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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Whoa, Nellie!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It's been quite awhile since this list has been
this heated. At the end of the day, we all have to respect each other's opinions
and dissing each other leads nowhere. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>People on this list were introduced to EC at
different points in his career, and I suspect that has more than a little to do
with individual preferences. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As one of the older members of the SD, I've had the
privilege of seeing Cream (twice), Blind Faith (once) and D&D (once). I can
also remember the thrill of getting the Bluesbreakers album when it was
released, playing it loud as the cover instructed and being absolutely floored
and awed by what I heard. In all four of those bands, EC was surrounded by
top-flight musicians who challenged him and, IMHO, brought out the best in him.
After his 'heroin vacation', he re-emerged determined to shake the guitar god
status those bands brought to him. While I have continued to enjoy EC's work,
only occasionally has he ever approached the quality he put forth in those days.
Many of the bands he's had since have been made up of very competent musicians
but... they have been people who do not challenge him. I've probably attended
close to 100 concerts of his since he re-emergence, usually 2-5 per tour and
I've got to say that his performances are erratic. I've seen him play one night
lackadaisically, start the same way 2 nights later only to slip and let loose
some absolutely stunning guitar playing. A couple of days later, same as the
first concert. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It's his life but once you've shown people what
you're capable of, you can expect criticism when you don't measure up, whether
in concert or recordings. Ditto for selection of musicians to play with, songs,
styles et cetera. Where DeltaNick is coming from is precisely that. If I never
hear 'Lay Down Sally', Wonderful Tonight' or about 30 or 40 other songs of his
again, it would be just fine with me. To call them pop pablum is too kind. To
say that they are an extraordinary waste of his talent is spot on. EC is an
incredibly gifted and talented guitarist but he has made some very poor choices
along the way.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm looking forward to the Cream reunion. It be
great to hear him playing with people who can, and will, challenge him to play
his best.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bryan</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In heavy rotation:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>EC - Sessions for Robert J.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Freddie King - Live at the Electric Ballroom
1974</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yardbirds - Blueswailing</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Santana - LA Forum 1971</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jethro Tull - Stand Up</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Miles Davis - Soundtrack of Jack
Johnson</FONT></DIV>
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