Bobby Whitlock (album)
Bobby Whitlock | ||||
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Olympic Sound Studios, London | ||||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 33.34 | |||
Label | ABC-Dunhill (U.S.) CBS (UK) | |||
Producer | Andy Johns, Bobby Whitlock | |||
Bobby Whitlock chronology | ||||
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Bobby Whitlock is the debut solo album by American songwriter and rock musician Bobby Whitlock, released in early 1972. The album features all of the former members of Derek and the Dominos – Whitlock, Eric Clapton, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon – although never all together. Other contributors include George Harrison, the sessions for whose 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass had led to the formation of the Dominos; Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett; and ex-Manfred Mann bassist Klaus Voormann.
Recording
The album was produced by Whitlock and
On the original release, musician credits did not appear, although the record company's press release listed some of the album's main contributors.[5] When discussing the sessions in his 2010 autobiography, Whitlock lists Delaney Bramlett, rather than Voormann, as the bass player on some tracks.[6] Harrison played guitar on some songs,[7] out of gratitude for Whitlock's participation on All Things Must Pass.[8]
The opening song, "Where There's a Will", was a collaboration with Bonnie Bramlett that also featured the former
Release and reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [10] |
Christgau's Record Guide | C−[11] |
The album's release was delayed after Whitlock's original record company objected to its musical content.
On release,
In an April 2011 article on Derek and the Dominos, for The A.V. Club, Noel Murray described Whitlock as "a superior singer-songwriter" and labeled his debut album "an under-heralded classic".[15] Steve Kurutz of AllMusic views it as "a solid effort filled with southern gospel influences … and rootsy rockers", adding: "On the mournful ballad 'Dreams of a Hobo', Whitlock shows that all his good material was not spent on the Derek & the Dominoes project."[10]
In September 2013, the album was reissued along with Whitlock's follow-up, Raw Velvet (1972), on the two-disc set Where There's a Will, There's a Way: The ABC-Dunhill Recordings.[3]
Track listing
All songs by Bobby Whitlock, except where noted.
Side one
- "Where There's a Will" (Whitlock, Bonnie Bramlett) – 3:42
- "Song for Paula" – 4:17
- "A Game Called Life" – 4:10
- "Country Life" – 3:05
- "A Day Without Jesus" (Whitlock, Don Nix) – 3:20
Side two
- "Back in My Life Again" – 3:25
- "The Scenery Has Slowly Changed" – 3:46
- "I'd Rather Live the Straight Life" – 2:28
- "The Dreams of a Hobo" – 3:01
- "Back Home in England" – 2:47
Personnel
- Bobby Whitlock – vocals (all tracks), keyboards (1), acoustic guitar (2, 4, 8, 9), piano (2, 4, 5), organ (2, 5, 6), 12-string guitar (3, 7), electric guitar (10)
- George Harrison – guitar (1, 5, 6)
- Eric Clapton – guitar (1, 5–7)
- Klaus Voormann – bass (1–3, 5–7)
- Jim Gordon – drums (1–3, 5–7, 10), tabla (3, 7)
- Bobby Keys – saxophone (1, 6)
- Jim Price – trumpet (1), trombone (6)
- Delaney Bramlett – guitar (2), vocals (4, 5, 8)
- Chris Wood – flute (3)
- Jim Keltner – drums (4, 9)
- Carl Radle – bass (4, 8, 9)
- Jerry McGee – electric guitar (4, 8, 9)
- Bonnie Bramlett – vocals (4, 5, 8)
- Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra – strings (10), brass (10)
References
- ^ a b "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard. Billboard Publications. March 18, 1972. p. 46. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
- ^ a b c Reid, p. 145.
- ^ a b c d "Bobby Whitlock: First Two Albums Reissued", Where's Eric!, 15 September 2013 (retrieved 27 September 2013).
- ^ a b Phil Sutcliffe, "Derek and the Dominos: The Story of Layla", Mojo, May 2011; available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required; retrieved 27 September 2013).
- ^ Leng, p. 123fn.
- ^ Whitlock, pp. 237–38.
- ^ a b c Reid, p. 146.
- ^ Leng, p. 123.
- ^ a b c Whitlock, p. 237.
- ^ a b Steve Kurutz, "Bobby Whitlock Bobby Whitlock", AllMusic (retrieved 30 October 2014).
- ^ ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Reid, pp. 145–46.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, p. 183.
- ^ Clapton, pp. 143–45, 151.
- ^ Noel Murray, "Derek and the Dominos: When God walked among us", The A.V. Club, April 6, 2011 (retrieved October 30, 2014).
Sources
- Eric Clapton, Eric Clapton: The Autobiography, Random House (New York, NY, 2008; ISBN 978-0-09-950549-5).
- Simon Leng, While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Music of George Harrison, Hal Leonard (Milwaukee, WI, 2006; ISBN 1-4234-0609-5).
- The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, Fireside/Rolling Stone Press (New York, NY, 1995; ISBN 0-684-81044-1).
- Jan Reid, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos, Rodale (New York, NY, 2006; ISBN 978-1-59486-369-1).
- Bobby Whitlock with Marc Roberty, Bobby Whitlock: A Rock 'n' Roll Autobiography, McFarland (Jefferson, NC, 2010; ISBN 978-0-7864-6190-5).