We talk a lot about jam, indie, folk, funk, etc. around these parts, but rarely do we get to pay homage to the genre that essentially birthed all these style
The dream originated in 2004 when Eric Clapton decided to gather the top guitarists in the world to share the same stage for a hot summer weekend festival in Dallas, Texas. Since then, Crossroads has returned every third year, the last happening at Toyota Park in 2007 and back again at the same venue now in 2010. Having collaborated with so many amazing musicians over the years and honoring many of the legendary blues guitar heroes from long ago, Clapton has paid tribute to those who have influenced him throughout his career and those whom he admires. The day-long festival is a benefit for The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment center for chemically dependent persons, founded by Clapton himself in 1998. With the help of his friends and peers, Eric Clapton once again succeeded in assembling some of the best collaborative performances on the greatest of stage, and it’s all for a good cause.
The aughts have been quite the decade for Eric Clapton fans, as Slowhand has been going through a career renaissance having reunited with both Cream and his former Blind Faith
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever was released as a single and also appeared on The Four Tops 1966 album On Top. Though he’s never recorded a version of the song, Stevie Wonder gets the songwriting credit for this legendary Motown gem. The composition was a joint effort between Wonder and Ivy Jo Hunter, whose songwriting credits also include another smash hit – Dancing In The Street.
The Contestants:
The Band: It’s gotta be confidence-building for a lead singer tackling this song, in this case Rick Danko, knowing you’ve got a voice like that of Levon Helm to back you up. While poking around looking for information on these covers, I found a great interview that Peter Stone Brown did with Rick Danko in 1977. When asked why Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever was never on an official release from The Band, Danko answers that he thought it was on Rock Of Ages. It’s interesting just how little artists can sometimes know about their own releases. The track would make it to the Deluxe Edition release in 2001. Source: Rock Of Ages (Deluxe Edition)
[audio:https://glidemag.wpengine.com/hiddentrack/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/bandsweeter.mp3]READ ON for the scoop on the rest of this week’s contestants…
Cream – Anyone For Tennis
Eric Clapton – Sign Language
Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood clearly elevate each other's performances throughout Live From Madison Square Garden. This live recording, a set list heavy on blues and vintage Traffic tunes intermixes crowd-pleasers like the too-obvious encore "Cocaine” as well as "After Midnight." Yet the headlining pair and their savvy accompanists refuse to indulge in mere nostalgia.
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – After Midnight (Live At MSG)
One of the best features of the Moogis webcasts of the Allman Brothers Band’s 40th Anniversary Run at the Beacon Theatre is that the onstage mics pick up tons of
Yes, friends, he showed: Eric Clapton sat in with the Allman Brothers Band on Night 8 of the 2009 Beacon Run. Loose, relaxed and all smiles, the guitar legend turned
