Eric Clapton - Layla

This is a live performance by Eric Clapton playing the song "Layla" live. The song was originally done by Derek and the Dominos which Clapton was a part of. It has since become a staple in his live set as a solo artist.
The song was originally released by Derek and the Dominos in 1970 on the album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs". The song is known for its unique guitar figure played by Eric, and the piano instrumental part of the piece composed by Jim Gordon.
The song was written for Pattie Boyd and about Clapton's unrequited love to her. At this point she was the wife of fellow musician George Harrison. It didn't gain success on it's first release, but over time it has become one of the most recognizable and important songs in rock.
As mentioned Clapton has played the song regularly as part of his live set as a solo artist. He has also done a version where he plays it with Dr. John. (Embeded below)

That performance is from a VH1 series called Duets. It mostly features Clapton, but John can be seen in the back playing away on that piano. This version is vastly different from the first version. The opening chord progression is played more like a walking chord progression, it's played faster, it's funkier, and it doesn't feature the instrumental end of the song.
Clapton also had chart success with this song through his acoustic version of the song released in 1992 for the MTV Unplugged he played. (Embeded below)

This version also disposes the instrumental end of the song. It's played slower though, with the chord progression re-touched to fit the acoustic setting. This version reached #12 on the US pop charts and won the Grammy for Best Rock Song in 1992.
"Layla" is one of those shape defining songs of its genre, it's recognizable and truly one of the best rock songs ever written and composed. A great song in all it's versions!

Enjoy ; )

Paul McCartney - For You Blue

This is a live performance by Paul McCartney. The performance is from the 2002 gig celebrating and commemorating the life of George Harrison, released under the title "Concert for George". He is joined on stage by a bundle of people, including: Eric Clapton, Dhani Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Marc Mann. They play the song "For You Blue" which was written by George Harrison.
It was originally recorded by the Beatles in 1969 and released as a B-side to "The Long and Winding Road" in 1970. It was from the "Let It Be" LP. It features Harrison on guitar, John Lennon on a lap steel guitar, Ringo Starr on drums, and Paul McCartney on piano.
It's a sweet little feel good blues tune. I really love in this performance the slide work done by guitarist Marc Mann. It's a really good performance!

Enjoy ; )

Eric Clapton - Have You Ever Loved a Woman

This is a live performance by blues guitarist Eric Clapton performing his version of the classic blues standard "Have You Ever Loved a Woman".
The song is a blues standard written by Billy Myles. It was first recorded by Freddie King in 1960. It was released as a single by Freddie King, but didn't become a huge single.
It was then since covered by Derek and the Dominos, ergo Clapton on guitar, for their 1970 album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs". Clapton has since made the song a regular on his live sets, and it appears on the following live recordings by Clapton: "E. C. Was Here", "24 Nights", "Live In Hyde Park", "One More Car, One More Rider", and "Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004". So basically almost all live recordings by him.
This version is from the unreleased film "Nothing But The Blues" directed by Martin Scorsese. It's a great performance by Clapton, this set-up has a horn section and Clapton is playing a Gibson ES-335. I love how he on this performance actually sings using octaves in his voice, it sounds really good.

The clip above is a piece of footage from the 2004 performance of the song. It's Billy Preston's organ solo which is one thing the other performance is missing. It's a great solo, and whenever Preston does an organ solo on this he just gives 110 %, a great little piece of footage to go along with this clip.
It's a great song and a great performance by Clapton. (And check out the organ solo too, it's well worth it!)

Enjoy ; )

Willie Nelson & Ben Harper - Midnight Rider

This is part of the television concert "Outlaws and Angels" which was also released as an album in 2004.
This clip features performances from Willie Nelson with: Ben Harper, Lee Ann Womack, Toby Keith, and Merle Haggard.
I really love the first performance of this clip which is Willie Nelson with Ben Harper playing the song "Midnight Rider". Ben Harper delivers an amazing piece of lap steel guitar playing. I really love the sound of that slide playing, it's great.
The song "Midnight Rider" was originally done by The Allman Brothers Band. The song is off the band's 1970 album "Idlewild South". The song was written by Gregg Allman and Richard Payne. It has become a fixture in the band's live performances, and renditions by Joe Cocker, Gregg Allman himself, and Willie Nelson have all reached the charts as singles.
I really love this performance, it's really good, and again that slide playing, man that just sounds so good.

Enjoy ; )

Lou Reed & Metallica - Sweet Jane

This is a live performance from the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame concerts that were held in New York City. The performance is from 2009 and features Lou Reed and Metallica together on stage performing the classic "Velvet Underground" song "Sweet Jane".
The song originally appeared on Velvet Underground's 1970 album "Loaded". The song was written by the band's leader Lou Reed who also continued playing the song throughout his later solo career. Throughout the course of the song it's been performed in two different keys: D & E. This particular performance is in D.

On another note. It has recently been revealed that Metallica has teamed up with Lou Reed for their next album release. In fact these recording sessions have spawned a 10 track album that has yet to get an official release date. That is, we don't even know how it's going to be released as neither Metallica nor Lou Reed is currently under any recording contract. I personally think this is a great piece of news and can't wait to hear it. Others probably won't agree with me on that, but how the fuck can you hate on something before having listened to it. I mean really!! Just read a couple of the comments for the video and you'll see how stupid it is, I mean hating on something before you've even heard it, come on man!!

A picture of Metallica frontman James Hetfield with Lou Reed (sitting down in the picture)
A good song with a good little piece of news.

Enjoy ; )

Jimi Hendrix - Spanish Castle Magic

This is a live performance by guitar legend Jimi Hendrix playing the song "Spanish Castle Magic" live at The Isle of Wight festival, the performance is from 1970.
The song was originally released in 1967 on the album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience titled "Axis: Bold as Love". The song is written by Jimi Hendrix and since its release became a staple on their live performances.
The songs lyrics are about a club that was titled "The Spanish Castle". It was built in the 1930s outside Seattle to avoid the strict night club rules in the city district and Hendrix visited there quite often. (Picture below is of the old Spanish Castle, it was demolished in 1968)

The song's structure is very unique as well, going from aggressive guitar riffs in the intro, to solos, and a riff played in lock step by guitar, drums, and bass.
At the beginning of the clip Hendrix is playing the intro to The Beatle's "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band", but he quickly switches and goes into "Spanish Castle Magic" instead.
The song is one of Hendrix' most well known songs.It has been covered by progressive speed metal guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, and by latin rock Guitarist Carlos Santana.
It's a great song with a unique structure courtesy of Hendrix.

Enjoy ; )

Jimi Hendrix - Villanova Junction

This is a live performance by rock god Jimi Hendrix performing the instrumental song "Villanova Junction". The performance is from the Rainbow Bridge in Maui, Hawaii, from 1970.
The song first appeared at Woodstock where it was part of the recorded set that consisted of jam based recordings.
Hendrix is playing a Gibson Flying V in this performance and I really love the cleaner tone he gets from this. Probably the humbucker pick-ups.
You can definitely hear the influence Hendrix has later had on newer artists on songs like this. It is very clear that for instance Stevie Ray Vaughan has been influenced by songs like this on his own songs like "Lenny" and "Riviera Paradise". Just the groove, tempo, expressive nature, and also slightly on the modes Hendrix uses. I must stress that this is merely what I hear when listening to this, I have no sources that confirms my assumptions other than my own personal analysis.
It's a great performance and a great song. And the sound is just excellent on this which is really nice too.

Enjoy ; )

Queen – Tie Your Mother Down

This is a live performance by British rock band Queen performing their classic song “Tie Your Mother Down” live at Wembley from 1986.
The song is written by guitarist Brain May who wrote it on holiday in Tenerife where he came up with the riff to the song on an acoustic Spanish guitar. He sung the lyrics “tie your mother down” on top of it, but at this time he considered these lyrics a joke. In a radio interview May has admitted that the main riff for the song was inspired by Rory Gallagher’s “Morning Sun” that he recorded with his first band Taste from their 1970 “On The Boards” album.
It’s a great rock ‘n’ roll song with a catchy and excellent riff that drives the song all the way through. A great song and a great performance.

Enjoy ;-)

Black Sabbath - Iron Man

This is a live performance by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath playing perhaps their most famous song, or one of them at least, "Iron Man". The performance is from Paris 1970.
The song is of their "Paranoid" album which was also released in 1970. The song has since its release been featured in various TV-shows, been sampled by numerous hip-hop acts and covered by a large number of artists.
The song's title is courtesy of Ozzy Osbourne, but the lyrics were written by Geezer Butler around Ozzy's title. Originally it was named "Iron Bloke", but this was just a working title alas it was changed before the song's release.
The song is about a man who travels back in time and sees the apocalypse. When he returns to the present he is turned in two an iron man and proceeds to communicate with people around him. His attempts are ignored and mocked and so he gets angry and causes the very destruction he saw in the future.
As mentioned earlier the song has been covered by a large number of artists. Anything from Metallica to Sir Mix-A-Lot. It was also recently confirmed that William Shatner with the aid of Ozzy's former guitarist Zakk Wylde. Below is a short clip showing them working on it in the studio.

I think this is very funny and really shows the cult status the song has reached.
It's a very good performance of a truly iconic song. The audio isn't the best in the world, but still all right and a pretty good descent video quality for 1970.

Enjoy ; )

Iron Butterfly - Easy Rider (Let the Wind Pay the Way)

This is a live performance from 60's band Iron Butterfly. They play the song "Easy Rider (Let the Wind Pay the Way)" often shortened to "Easy Rider". The song appears on the band's 1970 album "Metamorphosis". This live performance is from 1968 which means that they are playing the song prior to recording it. This song was released as a single, but didn't do that well in the charts, it topped at no. 66 on the Billboard Charts and was considered a minor hit. The album is also famous for being one of the first to ever feature talk box on a rock album.
On this song one of the guitarists use slide and the other doesn't. The song has that 60's/70's Middle Eastern sound combined with a more traditional rock sound. Doug Ingle is the lead singer on this song and he also plays the organ on it.
I think it's a pretty good song, and I've always enjoyed it and I hope you will too.

Enjoy ; )

Santana - Black Magic Woman

This is a live performance by Carlos Santana and band. They play the song "Black Magic Woman" which over time has become a Santana classic.
It was originally performed by the British band Fleetwood Mac who released the song as a single in 1968 and was released on the albums "English Rose" (US) and "The Pious Bird of Good Omen". (The album had different titles depending on whether it's the US release or the American release).
In 1970 it became a huge hit in America. This version was done and recorded by Santana and sung by Gregg Rolie. It did well in both Canadian and American charts after its release on the 1970 Santana record "Abraxas". It soon became more associated with Santana than Fleetwood Mac.
Santana's version is similar to the original, but it has more of a voodoo feel to it. They added more rhythmic instruments such as clave, conga and timbales which made the rhythm more complex.
It's a really good song, and Santana really owns it and plays it very well. It's like a song written for him, though that was never the case, but it just fits him so well. A great performance of a great song.

Enjoy ; )

B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone

This is a performance from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", it features B.B. King performing his classic "The Thrill Is Gone". The song was written by Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins in 1951, but popularized by B.B. King in the 70's.
B.B. tells the story that he had been jamming on the tune for some time, and tried to work it out. When he finally recorded it he didn't know it would be one of the songs that helped to plunge him into mainstream music and cross over. The original studio recording from B.B. had an added string section that also helped with mainstream audiences.
A great tune!

Enjoy ; )