The Sounds Ofblue
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Page 6 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014 MUSIC THE SOUNDS Eric Clapton “!e 1970’s Review” DVD OFBLUE MVD Entertainment Group www.ChromeDreams.co.uk !e late ‘70s saw a Clapton staying on By BOB PUTIGNANO the charts and (finally) marrying George Harrison’s ex-wife Pattie Boyd. Terry and From the same folks who brought you Long Way from Home,”) plus the classic others revealed how Clapton traded heroin Eric Clapton “!e 1960s Review,” follows cover of J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight.” for alcohol, consuming booze at an alarming Clapton’s musical journeys throughout Bobby Whitlock guides through rate. the seventies. Featuring new and archive Clapton’s Derek & !e Dominoes !e “extras” are mostly about Bobby interviews, rare performance footage, con- “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.” Whitlock, plus studio engineers Ron Albert tributions from Bonnie Bramlett, Bobby Overwhelmed with the spotlight Clapton and Howard Albert reflecting on the “Layla” Whitlock, !e Albert Brothers, George also toured with Delaney & Bonnie as a sessions, and producer Tom Dowd, these Terry, Willie Perkins, Bill Halverson, sideman, but when that group spun out segments are insightful. !e text/narra- Clapton biographer Marc Roberty, journal- Clapton began shopping new tunes with tive contributor’s biographies are useful and ist Anthony DeCurtis and others. organist Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle, and informative, but the “beyond DVD” portion !e first minutes of the film update drummer Jim Gordon at Criteria Studios is just a commercial for the UK based viewers with a synopsis of Clapton’s work in Miami. Engineers Ron and Howard Chromed Dreams. Regrettably there’s no in the sixties, honomg his chops in the Albert explain how Duane Allman joined booklet inside the packaging. Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers the sessions (thanks to producer extraordi- !e seventies depict Clapton’s restless, before achieving megastar status in Cream. naire Tom Dowd, Clapton met Duane at an evolving and constant churn of his musical We learn why the Cream super-group was Allman Brothers show) that resulted in the development. Just think about the ground he so successful but also why it was so short- monumental “Layla” sessions. covered during this (mostly) fruitful segment lived, Clapton was too bored to continue Other chapters “Dominoes Falling,” of his career. Even though near the end of reworking blues standards into psychedelic “Highest Mountain to Lowest Valley,” and the seventies Eric severs ties to American hits. Clapton unites with Steve Winwood “In Exile” chronicle the Dominoes’ dis- and Oklahoma bands, and reverts back to in a second super-group, which also featured solution and Clapton’s subsequent hiatus, playing with an all British band featuring the eccentric Baker on drums. Blind Faith (1971-74.) Concerned for his friend the Albert Lee and other UK greats. crashed after releasing only one LP. But Who’s Pete Townshend prodded Clapton You might be overwhelmed by the Clapton became friends with the husband- into playing a star-studded show at London’s film’s 151 minute running time, but should wife team of Delaney & Bonnie the R&B Rainbow !eater in January, 1973, with appreciate the album chronology and pains- soul band that opened for Blind Faith via the Townshend, Steve Winwood and Ronnie taking attention to detail. As an avid Clapton suggestion of George Harrison. Wood assisting. fan I found this DVD somewhat lengthy E.C. was captivated by Delaney 1974 a heroin-free Eric took to record- and wondered if it would have been prudent Bramlett’s singing and songwriting; he ing again at a rental house in Golden to offer this documentary in two parts. Part utilized Delaney’s production skills for Beach, Fl. “461 Ocean Boulevard” saw E.C. one as the early seventies, and another DVD Clapton’s solo debut for Atco Records. teaming with guitarist George Terry and covering Clapton’s later seventies. (!ere are several live video clips of Clapton backup singer Yvonne Elliman on several Note this film is not sanctioned by Eric sitting in with D&B.) Bonnie Bramlett blues covers. Johnny Otis’ (“Willie and !e Clapton. You can watch the trailer at: http:// kindly opines that Delaney’s guidance and Hand Jive,”) and the traditional “Motherless www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_ www.SoundsofBlue.com . Previously a senior at: [email protected]. voice lessons immeasurably impacted Eric. Children.” !e LP also uncovered Clapton’s embedded&v=fM614NQB3c8 contributing editor at BluesWax, Blues Revue, Clapton originals like “Easy Now” and “Let fondness for the reggae album (Bob Marley’s Bob Putignano has for fifteen years been pivotal and Goldmine magazines, and Music Editor It Rain,” and two collaborations with Leon “Burnin’”) that featured Eric’s popular to the continuing vision of WFDU (http:// of !e Westchester Guardian: http://www. Russell (“Blues Power,” “Lonesome and a rework of “I Shot the Sheriff.” wfdu.fm) with his Sounds of Blue radio show: WestchesterGuardian.com. Bob can be contacted MUSIC SCENE extension of marriage rights, the couple they live in. !at has just left the music – and harmonizing with her older sister. But Starnes and Shah seems no different in the face of the many Shilling for Dreamtown being their latest bringing her amateur interest to a profes- injustices that frustrate and perplex us Dania started out at a young age singing sional level had no relation to penning notes First Friends, then Musical Partners, Now Partners in Life all – simply doing what they can to get by along to the car radio and playing the piano. to a page like her cohort. “Oh wow, you can themselves. “We’re not activists, we’re just Drums then seemed like her musical desti- be up onstage, in a band, I was like – great,” By RICH MONETTI as the Indie guitar duo, Starnes and Shah. married,” says Zilpha, who married her nation until she took up the bass and realized she says. “!at was the attraction.” But it was the passing of landmark legisla- Lebanese born partner in 2013. Zilpha Starnes and Dania she wanted to write songs. Dania eventu- !e inspiration established, Starnes tion in New York that truly solidified their Abu-Shaheen of White !ey also aren’t at the point where ally graduated to the guitar, played in little rode it to a more formal education. “She has collaboration. Plains met once briefly young girls from Texas or the Middle high school bands, and after coming to the a background in musical theory,” says Dania, Gay marriage legalized, Texas born when they attended Sarah East are reaching out for advice, support states for college in 2000, played the acoustic “while I’m more self-taught.” Zilpha made light of her personal impetus. Lawrence College in and strength. “When we get that big,” says singer/songwriter coffeehouse circuit around As such, they put the differences to “I didn’t want us to do our taxes twice – once Bronxville. After Dania graduated in 2004, Dania, “we’ll let you know.” Sarah Lawrence. good use when other musicians come into we didn’t have to do that, I figured why not,” and needed a roommate, a friend suggested Of course, both are grateful that their A few years behind and absent any dis- the fold. “I can’t read music but luckily I have joked Zilpha. Zilpha to fill out the lease. !ey would families have been nothing but accepting, cernible twang, Zilpha’s strum also began at Zilpha who can translate my work into the Certainly pulling for a nationwide become friends and then musical partners and the same goes for the New York area the piano and included singing in the choir Continued on page 7.