<DIV>James,</DIV>
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<DIV>I agree with you about the spine-tingling solos that EC still produces but not about the laziness! I feel many people make too much of the old quote that EC made about "would rather sit around" - when was that? 30 years ago? He's been quite productive and active since geting sober.</DIV>
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<DIV>I believe artist's reputations are often formed when they first appear and that they can never match up as time goes by for the press and many fans simply because they are not new anymore.</DIV>
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<DIV>At Springsteen's induction of Dylan into the RnR HoF (I believe), Bruce commented on Bob's then current album (Empire Burlesque perhaps?) and said that it would be a classic if people did not compare it to Dylan's early albums. Were the first albums "better" or was Dylan simply a casualty of not being new anymore? I find it hard to think of an artist who gets better reviews after being around for years.</DIV>
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<DIV>I like BB King's comment to EC at the Concert of the Century after they played together - "You get better all the time, young man!"</DIV>
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<DIV>Richard</DIV>
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<DIV>As a member since around 95, I have enjoyed the passion that DN's comments have prompted. I've been lurking for a long time so here's my 2 cents:</DIV>
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<DIV>While I have RIO recordings from all eras, I can't really say which one I love the most. While Cream has some amazingly fast guitar moments/pyrotechnics (whatever you want to call them), his style changed drastically with Derek and the Dominos. There was a different intensity. While EC post 1974 has had it ups and downs, in my mind many of his better moments have been good solos in the context of a jam that the band was in. </DIV>
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<DIV>Turning to the 1990s, I grew to appreciate what I sensed as EC's depression/sadness in his music over the pyrotechnics of the past. Whether it was the vocal delivery of the tone of his guitar, I felt something emotive. As for live shows, I followed him around in the summer of 1992 in Europe, saw him warm up and play at Knebworth, jam with SRV in Detroit and one RAH show in 1993. At least at one point during each show (sometimes more), he would hit a few notes that made it all worth it, you know what I'm talking about, the notes that send a shiver down your spine. </DIV>
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<DIV>More recently, he had a few momemnts like that at this 2004 show in Chicago. Aside from the blues numbers (I believe it was HYELAW), he really kickec some butt on ISTS and GTGBIALW. My jaw almost hit the floor a few times. </DIV>
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<DIV>As for those moments, its really impossible for any artist to hit those notes on every song, every night (or to paint a perfect painting, etc). We are blessed to have had EC survive all of these years after he performed so brillliantly with Mayall and Cream. We all know he could have faded away ala Peter Green, died with a legacy but a big "what could he have done long term" question that I have for Jimi Hendrix. EC is still the artist that he always was but in many ways he may never hit the heights that he did in Cream or the passion that he had with Derek. Yes, age and maturity all have an impact on this. If he played the same way as in Cream or D&D without evolving he would have burned himself out or worse. In closing, "in terms of getting in that zone" where he tears a song apart, I think EC can do today when the moment hits him. Many other artists cannot perform on that level as they age. Other artists simply
don't write the great songs that they were famous for. Off the top of my head I can think of so many artists that I think were better song-writers when they were young (and that most public opinion would think that their new stuff is not up to snuff, most of the time). Here's a short list: McCartney, Elton John, Billy Joel, James Taylor, The Who, The Stones, Robbie Robertson, Stevie Winwood, etc. That's totally true among sports stars as well. Jordan is not the Jordon of old.</DIV>
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<DIV>In short, EC still has the fire but he does not show it all the time. At the same time he has become lazy in many respects but who can blame him for that? While I'm not happy that this is the case, who can say that they do everything with 100% perfection/passion 24/7? Compared to the artists above, I think EC has so much more to offer in terms of live music and the occasional studio song that can hit an emotional chord for me and others.</DIV>
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<DIV>James</DIV>
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<DIV>PS, sorry for ramblin'</DIV>
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<DIV><BR>_____________________<BR><BR>James C. Vlahakis<BR>Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP<BR>222 N. LaSalle, Suite 300<BR>Chicago, IL 60601<BR>312-704-3715<BR>312-704-3001 [fax]<BR></DIV></FONT></FONT></DIV><p>
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