Delaney & Bonnie – But Is It Any Good?

ARTIST: Delaney & Bonnie 220px-Acceptnosub

TITLE: The Original Delaney & Bonnie & Friends a/k/a Accept No Substitute

YEAR RELEASED: 1969

CHART ACTION: #175

SINGLES: When the Battle Is Over,

OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: They cover Do Right Woman – Do Right Man

LINEUP: Bonnie Bramlett, Delaney Bramlett, Leon Russell, Jerry McGee, Carl Radle, Bobby Whitlock, Bobby Keys, Jim Price, Rita Coolidge, Jim Keltner, Jim Gordon

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Second release from the blues rock duo finds their sweet spot – mixing blues, soul, rock, gospel, and country together for a unique sound.

SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: Signed to Elektra after their first album didn’t work out for Stax, Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett gathered their touring band, which had some heavyweights (though they were unknown at the time for the most part) and recorded this record.

The Memphis-based backing band fit right in with the duo’s sense of soul and blues, and the songs and the backing melded perfectly. Soon after, they opened for Blind Faith playing a lot of this material, and Eric Clapton became enamored with their sound and style, and they were instantly propelled into the upper echelon of rock.

Yet, this record didn’t sell much (thanks to a dispute between Elektra and Delaney), but those who heard it instantly loved it. Hearing it today, it fits right in with the best efforts from Clapton and Joe Cocker, among others.

NOTES & MINUTIAE: George Harrison offered them an Apple Records contract based on hearing this album, but the contract was voided soon after.

IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No.

GRADE: A: The band is tight, and make the songs shine and work well with the Bramlett’s voices.

ARTIST: Delaney & Bonnie
TITLE: Home
YEAR RELEASED: 1969
CHART ACTION: None
SINGLES: It’s Been a Long Time Coming, Hard to Say Goodbye
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Nah
LINEUP: Delaney Bramlett, Bonnie Bramlett, Booker T & the MGs, Isaac Hayes, Carl Radle, Leon Russell, Stax’ studio horn section.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: First album by the blues-rock duo who is more legendary for their friends than their recorded output.

SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: Read any history of rock that focuses on the 1969-1972 period and Delaney and Bonnie come up many times. They’re definitely talented musicians, and attracted a great amount of press for their friends like Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Leon Russell, et. al. But it didn’t really translate into record sales or long lasting success.

This first album developed some of those friendships, as it was recorded in Memphis at the Stax studio and used a lot of Memphis’ best musicians, including Russell. Delaney is a good blues guitarist, and Bonnie can sing some blues. The backing band is good (how can it not be).

What’s missing is a real spark here. I’m kind of on the fence of keeping it or exiling it. For now, it’s in the collection, since there’s nothing bad or wrong, and sometime I may be in a mood for this blues / soul amalgamation.

NOTES & MINUTIAE: When this was reissued in 2006, they mixed in the bonus cuts amongst the regular album and re-did the sequencing. I’m not really a fan of that kind of re-sequencing. Keep the original album as is (for the most part).

IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: See above.

GRADE: B-: Nothing special – great musicianship but the songs fall short. I got rid of all of the bonus tracks but one – and the whole thing is on the fence for exile.