BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION, AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
MONTHLY MEETING THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 13th, 2016
2:00 PM HOMEWOOD LIBRARY – 1721 OXMOOR ROAD 35209
NEXT MEETING SUNDAY, APRIL 10th, 2016 THE SECOND SUNDAY
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
Last month was undoubtedly one of the most impressive meetings as far as guest speakers we’ve had. Two guests with entirely different backgrounds but with a common thread of being drummers. Fletcher “Sputnick” Sheppard’s friendships and performances with the likes of James Brown and Jackie Wilson and Roger Clark’s resume of being on over 400 charted LP’s sparked question after question from those in attendance. The two guys have been a part of rock history and we were very fortunate to be able to have them with us. Thanks to both of them.
I was sharing some of my music favorites with a former co-worker and used the term ‘instrumentals’ describing some of the songs. The person asked me what an instrumental was. After I caught on that they were serious I explained that those are songs that have no singing, just instruments. When you think about the glory days of rock instrumentals I guess you could say it was between the early 50’s to the early 60’s. This particular person didn’t grow up in a time when the Top 40 would have sometimes 10-12 instrumentals listed. The Ventures, Johnny & The Hurricanes, Duane Eddy, Link Wray, The Sonics, The Wailers, and even the pop artists such as Roger Williams, Percy Faith, and Al Hirt had were popular groups playing that genre and I am speculating that Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass may have been one of the last of the groups that survived playing instrumentals. A rare instrumental would pop up as time went on, specifically from performers like Johnny Winter and even The Allman Brothers Band. But nothing like the number of instrumentals we saw during the 50’s and 60’s.
Be at the March club meeting and let’s go back to those instrumental days as some of our members bring some of the music you’ll remember and many you may have never heard. It will be a meeting filled with guitars, drums, piano, horns, and other types of musical instruments. Hope you can make it. We won’t have a rumble, there won’t be any tequila, but the music will serve for a wild weekend. See ya there.
And as always there will be boxes of vinyl for sale. Hopefully you can find those recordings you have been searching for.
SNACKS: Carol, it’s your month to bring the snacks and refreshments. Next month it will be Don’s turn. Remember, if you are the person scheduled to bring the goodies, you will be responsible for taking home any snacks and drinks at the meeting the month before. Thanks.
LAYLA AND OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS
I’ve been putting together a program for an upcoming BRC meeting that concentrates on comparing original recordings and later cover songs of them. While doing that one of the songs I thought about is Chuck Willis’ ‘It’s Too Late’. There have been artist who covered that song and there are some good covers but one groups’ version has always stood out in my mind – Derek & The Dominos. So as I thought about the song I decided to do a little refresher course and the group and their one LP, ‘Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs’.
Shortly after ‘Layla’ was released I was basically introduced to the full LP by my best friend who shared my love for music and we would quite often share LP cuts that we enjoyed. In this case it was the whole LP that we played over and over. I fell the LP is one of the best I heard back in those days. The group included members, Eric Clapton (guitar and vocals), Bobby Whitlock (piano, organ, and vocals), Carl Radle (bass, percussion), and Jim Gordon (drums, percussion, piano). Duane Allman played a major role with his slide guitar on 11 of the cuts but was never listed as a actual member of the group. He was considered a special guest on the LP as Clapton thought highly of him and considered him ‘the musical brother that I never had, but wished I did.’ Radle died of a kidney infection in 1980 which was brought on by alcohol and narcotics abuse. Gordon is currently in medical facility prison for the murder of his mother. He suffered from schizophrenia at the time. Clapton and Whitlock are still performing at times with various other performers.
‘Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs’ was released in November 1970. It was not panned by the critics but it was not given very good reviews – at the time. It peaked at # 16 in the US and failed to chart in the UK. It returned to the US charts in 1972, ’74, and ’77 and finally made the UK Album Charts in 2011 peaking at # 68. It was deemed a commercial failure. Clapton wanted the group to get full credit as a good group and not for him being the guitarist and vocalist. He did not want his name used to promote the group or the LP. Derek was a combination of his name, Eric and a nickname one of his friends used for him, Del. Thus Derek.
The LP consisted of nine original songs, most written by Clapton and Whitlock, and five covers. The concept of the LP was brought about by the infatuation that Clapton had for another man’s wife. Someone who he knew he could never have as his own. That girl was his good friend, George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd. Harrison and Clapton had done so much work together and spent lots of time together and he knew he couldn’t do anything to destroy their relationship.
It’s a blues LP but has a few songs that probably do not fit the genre as the others do but it is still a fantastic album that you should give a try if you have never heard it in it’s entirety. The cover they do include songs by Jimmy Cox, Billy Myles, Willie Broonzy, Jimi Hendrix and the aforementioned Chuck Willis. And that brings me back to my original reason for mentioning all this in the first place. The groups version of Willis’ ‘It’s Too Late’ is my favorite cut of the LP and it’s one I hope you get a chance to listen to. I’m a big fan of Chuck Willis and I’m glad the group decided to cover the song and I would have to say it would be my favorite version. I would like to think Chuck would give it a thumbs up as well. Give it a listen here(‘It’s Too Late’) for a live performance on the Johnny cash Show or the LP cut down in the ‘Hey! Have you heard this one’ section.
CONDOLENCES
This past year we inducted Sonny James into the BRC Music Hall of Fame. Sadly, Sonny passed away February 22 at the age of 87 due to natural causes. Most of remember Sonny for his recordings of ‘Young Love’ and ‘First Date, First Kiss, First Love’ but the Hackleburg, Alabama native had 26 number 1 country hits. All in all he had songs appearing on the charts 72 times. Those are numbers to put up against many of the great country artists. Our condolences go out the his family and friends.
2014 HOF inductee, Clarence Lewis, Jr, also known as C L Blast, passed away on February 26 at age 81. Mr. Lewis sang with the Erskine Hawkins band along with Della Reese and later shared the stage with the likes of Nat King Cole and Laverne Baker. BRC sends its heart felt condolence to his family and friends. On Tuesday, March 15 at 9:00 AM there will be a special time of honoring Mr. Lewis at the Birmingham City Hall. Public is invited.
Those BRC members who have been in the club since the early days will remember Larry Wooten. We also lost Larry on February 23 at the age of 71 after a long fight with leukemia. Larry was a passionate music fan leading him to join not only BRC but the Magic City Blues Society and Magic City Boppers. We send out our condolences to Larry’s family and friends.
BRC NEWS
The membership committee is in the process of printing new membership cards for all lifetime members. The first group of cards were passed out at last months’ meeting. Those of you who are lifetime members can check with me to be sure you don’t get left out. If you don’t get to a meeting between now and the August record show the remaining cards will be available for pickup there. We used an old membership list and those who have joined over the past 5 years to develop our new list and print from it. If you want to be sure you are on the list, and I would encourage everyone to do so, please check with me through email, mail, or phone and I’ll make sure you get a card.
205-655-9087
UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS
Friday, April 1 – Mac McAnally. Workplay. 8 PM. $20. 500 23rd Street South. Birmingham, AL 35233 205-879-4773 for ticket info.
Friday, April 8. Alabama Symphony Orchestra presents The Who’s “Tommy”. Alabama Theatre. 8 PM. $25-60. 500 23rd Street South. Birmingham, AL 35203 205-252-2262.
Tuesday, April 19 – Jimmy Buffett. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. 8 PM. Ticket prices starting at $79. 1000 Amphitheatre Road. Pelham, AL 35124 1-866-459-2035 for ticket info.
Friday, April 29 – Delbert McClinton. Workplay 8 PM. $40. 500 23rd Street South. Birmingham, AL 35233 205-879-4773 for ticket info.
We are just 6 months away from our record show and another fantastic Hall of Fame class. As we begin the preparations, be sure to volunteer for one of the committees. More info on those next month.
.
BRC RADIO – HEART AND SOUL OF ROCK AND ROLL
Don’t forget to check out the radio shows the club offers on our website. We now have 76 shows with over 1200 different songs. Check it out at http://www.birminghamrecord.com/brc/ – Tell a friend!
HEY! HAVE YOU HEARD THIS ONE?
Derek And The Dominos
See ya,
Charlie
