Remembering Delaney & Bonnie and Friends
New Sounds March 30th, 2008I had first heard about Delaney & Bonnie in 1971 when they did a live radio broadcast for New York’s WABC-FM (which later became WPLJ). They were backed by an amazing group of players including Duane & Gregg Allman and King Curtis. Duane Allman’s slide guitar solo in “Out On The Open Road” remains one of my favorites to this day. By that time it seems like everyone who was anyone wanted to jam with what seemed to be the biggest rolling party on tour in rock and roll.
Eric Clapton had discovered D&B when they were the opening act for the 1969 Blind Faith tour and quickly became one of the “friends”. Clapton is quoted in his autobiography saying: “For me, going on with Blind Faith after Delaney and Bonnie was really, really tough, because I thought they were miles better than us.” This is also where Clapton met Carl Radle, Bobby Whitlock and Jim Gordon which later became Derick & The Dominoes. Duane Allman was also included on the Layla recordings and Clapton wanted Duane to join the band full time, but Allman had a little band of his own that he was more interested in playing with at the time.
George Harrison was so impressed with them that he offered Delaney and Bonnie a contract with the Beatles Apple Records label and also was how many of the same players wound up on Harrisons “All Things Must Pass” album. Harrison also credits Delaney with teaching him how to play slide guitar.
Other greats included with the “friends” were Leon Russell and Dave Mason. Many of D&B’s ex-members were recruited by Russell to join Joe Cocker’s band, participating on Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen 1970 recording sessions and North American tour. Mason took many of the same players on tour with him with Traffic and they played on the live “Welcome To The Canteen” recording.
Amazing how so many great players got linked up to make some of the greatest recordings in the history of rock though Delaney & Bonnie. D&B never did break though in a big commercial way and while many of their albums were well received by the music community, they never really sold very many. Still, I would have to say that they were one of the most important groups of the late 60’s and early 70’s.
I did a search on youtube and found this great video of “Coming Home” which features many of the “friends” that I’ve talked about. It looks as though they are having a great time on that rolling party. I wish I could have been there!
March 30th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Pretty cool! Good quality. Rare example of Harrison playing his Mystery Tour Strat.
They actually did have a hit with the live record, there was even a single on the radio; but they were probably all too messed up on drugs and whatnot to have taken business very seriously at the time. I mean, having one of the Beatles playing with you at the time was like being blessed by the Pope. Even a mediocre hit would have set them up for life.
For me, Clapton was never the same as a guitarist once he started focusing on singing. After Layla it was years before any of his playing had the passion of his Gibson years.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:02 am
As most guitar fanatics when you can sing and play it adds a whole new dimension as Kenny Wayne Shepard was just ridiculed for his singing on his last album if you would just LISTEN to how Clapton has grow over the year and the brilliance of Unplugged Layla Did you even bother to see hies latest Band with Derek Truck and Doyle Bramhall Jr not to mention his 3 nights with Steve Winwood Well maybe you will go to see Eric & Robert Randolf at the Hardrock in Ft Lauderdale or at Jones Beach or stay home stuck in the 60s and 70s Clapton is like a fine wine and just gets better with age Hope to see you all out there at the Beacon as well for 15 nights of Allman Brothers
March 31st, 2008 at 12:26 am
Yo Welby,
I heard the Beacon shows were cancelled this year. It seems that Greg is being treated for Hepatitis C. More info at: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/406940
April 1st, 2008 at 4:21 am
Scott – its beena million years man.
D&B always rocked really hard. And with Eric anc George, how could you go wrong.
I have only enjoyed a few of Clapton’s moments over the last 20 years or so. His albums have been inconsistant at best. But when he is on, he is really on. The Robert Johnson stuff was a real highlight for me. I hope he is on this summer – I have ticekts for thr PNC show.