Page 6 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014

MUSIC THE SOUNDSEric Clapton “!e 1970’s Review” DVD Long Way from Home,”) plus MVD the classic Entertainment Group www.ChromeDreams.co.uk OFBLUEcover of J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight.” guides through !e late ‘70s saw a Clapton staying on From the same folks who brought you Clapton’s Derek & !e Dominoes “!e 1960sBy BOBReview,” PUTIGNANO follows the charts and (finally) marrying George “ and Other Assorted Love Songs.” Harrison’s ex-wife . Terry and Clapton’s musical journeys throughout Overwhelmed with the spotlight Clapton the seventies. Featuring new and archive others revealed how Clapton traded heroin also toured with Delaney & Bonnie as a for alcohol, consuming booze at an alarming interviews, rare performance footage, con- sideman, but when that group spun out tributions from Bonnie Bramlett, Bobby rate. Clapton began shopping new tunes with !e “extras” are mostly about Bobby Whitlock, !e Albert Brothers, George organist Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle, and Whitlock, plus studio engineers Ron Albert Terry, Willie Perkins, Bill Halverson, drummer at Criteria Studios and Howard Albert reflecting on the “Layla” Clapton biographer Marc Roberty, journal- in Miami. Engineers Ron and Howard sessions, and producer , these ist Anthony DeCurtis and others. Albert explain how joined segments are insightful. !e text/narra- !e first minutes of the film update the sessions (thanks to producer extraordi- tive contributor’s biographies are useful and viewers with a synopsis of Clapton’s work naire Tom Dowd, Clapton met Duane at an informative, but the “beyond DVD” portion in the sixties, honomg his chops in the Allman Brothers show) that resulted in the is just a commercial for the UK based Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers monumental “Layla” sessions. Chromed Dreams. Regrettably there’s no before achieving megastar status in Cream. Other chapters “Dominoes Falling,” We learn why the Cream super-group was booklet inside the packaging. “Highest Mountain to Lowest Valley,” and !e seventies depict Clapton’s restless, so successful but also why it was so short- “In Exile” chronicle the Dominoes’ dis- evolving and constant churn of his musical lived, Clapton was too bored to continue solution and Clapton’s subsequent hiatus, development. Just think about the ground he reworking blues standards into psychedelic (1971-74.) Concerned for his friend the covered during this (mostly) fruitful segment hits. Clapton unites with Steve Winwood Who’s Pete Townshend prodded Clapton of his career. Even though near the end of in a second super-group, which also featured into playing a star-studded show at London’s the seventies Eric severs ties to American the eccentric Baker on drums. Rainbow !eater in January, 1973, with and Oklahoma bands, and reverts back to crashed after releasing only one LP. But Townshend, Steve Winwood and Ronnie playing with an all British band featuring Clapton became friends with the husband- Wood assisting. wife team of Delaney & Bonnie the R&B Albert Lee and other UK greats. 1974 a heroin-free Eric took to record- soul band that opened for Blind Faith via the You might be overwhelmed by the ing again at a rental house in Golden suggestion of . film’s 151 minute running time, but should Beach, Fl. “461 Ocean Boulevard” saw E.C. E.C. was captivated by Delaney appreciate the album chronology and pains- teaming with guitarist George Terry and taking attention to detail. As an avid Clapton Bramlett’s singing and songwriting; he backup singer Yvonne Elliman on several fan I found this DVD somewhat lengthy utilized Delaney’s production skills for blues covers. Johnny Otis’ (“Willie and !e and wondered if it would have been prudent Clapton’s solo debut for . Hand Jive,”) and the traditional “Motherless to offer this documentary in two parts. Part (!ere are several live video clips of Clapton Children.” !e LP also uncovered Clapton’s one as the early seventies, and another DVD sitting in with D&B.) Bonnie Bramlett fondness for the reggae album (’s covering Clapton’s later seventies. kindly opines that Delaney’s guidance and “Burnin’”) that featured Eric’s popular voice lessons immeasurably impacted Eric. rework of “I Shot the Sheriff.” Note this film is not sanctioned by Eric Clapton originals like “Easy Now” and “Let Clapton. You can watch the trailer at: It Rain,” and two collaborations with (“Blues Power,” “Lonesome and a http:// www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_ www.SoundsofBlue.com . Previously a senior at: [email protected]. embedded&v=fM614NQB3c8 contributing editor at BluesWax, Blues Revue, Bob Putignano has for fifteen years been pivotal and Goldmine magazines, and Music Editor to the continuing vision of WFDU (http:// of !e Westchester Guardian: http://www. wfdu.fm) with his Sounds of Blue radio show: WestchesterGuardian.com. Bob can be contacted

MUSIC SCENE and harmonizing with her older sister. But they live in. !at has just left the music – bringing her amateur interest to a profes- extension of marriage rights, the couple Shilling for Dreamtown being their latest sional level had no relation to penning notes seems no different in the face of the many Dania started out at a young age singing to a page like her cohort. “Oh wow, you can Starnes and Shah injustices that frustrate and perplex us along to the car radio and playing the piano. be up onstage, in a band, I was like – great,” all – simply doing what they can to get by Drums then seemed like her musical desti- she says. “!at was the attraction.” themselves. “We’re not activists, we’re just First Friends, then Musical Partners, Now Partners in Life nation until she took up the bass and realized !e inspiration established, Starnes as the Indie duo, Starnes and Shah. married,” says Zilpha, who married her By RICH MONETTI she wanted to write songs. Dania eventu- rode it to a more formal education. “She has But it was the passing of landmark legisla- Lebanese born partner in 2013. ally graduated to the guitar, played in little a background in musical theory,” says Dania, tion in New York that truly solidified their Zilpha Starnes and Dania !ey also aren’t at the point where high school bands, and after coming to the “while I’m more self-taught.” Abu-Shaheen collaboration. young girls from Texas or the Middle of White states for college in 2000, played the acoustic As such, they put the differences to Plains met once briefly East are reaching out for advice, support singer/songwriter coffeehouse circuit around Gay marriage legalized, Texas born good use when other musicians come into when they attended Sarah and strength. “When we get that big,” says Sarah Lawrence. Zilpha made light of her personal impetus. the fold. “I can’t read music but luckily I have Lawrence College in Dania, “we’ll let you know.” A few years behind and absent any dis- “I didn’t want us to do our taxes twice – once Zilpha who can translate my work into the Bronxville. After Dania graduated in 2004, Of course, both are grateful that their we didn’t have to do that, I figured why not,” cernible twang, Zilpha’s strum also began at and needed a roommate, a friend suggested families have been nothing but accepting, joked Zilpha. the piano and included singing in the choir Zilpha to fill out the lease. !ey would and the same goes for the New York area Certainly pulling for a nationwide become friends and then musical partners Continued on page 7