Bobby Whitlock
Band members Related acts
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- Bobby Whitlock -- vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar
supporting musicians (1972) - Eric Clapton -- lead guitar - Keith Ellis -- bass - Jim Gordon -- drums, percussion - George Harrison -- lead guitar - Buddy Keyes -- sax - Don Ponder -- drums, percussion - Jim Price -- trumpet - Carl Radle -- bass - Rick Vito -- lead guitar
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- Derek and the Dominos - Bobby Whitlock and CoCo Carmel
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Bobby Whitlock Company: Dunhill Catalog: DSX
50131 Country/State: Memphis, Tennessee Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve Available: 2 Catalog ID: 2468 Price: $20.00
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One of rock's forgotten warriors ... I've been a big Bobby Whitlock fan since I discovered Delaney & Bonnie in my teens. He's a tremendously gifted singer, keyboardist (and guitar player) who deserves a much wider following.
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee Whitlock holds the distinction as the first white artist to be signed by Stax Records (actually the company's HIP subsidiary - and you thought it was Steve Cropper). Like Cropper whom became Whitlock's friend and mentor, Whitlock contributed keyboards and guitar to dozens of mid-1960s Stax sessions.
Whitlock's big break came in late 1968 when Delaney Bramlett spotted him playing at a Memphis club and asked him to join Delaney & Bonnie's touring band as their keyboard player. Relocating to Los Angeles, Delaney & Bonnie were tapped as the opening act for Blind Faith's 1969 American tour. That led to a friendship with Eric Clapton who briefly joined Delaney and Bonnie's touring band. Unfortunately the band subsequently broke up with most of the members signing up to support Joe Cocker on his Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour. Whitlock took a different route, heading to England (Steve Cropper paid for the ticket) where he renewed his friendship with Clapton. With Blind Faith having called in quits Clapton recorded a solo effort (1970's "Eric Clapton") with Whitlock playing on it. He also started writing with Clapton and was given an integral slot in Derek and the Dominoes. Most folks don't realize how much Whitlock contributed to "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" - check out the songwriting credits which include the likes of 'I Looked Away', 'Keep on Growing', 'Anyday', 'Tell the Truth', 'Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad', and 'Thorn Tree in the Garden' !!!
Publicity from Derek and the Dominoes and other high profile gigs, including playing on George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" caught the attention of ABC's Dunhill subsidiary which signed him to a recording contract in 1972.
Co-produced by Whitlock and Andy Johns, 1972's cleverly-titled "Bobby Whitlock" went a long way to underscoring the musical influence Whitlock had been on Delaney & Bonnie and Clapton's early-1970s work. Showcasing ten Whitlock originals (two co-written by Bonnie Bramlett), tracks like the rocking opener 'Where There's a Will There's a Way',' A Game Called Life' and 'A Day without Jesus' were a perfect canvas for his soul and gospel drenched vocals. Anyone who thought Delaney Bramlett epitomized blue-eyed soul and gospel was flat out wrong. Not that Delaney wasn't talented, but without a doubt Whitlock was the real thing !!! Personal favorites - the bruising rocker 'Back In My Life Again' and the ballad 'The Scenery Has Slowly Changed' (which sounded like a Derek and the Dominoes outtake). Sure the set wasn't perfect. 'Country Life' and 'I'd Rather Live the Straight Life' were straightforward country numbers that didn't do anything for me. Elsewhere, while I'm a fan, Whitlock's gospel-infused voice may have been an acquired taste for others. Still, well worth tracking down, particularly if you were a fan of that particular genre. Dunhill tapped the LP for a single in the form of:
- 1972's 'Song for Paula' b/w 'Where There's a Will There's a Way' (Dunhill catalog number D-4312)
"Bobby
Whitlock" track listing: 1.) Where There's a Will There's a Way (Bobby Whitlock - Bonnie Bramlett) - A nice Delaney and Bonnie flavored rocker; course what would you expect when Bonnie co-wrote the track ? Add to that back-up from Eric Clapton and George Harrison. Impressive way to start the album. rating: *** stars 2.) Song for Paula (Bobby Whitlock) - Pretty keyboard and acoustic guitar powered mid-tempo ballad, though Whitlock sounded like he'd been rinsing his mouth with steel wool. For some reason Dunhill tapped the track as a single. rating: *** stars 3.) A Game Called Life (Bobby Whitlock) - 4.) Country Life (Bobby Whitlock) - 5.) A Day with Jesus (Bobby Whitlock) -
(side
2) 2.) The Scenery Has Slowly Changed (Bobby Whitlock) - 3.) I'd Rather Live the Straight Life (Bobby Whitlock - Bonnie Bramlett) - 4.) The Dreams of a Hero (Bobby Whitlock) - 5.) Back Home In England (Bobby Whitlock) -
The album hit # 140 on the US charts.
For anyone interested, Whitlock has a small website at :
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Raw Velvet Company: Dunhill Catalog: DSX
50131 Country/State: Memphis, Tennessee Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: still in shrink (opened) Available: 2 Catalog ID: 1227 Price: $20.00
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Co-produced with Jimmy Miller, "Raw Velvet" was Bobby Whitlock's second studio album in less than a year. Musically the album was divided into a side of rockers ("raw") and a side of ballads ("velvet"), To my ears the collection wasn't a major departure for Whitlock, though this time around there were fewer country-blues tunes; replaced by an emphasis on Derek & the Dominos/Allman Brothers-styled ballads and rockers - notably a cover of 'Tell the Truth'. The Allman Brothers influences were clearly heard throughout the set's slide guitar moves which were provided by Eric Clapton and Rick Vito. The real star of the show remained Whitlock's amazing blue-eyed soul howl of a voice. Exemplified by tracks like 'Write You a Letter', 'Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham', and 'Dearest I Wonder', Whitlock seemingly effortless unleashed the sense of personal pain and anguish that Delaney Bramlett and Eric Clapton could only dream about. Was it Whitlock's best album ? Nope. That said, it's one of those album's with enough charm and surprises to make its way on to my turntable a couple of times a year.
"Raw
Velvet" track listing: 1.) Tell the Truth (Eric Clapton - Bobby Whitlock) - 3:50 At least to my ears 'Tell the Truth' was one of the highlights on the Derek and The Dominos LP. Whitlock apparently felt the same way, opening his sophomore album with a rousing cover of the tune. complete with a touch of Elvis snarl in his delivery, this was one of the album highlights. Over the years folks have speculated about who played lead guitar on the tune. Familiar possibilities include Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison. Doesn't really matter who it was since Whitlock turned in a blazing remake. rating: **** stars 2.) Bustin' My Ass (Bobby Whitlock) - 3:55 Enthusiasitic Bonnie and Delaney-styled country-tinged rocker (emphasis on rocker). Killer slide guitar solo and a nice example of what a great voice Whitlock had. rating: *** stars 3.) Write You a Letter (Bobby Whitlock) - 2:28 'Write You a Letter' has always reminded me of Bon Scott and company trying to record a true boogie rock tune. Wonder what Whitlock had to do to get his voice to get that unique snarl ... The track featured another killer lead guitar. rating: **** stars 4.) Ease Your Pain (Hoyt Axton) -3:04 The first disappointment, Whitlock's cover of Hoyt Axton's 'Ease Your Pain' was given an irritating old-time Gospel/country feel. Complete with massive backing chorus, the feeling was about as forced as a chewing gum commercial. No idea why Dunhill tapped it for release as a promotional single. rating: ** stars 5.) If You Ever (Bobby Whitlock) - 3:19 Hum, kind of a rockabilly tune with some nice Beatle-esque chords hidden in the background. rating: *** stars 6.) Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham (Delaney Bramlett - Mac Davis) - 3:52 Literally blanketed in squealing fuzz and slide guitar, 'Hello L.A., Bye Bye Biimingham' was the album's heaviest tune; sounding like it would have been right at home on the Derek and the Dominos LP. With Whitlock sounding like he was going to lose a lung, the song also had one of the album's most commercial edges. Dunhill released the song as a promo single. rating: **** stars
(side 2) 1.) You Came Along (Bobby Whitlock) - 3:04 One of Whitlock's prettiest songs - the piano powered 'You Came Along' had a very Derek & the Dominos vibe on this one. rating: **** stars 2.) Think About It (Bobby Whitlock) - 3:09 Another modest disappointment, 'Think About It' started out sounding a bit MOR-ish, before picking up mid-song steam. rating: ** stars 3.) Satisfied (Bobby Whitlock) - 3:00 Pretty acoustic guitar powered mid-tempo number. Always liked Whitlock's plantaitive vocals on this one. rating: **** stars 4.) Dearest I Wonder (Bobby Whitlock - Paula Boyd) - 3:50 Showcasing some stunning slide guitar and Don Pncher's martial drums, 'Dearest I Wonder" was easily the album's standout performances. Perhaps worth the price of the album on its own .... Co-written with then girlfriend Paula Boyd (Patti Boyd's sister), for year's folks speculated Duane Allman played on this track (easy to see why),. Others guessed it was Eric Clapton trying to sound like Duane. Finally, in his autobiography "A Rock 'n' Roll Autobiography" Whitlock credited Rick Vito with the stunning slide performance - guess Vito was trying to channel his inner Duane. rating: ***** stars 5.) Start All Over (Bobby Whitlock) - 3:25 The highlight of the pretty closing ballad 'Start All Over' came in the form of Rick Vito's chiming electric guitar. It's always reminded me a bit of something from George Harrison's catalog. rating: *** stars.
As far as I know, the first single was only released in promo format:
- 1972's 'Ease Your Pain' b/w 'Ease Your Pain' (Dunhill catalog number D-4318) - 1972's 'Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham' b/w 'Start All Over' (Dunhill catalog number D-4326)
With little promotional support the album still managed to hit # 190 on the US album charts.
For anyone interested, Whitlock has a website at: http://www.bobbywhitlockandcococarmel.com/
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