Tag: Eric Clapton

Duane Allman

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There are those who spend their whole lives trying to be great.

There are those who die young and are remembered for their contributions to this planet.

Then there’s Duane Allman.

By all accounts, Duane Allman’s measly 24 years on this planet should not have built up to much. But he managed to become one of the most influential guitar players in history…a couple of years out of high school.

Duane Allman has, obviously, played for the Allman Brother Band. He also backed greats such as Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton (who was quoted as calling Allman his soulmate in terms of guitar playing), Wilson Pickett, King Curtis and Derek and the Dominoes.

He became the sound of American Soul before anyone knew who he was. Sadly, he died in a motorcycle crash before he became the next Jimi Hendrix.

Duane Allman isn’t the best guitarist of all time, or my favorite. But if I could sound like any guitar player ever, it would definitely be him. He has more soul than some sort of soul machine. Just listen to this song he played with Clapton.

The Rolling Stone is Wrong. Part 2.

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Several days ago, I wrote a blog explaining why the Rolling Stone’s list of the top 100 guitarists ever was wrong. Today I’ll be explaining why their list of the 100 greatest singers is wrong.

The Real Top 100 Singers of All Time

1.    Rolling Stone Says: Aretha Franklin

       Jack Beverly Says: James Brown

It’s kind of hard to throw Aretha Franklin off of the top spot, especially for the reason I’m about to give. James brown just had…more. Not only was he the greatest singer of all time, but he was the greatest showman too. He’s just everything a singer should be, times a million. I warn you, what you’re about to see is quite possibly the greatest performance ever. Take a seat before you watch it.

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2.     Rolling Stone Says: Ray Charles

        Jack Beverly Says: Aretha Franklin

If you look up soul in the dictionary, you won’t find it. Instead, in its place, you’ll see a big picture of Aretha Franklin taking up about half of the page. Aretha Franklin is one of those few people that when she sings, it just sounds so damn easy. It just sounds like that’s the way she talks. If music had a mother, it would be Ms. Franklin.

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3.     Rolling Stone Says: Elvis Presley

        Jack Beverly Says: Steve Winwood

If we were going with the most influential singers of all time, maybe Elvis wouldn’t be knocked off the top three. But, since its just the best singers, I have to go with Steve Winwood. Spencer Davis group, Traffic and Blind Faith are just a few of Winwood’s accomplishments. If I could only listen to one singer for the rest of my life, it would have to be this guy. He never forces his voice, and it just sounds right.

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The Rolling Stone is Wrong. Part One.

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The other day, I went on the Rolling Stone’s website for the first time. I usually just read the print version, but I went on the website to see what it was like. While on there, I saw an advertisment for a bunch of lists named things like “100 Greatest Guitarists“, “500 Greatest Songs” and “100 Greatest Singers”. So I looked at them. And they were wrong.

So let’s do some correcting.

The Actual Greatest Guitarists

1.     Rolling Stone says: Jimi Hendrix

        Jack Beverly Says: Eric Clapton

        What you’re all probably saying: But, but, but its Hendrix! Wahh how could you not pick Hendrix?

         Because Eric Clapton was born, that’s why. While yes, it is true that Hendrix has a much more unique sound when he plays, it’s also a fact that only one person has yet to hit a bad note playing guitar. Seriously, listen to any solo he does, it’s all perfect. Having been in bands like Cream, the Bluesbreakers, the Yardbirds, Derek and the Dominoes, Bonnie and Delanie’s tour group, Dave Mason’s tour group and even his massively successful solo career has made him the greatest guitar player ever.

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2.    Rolling Stone says: Eric Clapton

       Jack Beverly says: Jimi Hendrix

       Yeah yeah, get over the fact he’s in second. Jimi Hendrix was one of those people that took something that had been around forever and changed it to influence everyone that came after him. I really can’t say much more than that, just listen.

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3.     Rolling Stone says: Jimmy Page

        Jack Beverly sez: Robert Johnson

        I actually feel bad putting Robert Johnson this far down. In terms of influence, he’s higher than first place. His style has been copied by literally everyone on this planet that has ever played a guitar post the 1930’s. Rock n Roll came from this one man’s guitar. He was a God ahead of his time.

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Crossroads

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Well.

Every year it’s something. Some place and festival I want to go to. Three years ago it was Soundset, last year it was Outsidelands, this year its the Crossroads Guitar Festival. But, I get the feeling that until I actually go to Crossroads, I won’t ever be able to stop wanting to.

Crossroads is a music festival started for charity by none other than the wife-stealing guitar god Eric Clapton.

That name alone should make you want to go. But just in case it doesn’t here’s some of the headliners for this year’s festival; Jeff Beck, Booker T, (what’s left of) The Allman Brother Band, Gary Clark Jr., Robbie Robertson, Vince Gill, BB King and Sonny Landreth, among plenty of others.

The festival was started by Clapton and all the profits will go to the Crossroads Festival in Antigua.

Steve Windwood (one of the greatest singers ever) has made several appearances at the festival. Here he is playing one of the greatest songs ever.

Blind Faith should have stayed together. I said it. Ginger Baker needs to come out of hiding in Africa and play with those two again.

Other than the tickets being wildly overpriced, I won’t be able to go because this year it’s in stupid New York and its stupid Square Garden. A campaign needs to be started to bring it to LA next year.

And just because we should end on an awesome note: