Re: "blues roots", Clapton, Cream, and Canned Heat

["Bob Laughlin" <rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.


Concerning "blues roots", as it refers to Eric Clapton, I would say that =
he qualifies. I do know that his taste has always tended toward the =
blues, as performed by the early bluesmen. His recording style has =
ranged here and there, but as far as his basic musical preference, as he =
has stated, it is based in the blues.=20
I think Jack Bruce's vocals and harp backing on some of Cream's =
offerings was nice, but that group wanted to stray too far from the =
blues for Clapton's taste, allegedly, so he quit, and went on to "Blind =
Faith", which to my own estimation, wasn't any "bluesier", but who am I =
to define "the blues"?
Clapton's personal life has not been untouched by pain. I read some =
things about him out of a book my wife picked up for me at the library =
about the "blues-rock explosion", about finding out that his parents =
weren't really his parents, etc. It seems that the music helped him =
through many a rough spot.

Along with Cream, and Jack Bruce at the harmonica, I enjoyed John Mayall =
and Canned Heat as a youth. Can't tell you who played harp for Canned =
Heat, but I know I like the tone. Listening to "On the Road Again", =
again, and again, several times recently, I surely like the laid-back =
and not overly busy work there. Also, the vibrato is excellent, and =
well-controlled, to accompany the tempo.
=20
When I went to college I got to tap into the old vinyl collection they =
had in their listening department. That's where I got used to hearing =
SonnyBoy, etc.

However, I have to credit the annual "Blues Harp Battle of the Bands", =
held in Long Beach, California, at the Golden Sails Hotel, on PCH, each =
and every Thanksgiving eve, for pulling me back into harp. Some years =
ago, a friend at work handed me an unused ticket, and I went, saw Rod =
Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, James Harman, The Mama's Boys, etc,, I've =
tried to attend each yearly event. It's a blues harp blast. I'd go just =
to hear Piazza's band, Honey in particular. I love good boogie woogie.

In addition, much of my present good technique (what there is of it,,) I =
credit this group, harp-l, for feeding me. Having been self-taught on =
harp, I'd developed some bad habits, which I had tended to "blame on the =
harmonica", and needed some good habits, which upon assimilating, made =
everything work for me, for my tone, and my capacity. As do most, I =
still have my own style of playing, but what style I have has been =
largely due to both my own preference, practice, persistence, listening =
ability, and the helpful readings and links associated with harp-l.=20


Thanks to all
Bob Laughlin
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: the Leones=20
  To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx=20
  Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 11:41 AM


    I believe Eric Clapton recorded with Howlin Wolf "the London =
Sessions" with Stiveie Winwood, Charlie Watss etc.. in the 70's?
    I think the Yardbird recorded with Sonny Boy  in the 60" or early =
70?
    Seems to me he's been playing the blues a long time


    Yes, you are correct. But see, that's my point. The people "IN" the =
business promote, advertise, "Push" some things and not others. The =
pre-conceived notion that Americans were NOT interested in blues (as =
stated by OTHERS more quallified than I), precluded the industry from =
making much out of these gatherings. At least (I) don't ever remember =
seeing anything about them?


    For example, where the "London sessions" even available when they =
came out? Wasn't the 60s and 70s dominated by a "Push" for the British =
sound? and did this contain much (if ANY) blues? To me (at least) it =
seems like ONE cut on an album would NOT pique MY interest and if there =
were others like me, I don't see as this stuff would sell anyway (to MY =
kind), except maybe for people who were "Just" looking to buy music =
period, OR were following/supporting a particular group.


    I (frankly) was SURPRISED that Clapton had a blues background. He =
even stated that he left CREAM because he wasn't being true to his =
"roots" and HADN't been for too many years. Of course MY question was: =
"Where does a fellow from England associate "roots" with blues music"? =
Is poverty the "Ordaining" factor?


    Perhaps he was talking about Musical Taste, Musical Study, =
Preference, Affinity with. Hey, I don't know. That's why I love this =
list. I DON't have the answers but SOMEONE  here does.


    Smokey-Joe