Tag Archives: Eric Clapton

George Harrison: Wonderwall Music

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On November 1, 1968, “Apple” label released “Wonderwall Music”, the debut George Harrison studio album. It was recorded November 1967 – February 1968, at “EMI” and “De Lane Lea” in London, “His Master’s Voice” in Bombay, and was produced by George Harrison. The album was soundtrack to the 1968 film “Wonderwall”, directed by Joe Massot, it was the first solo album by a member of The Beatles, and the first album issued on the band’s Apple record label.

Personnel:

  • George Harrison – piano, mellotron, acoustic and electric guitars, tape loops, arrangements
  • Colin Manley – acoustic and electric guitars, steel guitar
  • Eric Clapton – electric guitar
  • John Barham – piano, flugelhorn, harmonium, orchestral arrangement
  • Tony Ashton – tack piano, organ, Mellotron, piano, harmonium
  • Tommy Reilly – harmonica
  • Big Jim Sullivan – bass
  • Philip Rogers – bass guitar
  • Roy Dyke – drums
  • Ringo Starr – drums
  • Aashish Khan – sarod
  • Mahapurush Misra – tabla, pakhavaj
  • Sharad Kumar – shehnai
  • Hanuman Jadev – shehnai
  • Shambhu Das – sitar
  • Indranil Bhattacharya – sitar
  • Shankar Ghosh – table
  • Chandrashekhar Naringrekar – surbahar
  • Shivkumar Sharma – santoor
  • S.R. Kenkare – bansuri
  • Vinayak Vora – tar shehnai
  • Rijram Desad – harmonium, tabla tarang

Track listing:

All tracks by George Harrison, except where noted.

  1. Microbes
  2. Red Lady Too
  3. Tabla and Pakavaj
  4. In the Park
  5. Drilling a Home
  6. Guru Vandana
  7. Greasy Legs
  8. Ski-ing
  9. Gat Kirwani
  10. Dream Scene
  11. Party Seacombe
  12. Love Scene
  13. Crying
  14. Cowboy Music
  15. Fantasy Sequins
  16. On the Bed
  17. Glass Box
  18. Wonderwall to Be Here
  19. Singing Om

Bobby Whitlock

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On August 10, 2025, Robert Stanley “Bobby” Whitlock died aged 77. He was musician (keyboards, guitar), vocalist and songwriter, best known as member of Derek and the Dominos (co-founder with Eric Clapton). Whitlock was known as the first white musician signed to Stax Records. He recorded and performed with many artists, including George Harrison, Delaney & Bonnie, Eric Clapton, Doris Troy, John Simon, Manassas and Dr. John. As leader he released 14 albums.

Michael Nesmith: Nevada Fighter

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In May 1971, “RCA Victor” label released “Nevada Fighter”, the third Michael Nesmith album. It was recorded October 1970 – January 1971, and was produced by Michael Nesmith.

Personnel:

The First National Band:

  • Michael Nesmith – vocals, guitar
  • Red Rhodes – pedal steel guitar
  • John London – bass guitar
  • John Ware – drums
  • Al Casey – guitar
  • James Burton – guitar
  • Glen Hardin – keyboards
  • Michael Cohen – keyboards
  • Joe Osborn – bass guitar
  • Max Bennett – bass guitar
  • Ron Tutt – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Nesmith, except where noted.

  1. Grand Ennui
  2. Propinquity (I’ve Just Begun to Care)
  3. Here I Am
  4. Only Bound
  5. Nevada Fighter
  6. Texas Morning – Mike Murphy, Boomer Castleman
  7. Tumbling Tumbleweeds – Bob Nolan
  8. I Looked Away – Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock
  9. Rainmaker – Harry Nilsson, Bill Martin
  10. René – Red Rhodes

Cream: Live Cream

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In April 1970, “Atco” label released “Live Cream”, the first Cream live album. It comprises one studio track “Lawdy Mama” recorded in May 1967, and four live tracks recorded in March 1968. It was recorded at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, “Fillmore West” and “Winterland” in San Francisco, and was produced by Ahmet Ertegun, Felix Pappalardi and Robert Stigwood.

Personnel:

  • Eric Clapton – vocals, guitar
  • Jack Bruce – vocals, bass, harmonica
  • Ginger Baker – vocals, drums
  • Adrian Barber – recording, mixing
  • Tom Dowd – recording
  • Bill Halverson – recording
  • Stephen Paley – photography

Track listing:

  1. N.S.U. – Jack Bruce
  2. Sleepy Time – Jack Bruce, Janet Godfrey
  3. Lawdy Mama – traditional, arranged by Eric Clapton
  4. Sweet Wine – Ginger Baker, Janet Godfrey
  5. Rollin’ and Tumblin’ – Hambone Willie Newbern

Taj Mahal: Phantom Blues

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On February 27, 1996, “Private Music” label released “Phantom Blues”, the 20th Taj Mahal album. It was recorded in May 1995, at “Sound City Studios” in Van Nuys, California, and was produced by John Porter.

Personnel:

  • Taj Mahal – lead vocals, dobro, harmonica
  • Bonnie Raitt – additional vocal
  • Dean Parks – lead guitar
  • Eric Clapton – lead guitar
  • Joe McGrath, John Parks, Johnny Lee Schell – guitar
  • Mike Campbell – 12-string guitar
  • John Porter – lead, acoustic and slide guitar
  • Jon Cleary – guitar, piano, Wurlitzer, clarinet
  • Jon Brion – guitar, chamberlin
  • Mick Weaver – organ
  • David Hidalgo – accordion
  • James “Hutch” Hutchinson – bass guitar
  • Larry Fulcher – bass guitar
  • Tony Braunagel – drums, percussion
  • Myric “Freeze” Guillory – rubboard
  • Bernard “Dr. B.” Anderson, Joe Sublett – tenor saxophone
  • Darrell Leonard – trumpet, trombone
  • Alfie Silas Durio, Billie Barnum, Sir Harry Bowens, Regina Taylor, Sweat Pea Atkinson, Terrence Forsythe – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Lovin’ in My Baby’s Eyes – Taj Mahal
  2. Cheatin’ On You – Jon Cleary
  3. The Hustle Is On – H.E. Owens
  4. Here in the Dark – Bernard Anders
  5. Fanning the Flames – Jon Cleary
  6. I Need Your Loving – Clarence Lewis, Don Gardner, James McDougal, Morris Levy
  7. Ooh Poo Pah Doo – Jessie Hill
  8. Lonely Avenue – Doc Pomus
  9. Don’t Tell Me – Pat McLaughlin
  10. What Am I Living For? – Art Harris, Fred Jay
  11. We’re Gonna Make It – Billy Davis, Carl William Smith, Gene Barge, Raynard Miner
  12. Let the Four Winds Blow – Dave Bartholomew, Antoine “Fats” Domino
  13. (You’ve Got to) Love Her with a Feeling – Freddie King, Sonny Thompson

Stephen Stills: Same

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On November 16, 1970, “Atlantic” label released the self-titled, debut Stephen Stills studio album. It was recorded January – July 1970, at “Island Studios” in London, “The Record Plant” and “Wally Heider” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Stephen Stills and Bill Halverson. In 1974, “New Musical Express” magazine ranked it at number 70 on its list of “The Best Albums of All Time.

Personnel:

  • Stephen Stills – vocals, guitars, bass, piano, organ, steelpan, percussion; horn and string arrangements
  • Jimi Hendrix – electric guitar
  • Eric Clapton – electric guitar
  • Booker T. Jones – organ, backing vocal
  • Calvin “Fuzzy” Samuel – bass
  • Conrad Isidore – drums
  • John Barbata – drums
  • Ringo Starr – drums
  • Dallas Taylor – drums
  • Jeff Whittaker – congas
  • Sidney George – flute, alto saxophone
  • Rita Coolidge, David Crosby, Priscilla Jones, John Sebastian – backing vocals
  • Cass Elliot, Claudia Lennear – backing vocals
  • Graham Nash – backing vocals
  • Judith Powell, Larry Steele, Liza Strike, Tony Wilson – backing vocals
  • Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals
  • Arif Mardin – string arrangements
  • Andy Johns – engineer
  • Gary Burden – art direction, back cover photography
  • Henry Diltz – front cover photography
  • Charles John Quarto – sleeve poem

Track listing:

All tracks by Stephen Stills.

  1. Love the One You’re With
  2. Do for the Others
  3. Church (Part of Someone)
  4. Old Times Good Times
  5. Go Back Home
  6. Sit Yourself Down
  7. To a Flame
  8. Black Queen
  9. Cherokee
  10. We Are Not Helpless

B. B. King: B. B. King & Friends 80

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On September 13, 2005, “Geffen” label released “B. B. King & Friends: 80”, the forty-first B.B. King album. It was recorded in 2005, at “Avatar Studios” and “Right Track Recording” in New York City, “Caesar’s Palace Showroom” in Las Vegas, Nevada, “Conway Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, “O’Henry Studios” in Burbank, California, “Ocean Way Recording” and “Olympic Studios” in London. At the 48th “Annual Grammy Awards”, “B. B. King & Friends: 80” won “Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album”.

Personnel:

  • B. B. King – vocals, guitar
  • Van Morrison – vocals, harmonica
  • Billy F Gibbons – vocals, guitar
  • John Mayer – vocals, guitar
  • Glenn Frey – vocals, guitar
  • Eric Clapton – guitar
  • Clem Clempson – guitar
  • Mark Knopfler – guitar
  • Davey Johnstone – guitar
  • Larry Campbell – guitar
  • Dean Parks – rhythm guitar
  • Elton John – vocals, piano
  • Chris Stainton – keyboards
  • Brian Mitchell – keyboards
  • Guy Babylon – keyboards
  • Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, Hammond organ
  • Luke Smith – Hammond organ
  • Sheryl Crow – vocals
  • Bob Birch – bass guitar
  • Leland Sklar – bass guitar
  • T-Bone Wolk – bass guitar
  • Yolanda Charles – bass guitar
  • Russ Kunkel – drums
  • Billy Ward – drums
  • Ian Thomas – drums
  • Nigel Olsson – drums
  • John Mahon – percussion
  • Brandon Fields – saxophone
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trumpet
  • Gary Grant – trumpet
  • Nathaniel Kunkel – shaker

Track listing:

  1. Early in the Morning – Dallas Bartley, Louis Jordan, Leo Hickman
  2. Tired of Your Jive – Janet Despenza, Johnny Pate
  3. The Thrill is Gone – Roy Hawkins, Rick Darnell
  4. Need Your Love So Bad – Little Willie John, Mertis John Jr.
  5. Ain’t Nobody Home – Jerry Ragovou
  6. Hummingbird – Leon Russell
  7. All Over Again – Carl B. Adams
  8. Drivin’ Wheel – Roosevelt Sykes
  9. There Must Be a Better World Somewhere – Doc Pomus, Mac Rebennack
  10. Never Make Your Move Too Soon – Stix Hooper, Will Jennings
  11. Funny How Time Slips Away – Willie Nelson
  12. Rock This House – James A. Lane

Billy Preston: Encouraging Words

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On September 11, 1970, “Apple” label released “Encouraging Words”, the fifth Billy Preston studio album. It was recorded February – December 1969 – April 1970, at “trident Studios” and “Olympic Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by George Harrison and Billy Preston.

Personnel:

  • Billy Preston – lead and backing vocals, organ, piano, electric piano, harmonica, backing vocals
  • George Harrison – electric guitar, Moog synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Eric Clapton – electric guitar
  • Delaney Bramlett – electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Klaus Voormann – bass guitar
  • Carl Radle – bass guitar
  • Jim Gordon – drums
  • Ringo Starr – drums
  • Bobby Keys – saxophones
  • Jim Price – trumpet, trombone, horn arrangements
  • The Edwin Hawkins Singers – backing vocals
  • Members of the Temptations’ tour band – electric guitar, bass guitar, drums
  • Members of Sam & Dave’s tour band – bass guitar, drums
  • Richard Polak – photography

Track listing:                                                                                                            

All tracks by Billy Preston, except where noted.

  1. Right Now
  2. Little Girl
  3. Use What You Got
  4. My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
  5. Let the Music Play – Billy Preston, Joe Greene, Jesse Kirkland
  6. The Same Thing Again – Billy Preston, James Herndon
  7. I’ve Got a Feeling – John Lennon and Paul McCartney
  8. Sing One for the Lord – George Harrison, Billy Preston
  9. When You Are Mine
  10. I Don’t Want You to Pretend
  11. Encouraging Words
  12. All Things Must Pass – George Harrison
  13. You’ve Been Acting Strange – Ronnie Lee Williams

John Mayall

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On July 22, 2024, John Mayall died aged 90. He was musician (keyboards, harmonica, guitar), singer, songwriter and producer. In the 1960s, he formed John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, a band that has counted among its members some of the most famous blues and blues rock musicians, including Sammy Prosser, Davey Graham, John Gilbey, Ricky Brown, Pete Burford, Sam Stone, Brian Myall, Keith Robertson, Bernie Watson, John McVie, Peter Ward, Martin Hart, Roger Dean, Hughie Flint, Eric Clapton, John Weider, John Slaughter, Geoff Krivit, Peter Green, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Aynsley Dunbar, Micky Waller, Mick Fleetwood, Terry Edmonds, Keef Hartley, Chris Mercer, Rip Kant, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Paul Williams, Keith Tillman, Henry Lowther,  Andy Fraser, Tony Reeves and Jon Hiseman. John Mayall was referred to as the “Godfather of the British Blues”, and the “Pioneer of the British Blues”, with career that spanned nearly seven decades, remaining an active musician until his death. He released seventy albums (studio and live).

David Sanborn

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On May 12, 2024, David William Sanborn died aged 78. He was musician (alto saxophone, piano), one of the most highly regarded session musicians. He recorded and performed with some of the best-known artist of the modern music including Albert King, Little Milton, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Bryan Ferry, Michael Stanley, Eric Clapton, Bobby Charles, Cat Stevens, Roger Daltrey, Paul Simon, Jaco Pastorius, the Brecker Brothers, Michael Franks, Kenny Loggins, Casiopea, Players Association, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Tommy Bolin, Bob James, Pure Prairie League, Kenny G, Loudon Wainwright III, George Benson, Joe Beck, Donny Hathaway, Elton John, Gil Evans, Carly Simon, Guru, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Kenny Garrett, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, Ween, the Eagles, Grateful Dead, Nena, Hikaru Utada, The Rolling Stones, Ian Hunter, and Toto. As leader, Sanborn released 25 albums.