Delaney & Bonnie and Friends - Genesis (1971)

Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett were a husband and wife soul duo known for the ‘friends’, a large non-permanent group of famous musician associates who played with them both in the studio and on tour.

In 1971, following the success of Delaney & Bonnie's Atco albums, GNP Crescendo Records dusted off some old Delaney & Bonnie recordings they had from the 60s, and put them out as an album called Genesis. The idea of course was for it to be presented as an essential 'lost' first album from the duo, but that's not actually the truth. Only three of the songs actually featured Bonnie, and the rest were essentially solo Delaney Bramlett recordings. Most of these came from a number of singles he had released back in 1964 which had not gone anywhere. These saw him moving around through a variety of 60s pop styles, including folk-rock, Jerry Lee Lewis style rock & roll, and a passable Roy Orbison imitation. Obviously it wasn't until he got together with Bonnie that he really found his style - the highlight of the album was their upbeat take on "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" (produced by his friend Leon Russell). Other interesting (if not exactly spectacular) covers included "What The World Needs Now", "Heartbreak Hotel" and "I Got A Woman".

Nevertheless, despite its dubious use of the Delaney & Bonnie name, Genesis turned out as an interesting little record, showing what Delaney Bramlett was doing in the years leading up to his marriage to Bonnie and their subsequent fantastic records.

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Delaney & Bonnie and Friends - D&B Together (1972)

Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett were a husband and wife soul duo known for the ‘friends’, a large non-permanent group of famous musician associates who played with them both in the studio and on tour.

Delaney & Bonnie's sixth album was originally recorded for Atco Records (which their last three albums had been released on), under the title Country Life. However Atco weren't satisfied with it, and sold their contract to Columbia Records, who re-ordered the album and released it as D&B Together. Atco's decision might have been a little harsh, as it's a perfectly fine album, with some excellent funky soul-rock grooves, plus a bit of gospel ("Wade In The River Jordon") and country ("Country Life", co-written by Bobby Whitlock, who released his own version on his solo album the same year). Includes studio versions of "Comin' Home" and Dave Mason's "Only You Know And I Know", which they had originally released on their 1970 live album. Also features "Groupie (Superstar)", written by the Bramletts with Leon Russell, which has been recorded by many different artists (most famously The Carpenters, who had a #2 hit with it in 1971).
The list of 'friends' playing alongside the Bramletts on this record is extensive, and include among many others Duane Allman, Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Bobby Whitlock, Dave Mason, John Hartford, Steve Cropper, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon (of Derek & The Dominos), pedal steel guitarist Red Rhodes, Little Feat bassist Kenny Gradney and saxophonist King Curtis.
However, despite what the album's title might has suggested, Delaney & Bonnie were actually breaking up by this point. It was their last album together, and they divorced in 1973.

Motel Shot (1971) <|
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Delaney & Bonnie and Friends - Motel Shot (1971)

Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett were a husband and wife soul duo known for the ‘friends’, a large non-permanent group of famous musician associates who played with them both in the studio and on tour.

The Bramletts’ third album for Atco was a stylistic change of direction. Whilst previously they had been known for their electric soul-rock sound, with Motel Shot they took a trip deep into the roots of their music, and did so in an almost entirely live and acoustic way. The album was recorded with the idea of capturing the ambience of a late-night jam session on the road, and in this it succeeded. Joining Delaney & Bonnie were all their musician pals, featuring among others pianist Leon Russell, guitarist Duane Allman, Little Feat bassist Kenny Gradney, bluegrass/folk musician John Hartford, drummer Jim Keltner, guitarist Dave Mason, sax player Bobby Keys, bassist Carl Radle, guitarist Clarence White and keyboard player Bobby Whitlock. Stephen Stills, Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge and Gram Parsons are also in there somewhere. The songs were a combination of originals and covers, the latter featuring Bob Wills’ “Faded Love”, Chuck Willis’ “Don’t Deceive Me” and Robert Johnson’s “Come On In My Kitchen”, as well as a selection of traditional folk and gospel songs. Of the originals, “Long Road Ahead” had already been recorded by Jim Ford, and “Lonesome And A Long Way From Home” had been on Eric Clapton’s first solo album.
Stylistically, Motel Shot blends folk, soul, gospel, country and blues into a seamless portrait of American roots music. The music is very music driven by the vocals, to the backing of acoustic guitars, piano and percussion (with brief solo opportunities for Duane Allman’s slide guitar and John Hartford’s fiddle). The Friends contribute a great deal to the vocals, and much of it has the vibe of a soul-infused sing-along… In particular, some of the gospel tracks sound pretty much like everybody crowded around Leon Russell’s piano singing and shaking tambourines together. The recording exudes passion, and is testimony to the idea that some of the best music is made unrehearsed and improvised, captured in the moment.
In many ways it can be considered Delaney & Bonnie’s best album, even if it’s not typical of their usual style. It made it to #65 on the album charts, and also gave them their highest charting single (“Never Ending Song Of Love”, which got to #13).

To Bonnie From Delaney (1970) <|> D&B Together (1972)
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Delaney & Bonnie and Friends - To Bonnie From Delaney (1970)

Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett were a husband and wife soul duo known for the ‘friends’, a large non-permanent group of famous musician associates who played with them both in the studio and on tour.
 

The Bramletts' first three albums had stuck to electric rock-styled soul music, but their fourth, 1970's To Bonnie From Delaney, widened the pallette a bit, reaching back to their roots and touching on gospel, blues and country sounds. A few of the songs had acoustic textures, but the album was truly diverse, including two powerful electric rockers in "Soul Shake" and "Living On The Open Road". Covers included George Soulé's "Let Me Be Your Man", Robert Johnson's "Come On In My Kitchen", Barbara Keith's "Free The People" and Theola Kilgore's "The Love Of My Man". The end result was a wide-ranging soul stew of American roots music, sung with fire and passion. It could perhaps be called their best album.
Rock & Roll pioneer Little Richard guested on a version of his own "Miss Ann". The list of other guest musicians who appeared on the album is vast - it includes guitarist Duane Allman, Jim Gordon and Bobby Whitlock of Derek & The Dominos, pedal steel guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Jim Dickinson, sax player King Curtis, Kenny Gradney and Sam Clayton of Little Feat, members of The Memphis Horns... and many more.

On Tour With Eric Clapton (1970) <|> Motel Shot (1971)
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Delaney & Bonnie and Friends - On Tour With Eric Clapton (1970)

Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett were a husband and wife soul duo known for the ‘friends’, a large non-permanent group of famous musician associates who played with them both in the studio and on tour.

On Tour was the Bramlett's third album on their third record label (Atco). It was a live one, giving their fans an idea of what their concerts were like. And the Friends featured here took it up a notch, arguably eclipsing Delaney & Bonnie in terms of fame and recognition. They were joined by three hot-shot English guitarists - Eric Clapton, Dave Mason and George Harrison. Clapton was fresh from the dissolution of short-lived supergroup Blind Faith, who the Bramletts had supported on tour. Clapton had tired of being in the spotlight and was relishing the chance to play as a sideman. He learnt alot from his time with the Bramletts, and this would be evident on his first solo album. Dave Mason was best known at the time for being a founding member of art-rock band Traffic, though he was not in the group at the time. And of course Harrison was fresh from the break-up of The Beatles, keen to start exploring new musical territories (he appeared under the pseudonym L'Angelo Misterioso). The rest of the band supporting them was an equally impressive roster of A-grade sidemen and session guys - keyboard players Leon Russell (on piano) and Bobby Whitlock (on organ), bassist Carl Radle, drummer Jim Gordon, singer Rita Coolidge, percussionist Tex Johnson, sax player Bobby Keys and trumpet player Jim Price (the latter two best known as the the Rolling Stones' usual horn section). With such an amazing band behind them, the album is predictably a top-notch affair. The use of so many guitarists and just two horn players give it a bit more of a rock edge than its more soul-based predecessors.
Only one of the songs was from their earlier albums. The new tracks included a tribute to Robert Johnson (written by Delaney, Russell and Jim Ford), a new song by Bonnie and Whitlock (which would also appear on Whitlock's first solo album), one by Bonnie and Clapton and a few covers (including a Little Richard medley). Dave Mason also brought his own "Only You Know And I Know", which he would record himself on his first solo album the same year.
Through its use of other famous rock stars (and the obvious name-dropping in the title), On Tour became Delaney & Bonnie's most successful album, and remains their best known. However to be honest that is a bit of a pity, as all their studio albums are just as good if not better, yet remain obscure and underrated.

Accept No Substitute (1969) <|> To Bonnie From Delaney (1970)
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Delaney & Bonnie and Friends - Home (1969)

Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett were a husband and wife soul duo known for the ‘friends’, a large non-permanent group of famous musician associates who played with them both in the studio and on tour.

Delaney and Bonnie met in L.A. in 1967, and quickly got married and started performing as a duo. Prior to this Delaney had been working in the music business with Leon Russell, and through their connections they were able to form a solid band around the pair and secure a recording contract with Stax Records.
Their debut album, Home, came out in 1969. It featured a consistently upbeat, powerful horn-driven soul sound. Both of them were great singers, and would have been able to forge successful solo careers for themselves working independently from the outset. The backing on this album mostly came from the Stax house band, Booker T & The MGs (organist Booker T. Jones, guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Duck Dunn and drummer Al Jackson), but it also featured other friends including Russell, bassist Carl Radle and keyboard players Bobby Whitlock and Isaac Hayes, plus plenty of horn players and backing singers. It was produced by Duck Dunn and Don Nix. The songs were mostly written by either the Bramletts or members of the MGs, in collaboration with other writers. The one notable cover here is a great version of “Piece Of My Heart”.
Unfortunately it wasn't very successful on the charts, probably due to poor promotion on Stax's part.

|> Accept No Substitute (1969)
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Delaney & Bonnie and Friends - Accept No Substitute (1969)

Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett were a husband and wife soul duo known for the ‘friends’, a large non-permanent group of famous musician associates who played with them both in the studio and on tour.

After their first album, they moved to Elektra Records and released Accept On Substitute. On hearing the pre-release mixes, George Harrison offered them a contract on the Beatles' Apple Records, which they signed whilst still with Elektra. The Apple contract was subsequently voided, but the Bramletts fell out with Elektra, leading to them being dropped after this one album with them.
Like Home, Accept No Substitute had an upbeat horn-driven soul sound. The friends supporting the Bramletts included the rhythm section of bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Keltner, horns from Jim Price and Bobby Keys, plus guitarist Jerry McGee, organist Bobby Whitlock (who with Radle would later join Eric Clapton in Derek & The Dominos), singer Rita Coolidge and multi-instrumentalist bandleader Leon Russell. The ten songs were mostly written by Delaney or Bonnie in collaboration with other songwriters and band members, alongside one by Jessie Hill and Mac Rebennack (ie Dr John), one traditional number and a great version of the Dan Penn/Chips Moman classic “Do Right Woman”.

Home (1969) <|> On Tour With Eric Clapton (1970)
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