Eric Clapton – Malted Milk (Robert Johnson)

This is a live performance by blues guitarist Eric Clapton playing his rendition of the classic Robert Johnson song “Malted Milk”. Clapton has been a fan of Johnson since very early in his beginning to play the guitar. He has also stated in many interviews his admiration for Johnson and his ability to play like he does on his own. (I’ve embedded the original version of this below).

Clapton’s version is very similar to the original which has sort of always been Clapton’s mission in covering Johnson. Playing it either similar to him or in a fashion that you can still hear that it’s Robert Johnson music.
This version that Clapton plays here is from the Martin Scorsese documentary “Nothing But The Blues”. Another great version of this by Clapton can be found on his 1992 “Unplugged” album.
It’s a great song. I really love the little motive that plays after the line “spooks around my bed”, at the same time, it’s traditional and totally outside what you’d normally do in a blues. The genius of Robert Johnson!

Enjoy ; )

Led Zeppelin - Babe I'm Gonna Leave You

This is a live performance by British rock band Led Zeppelin performing their version of the song "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You". The performance is from a recording for "Danmarks Radio" in Denmark. The performance is from 1969 and it was in front of a very little crowd before the group reached stadium rock status, what a lucky bunch of young people seeing a band like this up close like this.
The song is a folk song written by Anne Berdon in the late 1950s. The most famous versions of the songs were done by Joan Baez on her 1962 album "Joan Baez, In Concert, Part 1". And of course Led Zeppelin who's version appeared on the band's 1969 self titled debut album.
It's a really good folk rock song that tells a story and feels traditional while still rocking. It's a great composition by Jimmy Page, a great song and a great performance.

Enjoy ; )

Joe Satriani - The Extremist

This is a live performance by rock and instrumental guitarist Joe Satriani playing his own composition "The Extremist" live.
The song is from the album also titled "The Extremist" released in 1992 and re-released in 1997.
Perhaps the most famous track from the record is "Summer Song" which got the most radio play on rock stations and was used in a lot of different commercials.
I really like this song though. I love the simple feel it has, it isn't very flashy, for a Satriani song that is. I also love the extra layer the harmonica adds, gives the song a distinctive sound and makes it stand out. A great little instrumental by Satriani.

Enjoy ; )

Eric Johnson - Cliffs of Dover

This is a live performance by instrumental rock guitarist Eric Johnson playing his probably most well known instrumental composition "Cliffs of Dover" live in 1990 from New York.
The song is from the album "Ah Via Musicom" released in 1990. It is composed in the key of G major and in the studio it was recorded with a Gibson ES-355 and a Fender Stratocaster, the Strat being the one he also chooses to use on this live version.
The song won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. And it was also featured in the video game Guitar Hero III.
Johnson does a really long intro on this which is just amazing and really show just how good a guitarist he is. The main recognizable melody of the song played by Johnson doesn't kick in until about the 6:20 time signature, now that's a long intro.
It's a great instrumental performance of a really good composition. Really enjoyable and smooth.

Enjoy ; )

Muse - Knights of Cydonia

This is a live performance by the British band Muse playing their song "Knights of Cydonia". The performance is from the British TV-programme "Later with Jools Holland" from 2006.
The song appears as the closing track on the band's 2006 album "Black Holes and Revelations". The song was also released as a single in 2006 and did well on the charts. It is also featured in the video-game "Guitar Hero III".
It's a great song and a very good composition.

Enjoy ; )

AC/DC - Stiff Upper Lip

This is a live performance by Australian rock band AC/DC playing the song "Stiff Upper Lip" live in concert.
The song appears on the band's 2000 album "Stiff Upper Lip" so it's the title track from that album. It was composed by Malcolm and Angus Young and was the first single from the album.
I really love the riff in this song. It's so simple, but so good at the same time. A truly magnificent riff composed by the Young brothers. Good old school rock 'n' roll, simple as that and it rocks!

Enjoy ; )

Bert Jansch – Blackwaterside

This is a live performance by finger style guitar legend Bert Jansch playing his version of the classic folk song “Blackwaterside”.
The song is also known under the title “Down by Blackwaterside”. It is a folk song in the traditional sense that it has no known author. Though the origin of the song probably comes from somewhere near the river Blackwater in Northern Ireland.
Jansch recorded a studio version of this song in 1966 on his album “Jack Orion”. He also came up with the “chord free” or at least not so chord reliant version of doing folk songs. Most people who were doing folk music in the 60’s would cover them in very simple 3 chord structures. But Jansch and Anne Briggs were always working on new and more complex ways of accompanying the old traditional folk songs. Jansch actually learned the song from Briggs who recorded it first.
Jansch also played a version of this song at the 2010 Crossroads Festival. I highly recommend that people check out that version. The playing is sublime, but more important Jansch’s voice has aged which really fits the song.
But this is a really good performance of an amazing composition of a classic folk song.

Enjoy ;-)