Billy Preston - Outa-Space

This is a live performance by famous keyboard and Hammond B3 organ player Billy Preston playing his instrumental hit "Outa-Space" live. I think the performance is from 1981 (judging from the neon sign in the background of the stage).
Billy Preston was an American rhythm and blues musician from Austin, Texas, mostly raised in Los Angeles. Besides having a successful solo career, he has also played with a long list of well respected artists, such as: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Band,Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, George Harrison (solo career), Elton John, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Norah Jones, and Eric Clapton. Only mentioning a few.
"Outa-Space" is an instrumental performance by Preston and his band. It originally appeared on his 1971 debut album "I Wrote a Simple Song". The song was originally issued as a B-side. Preston wanted it released as a single, but the record company wanted it released as a B-side to the song "I Wrote a Simple Song". It weren't long though before radio DJs started flipping the single, and "Outa-Space" was a hit.
The song's distinctive sound comes from Preston running the sound of a Clavinet through a wah wah pedal. A Clavinet is essentially an amplified clavichord which is an instrument that dates back to late Medieval times. Explained in simple terms of course.
It's a great song, and the performance really shows Preston as a natural performer. He's dancing and getting the crowd involved, truly a great musician and performer.

Enjoy ; )

Eric Clapton - I Shot the Sheriff

This is a live performance by Eric Clapton playing his version of the classic reggae song "I Shot the Sheriff". The performance is from the 2004 Crossroads Guitar Festival.
The song was originally written and performed by Bob Marley and his band The Wailers. It appeared on their "Burnin'" album. The story of the song is quite simple; A man who admits to having shot the sheriff also claims that he has been falsely accused of shooting the deputy sheriff.
Clapton's version was released in 1974 on the 461 Ocean Boulevard album. Clapton's version is the most commercially successful version of the song peaking at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This also meant that this was Clapton's only top charting hit in the US. And with the music standards dominating today I seriously doubt he will ever have a hit that becomes equally big. But that says more about the terrible taste of music consumers to day and nothing about Clapton.
It's a great performance and the band and Clapton really have a nice feel on it in their playing. I also really think that Doyle Bramhall II's rhythm and background playing on this makes for a very good performance. He plays something in the beginning with a wah pedal that just sounds awesome. Clapton has expressed his enthusiasm about Doyle in his autobiography alongside Derek Trucks. Also Clapton's guitar solo on this is long and played like only Clapton can. Truly a great performance of a great song.

Enjoy ; )

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Ain't Gone 'n' Give Up On Love

This is a live performance by legendary blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. He performs his classic song "Ain't Gone 'n' Give Up On Love", and does an excellent job. The song was originally released on Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble's album "Soul to Soul" from 1985. This album is definitely one of Stevie's most soulful albums, the Hammond B3s and the wah-wah pedal compared to earlier releases. This song is an example of a soulful slow blues song in the style of SRV, and it just sounds amazing.
It's a really good performance, and you can really tell that he's really feeling it. There's a little introduction where they're getting ready, and then as fast as the snap of a finger Stevie's in blues mode, just feelin' it 100 %, impressive. He's soulful and amazing, and truly one of the best, if not the best blues guitarist ever.

Enjoy ; )