This review is part of my Series "SOUNDS
GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available
to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software
to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my
Author's Page for this and other related publications:
"…You're The Only
One…"
These two albums used to
fill out the racks of used record stores and just sit there. And even though
the self-titled debut contained heavy hitters - like George Harrison, Eric
Clapton, Klaus Voormann (of "Revolver" fame), Delaney & Bonnie
Bramlett, Chris Wood of Traffic, Rick Vito (Bonnie Raitt's band, Bob Seger's
band and Fleetwood Mac) and even The Edwin Hawkins Singers - both were largely ignored by the buying
public. Now at last top US reissue label Light In The Attic (using their Future
Days Recordings imprint) has given them a newfound respect with a world-class
CD reissue.
Released June 2013 -
"Where’s There’s A Will There’s A Way: The ABC-Dunhill Recordings" by
BOBBY WHITLOCK on Light In The Attic/Future Days Recordings FDR 602 (Barcode
82626853060226) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD and breaks down as follows (70:29 minutes):
1. Where There’s A Will
2. Song For Paula
3. A Game Called Life
4. Country Life
5. A Day Without Jesus
6. Back In My Life Again
7. The Scenery Has Slowly
Changed
8. I’d Rather Live The
Straight Life
9. The Dreams Of A Hobo
10. Back Home In England
Tracks 1 to 10 is his debut
album "Bobby Whitlock" issued March 1972 in the USA on ABC-Dunhill
DSX 50121 and on CBS Records S 65109 in the UK.
11. Tell The Truth
12. Bustin’ My Ass
13. Write You A Letter
14. Ease Your Pain
15. If You Ever
16. Hello L.A., Bye Bye
Birmingham
17. You Came Along
18. Think About It
19. Satisfied
20. Dearest I Wonder
21. Start All Over
Tracks 11 to 21 is his 2nd
album "Raw Velvet" issued November 1972 in the USA on ABC-Dunhill
DSX-50131 and in the UK in early 1973 on CBS Records S
65301.
Produced by Andy Johns and
Bobby Whitlock - the debut was recorded in London's Olympic Studios and
featured an impressive array of British based Rock musicians. George Harrison
and Eric Clapton (guitars) join Bobby Keys on Saxophone (practically an
honorary member of The Rolling Stones), Klaus Voormann on Bass with Jim Price
on Trumpet and Trombone and Jim Gordon on Drums. That amazing line-up grace
three - "Where There's A Will", "A Day Without Jesus" and
"Back In My Life Again" while Clapton also plays beautiful solo
guitar on the lovely ballad "The Scenery Has Slowly Changed". In fact the softer songs are far better than
the rather frantic rushed tunes that are just trying too hard and getting
nowhere. Chris Wood of Traffic adds flute to the lovely acoustic "A Game
Called Life" - for me a nugget on this rather patchy album (lyrics from it
title this review).
The second album ups the
amps on Side 1 in an attempt to capture the 'rawk' market.
It opens with "Tell The Truth" - a co-write with Eric Clapton. The countrified cover of Hoyt Axton's "Ease Your Pain" and the almost gospel-rock of "Bustin' My Ass" feature The Edwin Hawkins Singers to great effect. "Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham" features a co-write with Mac Davis and mean slide guitar from Clapton. Things mellow out with Side 2 where he often only employs acoustic guitars, a piano and the Los Angeles Symphony on strings. "You Came Along" is undeniably lovely and Rick Vito's lead playing on "Satisfied" is superb. It ends sounding like "Sun King" from The Beatles "Abbey Road" album with "Start All Over" - all swirling and prettily ethereal.
It opens with "Tell The Truth" - a co-write with Eric Clapton. The countrified cover of Hoyt Axton's "Ease Your Pain" and the almost gospel-rock of "Bustin' My Ass" feature The Edwin Hawkins Singers to great effect. "Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham" features a co-write with Mac Davis and mean slide guitar from Clapton. Things mellow out with Side 2 where he often only employs acoustic guitars, a piano and the Los Angeles Symphony on strings. "You Came Along" is undeniably lovely and Rick Vito's lead playing on "Satisfied" is superb. It ends sounding like "Sun King" from The Beatles "Abbey Road" album with "Start All Over" - all swirling and prettily ethereal.
The remaster is properly
great - incredible clarity and presence - even when the raucous ensemble
threatens to engulf everything. And the exceptional 48-page booklet entitled
"The Bobby Whitlock Story" is done with complete co-operation from
the singer himself - photos from his private archives, publicity material,
repros of the album labels, detailed track-by-track annotation including his
own reminiscences on each song. A lot of work and passion went into this and it
shows...
To sum up - neither album is
undiscovered genius by any stretch of the imagination - but there's plenty of
here worthy of reappraisal. And like Rodriguez, Jim Sullivan, Michael
Chapman and The City (featuring Carole King) - once again Light In The Attic has given a voice to an artist who
deserved better and should be re-heard.
Check this one out...
