We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago……
When we think of the genre of Southern Rock what springs to mind? Allman Bros, Marshall Tucker, Lynyrd Skynrd & Charlie Daniels right? But the 1972 album Together Again (originally called Country Life) from Delaney & Bonnie & Friends was there at the dawn of the rise of that melding of country, blues, gospel, R&B and rock .
It’s hard to imagine that Atlantic record compnay exec and producer Jerry Wexler didnt know what to do with this and sold off the contract of Delaney & Bonnie along with the master tapes of this album to CBS. Especially with the amount of talent that played on the record.
The group’s title “and Friends” sort of buries the lead….check out who played on this album….
Personnel[edit]
- Delaney Bramlett – guitar, vocals
- Bonnie Bramlett – vocals
- Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals
- Leon Russell – piano, keyboards, vocals
- Duane Allman – guitar, vocals
- Dave Mason – guitar, vocals
- Carl Radle – bass, vocals
- John Hartford – banjo, vocals
- Steve Cropper – guitar, vocals
- Jim Gordon – drums, vocals
- Red Rhodes – steel guitar, vocals
- Jaimoe – drums, vocals
- Billy Preston – keyboards, piano, vocals
- Charlie Freeman – guitar, vocals
- Kenny Gradney – bass, vocals
- Bobby Whitlock – keyboards, vocals
- Bobby Keys – saxophone, vocals
- James Jamerson – bass, vocals
- Jerry Jumonville – saxophone, vocals
- King Curtis – saxophone, vocals
- Larry Knechtel – bass, vocals
- Darrell Leonard – trumpet, vocals
- Jim Price – horns, vocals
- Chuck Rainey – bass, vocals
- Larry Savoie – trombone, vocals
- Rita Coolidge – vocals
- Tina Turner – vocals
- Venetta Fields – vocals
- Merry Clayton – vocals
- Eddie Kendricks – vocals
- Sam Clayton – vocals
- Joe Hicks – vocals
- Patrice Holloway – vocals
- Tex Johnson – vocals
- Clydie King – vocals
- Sherlie Matthews – vocals
- Gordon De Witty – vocals
- Jay York – vocals
It’s incredbile. A veritable Who’s Who…all attracted to joining in the duo of Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett. This was their 6th record and their marraige was falling apart…but they could still make some beautiful music together. After touring with many of these folks for a few years, it was easy melding the many voices into one tasty stew.
The album kicks off with a solid take on Dave Mason’s “Only You Know & I Know” and really never lets up. Some of my stand out tracks include “I Know How It Feels To Be Lonely”, “Comin Home” (featuring Clapton), “Big Change Comin” and “A Good Thing I’m On Fire” (that’s gotta be Billy Preston on the keys). “Sound In The City” cooks as Bonnie & Tina Turner go at it…and “Wade In The River Jordan” (which appearered in the film “Vanishing Point”) gives Bonnie a chance to unleash her gospel roots.
You also get to hear the song “Superstar” (originally called “Groupie”) sung by it’s writer. It, of course, was a huge hit the year before for the Carpenters.
Sometimes even guys with good ears like Jerry Wexler can miss one…he missed one here.
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