Page 2 THE BATTALION
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1975
Eric Clapton
And yet another live one
By JOHN VANORE
How many live albums has Erie
Clapton, Superstar, been on? Since
I doubt the existence of live tapes
from that time slot. 1 11 omit his
pre-Cream days with the Yardbirds
and John Mayall. Let s see, for star
ters there was “Wheels of Fire,” of
which only sides 3 and 4 were re
corded live. Then we got three live
cuts from the “Goodbye” album.
After Cream dissolved, Atco issued
“Live Cream, Volumes I and II.
Derek and the Dominos started a
new chapter in Clapton’s career,
and the great rock classic “Layla
was quickly followed up by a live
double LP. Last but not least(?) was
the infamous “Rainbow Concert
recording, a marvel of poor en
gineering which muddied up songs
like “Badge, another Cream clas
sic.
And how could anyone ever
forget the Benefit Concert for
Bangladesh?
It seems that Clapton has com
piled an impressive list of live re
cordings on the market, probably
more than any other single per
former on record.
In this light, I think it’s only fair
we should ask: “Why another live
album?” “E. C. Was Here,” Clap
ton’s latest offering, seems a trifle
redundant, if not ridiculous, espe
cially considering that “Presence of
the Lord, for instance, is presented
here in its third post-Blind Faith
live recording. When’s it all going to
end?
Well, I can’t answer that, but I
can offer a few insights on the mat
ter. For starters, Clapton now
spends at least as much time on the
road as in the studio. He’s a natural
concert performer.
Next, go listen to the “Rainbow
Concert. On that LP, Clapton was
about as strung-out and wasted as a
human being can be and yet live.
Pete Townsend and Ronnie Wood
carried all the guitar work there,
and tried to cover up for Clapton’s
lifelessness. So he’s got a bonafide
turkey to make amends for.
Enough of this gibberish —— let s
get back to “E. C. Was Here.
There was no information on the
jacket that told where the stuff was
taped, so I tried to contact Atlan-
tic/RSO Records for that. All I found
out was that it was culled from a tour
and remixed, no dates given.
The six cuts performed here are
in the basic Clapton style of part
boggie and lots of blues. Two of the
cuts are re-runs from “Derek and
the Dominos in Concert,” and, now
that Duane Allman is no longer with
us, I doubt that Clapton would ever
sanction a live recording of “Layla”
without the virtuoso slide guitarist
performing.
Aside from all that, the recording
and mixing are excellent. Have no
fears of another “Rainbow” fiasco.
Side One opens with “Have You
Ever Loved a Woman,” and “Pre
sence of the Lord follows hot on its
heels. These cuts are the two re
runs I mentioned earlier. Bassist
Carl Radle, the only survivor from
the days of Derek and the Dominos,
backs up some magnificently fluid
opening blues licks by Clapton.
George Terry and Dick Sims, on
rhythm guitar and organ, respec
tively, round out the sound nicely.
“Have You Ever Loved a Woman
is very probably the finest recording
of Clapton paying tribute to his
SLOUCH
By JIM EARLE
“LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY HOURS ARE LEFT
UNTIL GRADUATION?”
Che Battalion
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor
or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of
the university administration or the Board of Directors. The
Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated
by students as a university and community newspaper.
Editorial policy is determined by the editor.
The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas AficM, is published in College
Station, Texas, daily except Saturday, Sunday,- Monday, and holiday periods,
September through May, and once a week during summer school.
Mail subscriptions are $5.00 per semester; $9.50 per school year; $10.50 per hill
year. All subscriptions subject to 5% sales tax. advertising rate furnished on
request. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station,
Texas 77843.
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are
subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The
editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does
not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be
signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone
number for verification.
Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room
217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843.
The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all
news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news
of spontaneous origin published herein. Right of reproduction of all other matter
herein are also reserved. (T)
Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas.
MEMBER
The Associated Press, Texas Press Association
Members of the Student Publications Board are: Bob C. Rogers, Chairman; Dr.
Gary Halter: Dr. John Hanna: Roger P. Miller; Dr. Clinton A. Phillips, Jeff Dunn,
Tom Dawsey, and Jerri Ward.
Director of Student Publications: Gael L. Cooper.
Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services, Inc.,
New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Editor James Breedlove
Assistant Editor ,le ' u "
Managing Editor Steve Goble
City Editor .Steve Grav
Campus Editor Karla Mouritsen
Special Section Editor Sandy Russo
Sports Editor Tony Gallucci
Photography Director J ac ^ Holm
HUGE POSTER
OR
GIFT
WRAPPING
FRIENDS FOR YOUR WALL
1
(Hundreds more
stars than
pictured
here)
-,jt ~ Tfa.. ■ TT-r tt n -^Tr^
mentors — the masters of the
American Negro bines guitar.
“Presence of the Lord, ” in its pre
sent form, is about the rawest and
earthiest version around. Emotion
pours out of Clapton as he sings, and
vocalist Yvonne Elliman adds a new
dimension to this Clapton classic.
The title of the song pretty well
describes “Drifting Blues, a short
guitar piece with some token sing
ing, which fades to a premature
close.
“Can’t Find My Way Home
alone would sell me on an album,
and it kicks off Side Two magnifi
cently. Soft guitar and rich har
monies work into this re-make from
the days of Blind Faith for live re
ndition.
We get another helping of tradi
tional boozy blues in “Rambling on
my Mind.” While it’s not quite as
fully developed, in my opinion, as
“Have You Ever Loved a Woman,"
Clapton still uses the song to wind
down and cut loose with some really
of the guitar” as it were, with his
Aggietoons
"if:
you'll Be gjorvyiqjgI
GJITH OFFICER
CRIWTOIU FOR
unite. H6Y,M
-mtm
inti iniuiunmiuTH
pHiraa-iM/wF pon't n
L)£ 60 SOME
PLACE, AHO GET
A HOT FUDGE
5UNPAE ?
Ju-O
I y- g
THAT SOUHDS 600D.M0U
60 NOW, AMP HAVE YOURS...
7^
Tm U 8 Pat Off -All right* raaar
01975 by Unit*4 FMturs Syndrcst*. lr
PIA VLJIS
' ©
V-V
Tm Rag. U 9 Pat. Off.-All right* raaarvac
#1975 by Unitad Faatura Syndlcata. Inc
HE'S SEEN HITTING PALLS
AGAINST THAT GARAGE
FOR WEEKS...
Episcopal
Student
Center
funky., unwatered blues playing.
Strangely enough, on each suc
cessive listening, it sounds more
and more like some of Robby
Krieger’s slower blues playing on
the Door’s “L. A. Woman L.P.
Here again, Clapton uses this
seven-and-a-half minute cut as a
vehicle for a smooth, extended
blues solo. After all, that’s what this
album is all about — Eric Clapton as
blues guitarist extraordinaire.
The influence of fellow British
gonzo guitarist Alvin Lee, of Ten
Years After fame, is evident on
“Farther On Up the Road. This,
the last cvit on the album, is a prime
example of your basic boggie blues.
Not much remains to he said. Just
about everyone is aware of Clap
ton’s reputation as the first real
guitar idol, and as one of the “poets
Morbid spectacle
flowing, almost vocal guitar lines. I
highly recommend this album to
anyone who is serious about really
good rock music.
Reveille III, Texas A&M mascot that died May 31,
will be buried tonight with full Aggie honors.
Many say that we re paying Reveille III a high
honor with the pomp and ceremony. In my mind, how
ever, we are trying to honor our own traditions.
Reveille III died three full months ago. Instead ol
burying her then, she has been kept frozen at the Vet
school all summer so that we can make a production ol
laying her to rest.
The Ross Volunteers will fire a 21 gun salute, the
Singing Cadets will sing “Auld Lang Syne and the Yell
Leaders and Aggie Band will conduct a yell practice.
In spite of the good intentions of those who planned
the funeral, it remains a morbid spectacle.
Reveille III served A&M for nearly 10 years. It is
indecent to expect her to serve us now by making her
body the focal point of some belated ceremony.
If you attend tonight’s burial, you will probably be
impressed with the elaborate funeral. But death is never
a pleasant thing, we shouldn’t sacrifice the sanctity of a
decent burial for a dog just so we can all participate.
Reveille III died in May. We should have buried
her then.
|niii!g=iiiiinteaiiiiiiEaLiin
carl hag Been) (Uith
THE UfLiVCRSaY FOB
Quire sone Tine ajoo.i
It
i
TEBTimilgsaumi;
!UlRflRWIiaillM«n
I (
llllllllllllHTItTI
AFTER YOU 6ET BACK,
I’LL 60, ANP HAVE MINE !
/
©
H0U) ROMANTIC! J |
HE'S FRACTICINGFOR
A MIXEP-P0U5LES
Tournament
0H?U)H0'S
GOING TO BE
HIS PARTNER
TME
6ARA6E!)
CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION
WELCOMES YOU
and
Tuesdays 5:30 P. M.
902
(South side of campus)
\A/E WANT YOU
■ i i
■ ■ ■
“I am the bread of life; He who comes to me shall not
hunger y and he who believes in me shall never thirst!’
St. John 6:35