Power: Clapton's Blues Power

purchase [ Eric Clapton ] first solo album

IMHO, Clapton's first solo album stands above most of his other solo work. It was a break-out production - away from Cream and a first step towards his "god" status. Clapton supported himself with friends new [to us] (Bonnie and Delaney ) and old (Steven Stills, Leon Russell ). His sound was considerably more mellow and more mature than is earlier raw/raucous Cream and equally raw John Mayall fare. In addition to being primarily self-composed.

The <Eric Clapton>/solo album includes more than one piece that I would place in my pantheon of top rock songs:
-the no-vocals <Slunky>
-the cover of <After Midnight>, bringing (not for the only time) J. J. Cale to a larger audience
-<Bottle of Red Wine> [see this]
but more generally, this was a different kind of rock guitar for that day and age. Along with- but on a different planet from Jimi - the style "bent" our perceptions of electric guitar rock.

But, for the purpose of the <Power> theme, there's only one from that album that seems to fit: Blues Power. Co-written by Leon Russell.

I wonder if the song is really blues. Clapton hints at my doubts in the lyrics:
"Bet you didn't think I knew how to rock and roll...."
But the lyrics also include:
"...no matter if it's fast or slow"

I've scoured the Internet in search of an answer: "Must a blues song be slow"? I always assumed as much. There's also the question of the sound/environment: even if the tempo is right, if the guitar is too raucous, can the song still fit the "blues" bill? Doesn't it have to "cry"? I don't have the answer. But this song has the power.

Something a little different with the same name: (Albert King)

Forgotten? Blue Cheer

purchase [Vincebus Eruptum ]

J. David's post that started this theme mentioned the Amsterdam scene, which got me thinking about a band that I for some reason mistakenly associated with Amsterdam. In fact, they were American. I've been searching my brain for reasons why I might have made that incorrect link. Was it the title "Vincebus Eruptum"? While the band did at one time make a move to Germany, that would have been after I stopped paying them any attention. In fact, after most anyone stopped paying them much attention- which is the focus of this theme. I will note, however that the photo above, taken from Wikipedia, kind of bolsters why I might have been thinking so.

Blue Cheer may have come out with a small handful of albums, but only one of their albums and only one of their songs made it anywhere on  the music charts. That said, they had some influence - credited by many as one of the first heavy metal groups and by Clapton and Jim Morrison for their musical influence.

The band struggled through more different lineups than you can imagine, almost all of them including bass player Dickie Peterson.

But it's their version of Eddie Cochran's Summertime Blues that stands as their major claim to fame.