October 30 – Wednesday – Delaney & Bonnie – The Best of Delaney & Bonnie

Yes! This is Ram 2, and yes, it’s next in line ahead of Layla. Talk about peppy.  This is a really good exercise and sing-along album. And that Bonnie Bramlett. Did I mention that she has quite a set of pipes?

Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett and Friends were billed as a rock/soul revue that attracted noted artists including Eric Clapton and then George Harrison. I know I’ve complained that my brother usurped my Delaney & Bonnie album, and he did, but that was the “On Tour with Eric Clapton” album. I never thought this Best of was its equal, till now. I don’t even remember what was on the other except for “That’s What My Man is For,” in which Bonnie lets out a long soulful shriek. Not a psychotic shriek, a controlled shriek. A musical shriek. So cool. She does it in “For Love of My Man” too, which is on this album, but it’s not as intense a song nor as intense a shriek. If memory serves.

I’ve noticed as I listen again to the records of my youth again that way back then most of the voices seemed lower to me, and I am surprised at how high they are to me now. And it’s that way with Bonnie as well, but as we did get to hear her sing a little on Rosanne years later, I do have that lower register in my head. Yes, that was Bonnie Bramlett on Rosanne. She got paired up for a while with a fat, old David Crosby as her boyfriend. No story line. They just sang together, which was quite nice indeed. I just thought she could do better.