
Om advaitic songs
Megadeth so far so good...
Megadeth peace sells
GD 8 23 69
GD 6 22 69
Double dutch bus
Funkytown
Safety dance
Melvins lysol
Tom Tom Club genius of love

That's great, indoctrinated to Andy Griffith Show as I am, and knowing that episode well, I never noticed that lyrical echo! Wonder if Robert Hunter in his early 20s watched Andy Griffith? May have liked him because of What It Was Was Football, No Time For Sergeants, or A Face in the Crowd, which I could see as being more up Hunter's alley.

On a somewhat related note, I was actually thinking of learning the Matlock Theme this weekend. That bassline is pretty funky, especially later seasons where they play it a little slower, little funkier. But I also wanna learn the trombone part.

And on Cucamonga, I caught one with the Phil Lesh Quintet in 2001, had no clue what it was, but dug it. I miss that band; wish I had caught the Capitol shows the last couple years with them.

Had Welcome to the Canteen first which led to lots of Dave Mason. Only recently found a good copy of Barleycorn and still looking for a good used Low Spark without going on line. It's out there... waiting for me. Always liked 40,000 Headmen. Can't think of a Traffic tune I don't like. Need to dive deeper there.
Cheers and RIP Jim Gordon

One of my favorite tunes they never played. I am so glad Phil & Friends do it!!! A certain cover band finds it too difficult to play, along with many other jams ??.......Last night, I heard Opie Taylor say, "He has rings on his fingers and bells on his toes". Did Hunter/Garcia take this from Mr. Vebee?....or was it Mr. Bebee?..........the smoking lamp is lit, and my bracket is already busted.

The only Traffic album I am familiar with is their first, "Dear Mr Fantasy", from 1967, when Dave Mason was still with them. A great album - but I have always been under the impression they changed after that. A lot of British bands did, going from psychedelia into rock/ blues/soul/folk/jazz or progressive rock with indecent haste. They are like rare jewels, those early psych singles and albums.

agree, never saw the Dead do it and it's one of my fav's off of that Mars Hotel lp. I did catch furthur do a great rendition of Pride, it was done just like the lp and done quite well. Phil in phine voice. That was back in...10, 2010, still had the original line up with Jay Lane and Joe Russo on drums. Sunshine on vocals. I liked furthur, they did some great Dead tunes that had never been done by the band before, Silvio, off of Bob Dylan's lp Down in the Groove, penned by Bob and Mr. Robert Hunter, comes to mind.
Actually, my first Pink Floyd lp was Meddle, then Relics and wham, hooked. Saw Floyd several times, 73, 77, that tour without Waters (still a good one) in the 80's sometime. Then for me it was Roger, saw the Pro's and Con's of Hitchhiking tour, copped tickets day of show, walked right in place only half full. That was back in the day when a lot of people blamed Roger for Pink's demise. Then In 2001 In the Flesh tour, so good had to catch that tour twice back to back. Then Waters did the DSOTM tour in 05 or 07, memory is not what it used to be, and it never was that good, hence, notes, lots and lots of notes. Last time was when he released his new lp, we called it the 'hate stupid trump" tour. All excellent but the last one Roger starting to show his age. Like us all. Now he's on his Beginning of the Final Tour, Tour. Which will eventually lead to the Final Tour.

....the Talking Heads Stop Making Sense movie and is going to restore it in 4K for theatrical release, I'll buy a ticket!

Wow, I hadn’t heard about Jim Gordon, but then, he has been incarcerated for so long. Sad ending. I know Chris Hillman (the good looking dude sitting next to me in my avatar) mentioned him in his book, when they played together in that band Geffen put together. He said there were signs even back then in the mid-70s that Gordon had anger issues, which those around him took to be substance abuse, and because he was a physically imposing guy, he was often given a wide berth. A shame.

My last five are actually my last six - I’m working my way through the wonderful Rhino release “All Good Things”, covering Jerry’s five official studio albums, plus extras, and a bonus disc of amazing odds and ends. I forgot how good this box set was, and how really amazing his first release - “Garcia” - was. His Magnus Opus, really. Lots of gems in this box. I’m sure everyone on this site has it, and I’m not sure if it’s still available, but it was so worth buying. I missed out on the additional bonus disc at the time, though. Snooze, you lose