Record Reviews

DELANEY & BONNIE ~ HOME (RESEQUENCED AND EXPANDED EDITION) STAX 025218862622 (Barcode: 025218862622) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1969 Released: 2006 This is a reissue of the debut album by American couple: vocalist / guitarist / songwriter Delaney BramlettFind albums by this artist and his wife vocalist / songwriter Bonnie BramlettFind albums by this artist, known as Delaney & BonnieFind albums by this artist and later on as Delaney & Bonnie & FriendsFind albums by this artist. This album, their only release on StaxFind albums on this label Records, which was primarily associated with Afro-American artists, presents their early recordings, supported by a formidable set of musicians, including the Stax house band Booker T. & The MG`sFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Leon RussellFind albums by this artist (who brought them to Stax in the first place), keyboardist Isaac HayesFind albums by this artist, bassist Carl RadleFind albums by this artist and others, including the Memphis HornsFind albums by this artist brass section. This expanded and resequenced reissue includes the ten original tracks and six bonus tracks and a new order of tracks to create a more coherent listening experience. About half of the tracks are originals written by Delaney Bramlett or co-written with Bonnie Bramlett, the rest were mostly contributed by the musicians playing on the album, with the exception of the legendary "Piece Of My Heart", which gets here a fabulous interpretation. The music of Delaney & Bonnie was a wonderful amalgam of American Country, Rock (which in America also derived from Country) and the entire palette of what was considered as "black" music at the time, i.e. Rhythm And Blues, Soul, Funk and Gospel. The fact that they were "white" musicians did not help them, while America was still swamped by the racial bigotry at the time, and this album failed to succeed on the music market, in spite of its excellent material and musicianship. Only after Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist engaged them to perform as the opening act during the US tour of Blind FaithFind albums by this artist in mid-1969, they gained considerable public attention. This led to the recording of their third album "Live On Tour With Eric ClaptonFind albums with this title" and their involvement in the recording of Clapton´s eponymous debut album ("Eric ClaptonFind albums with this title"). In retrospect this music sounds as fresh and vital today as it did when I first heard it five decades ago. It is full of great vocal performances and harmonies and superb instrumental work, and most importantly honesty and no bullshit attitude, which simply does not exist in music today. Considering the fact that Delaney & Bonnie left a limited recorded legacy, every album of theirs is a musical treasure, especially for people who have no problem to listen to music without preconceptions and snobbish stylistic restraints. Superb stuff!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 30/05/2018

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend