I did a number of sessions where both Jim’s were on the session and I sat between them. Pure heaven. Jim Gordon would hunker the groove down and Jim Keltner would create textures. They complimented each other so beautifully!
Lee, I just finished Joel Selvins book Drums and Demons. I assumed as much session work you did, and your influence during the incredible years 67-73 that you spent time with Jin Gordon. His story is truly a monumental tragedy. I hope someday a documentary or movie is done so more people could know his story. By the way, you help me during to Covid lockdowns with you home videos.
Delaney & Bonnie and Friends circa 1969-1970 was one of the best bands I ever heard live. Everybody in that band was great, right down to the back-up singer, Rita Coolidge.
As a drummer/musician I have always wondered if it was Jim Gordon's idea to "invert" the snare/kick beat on the verses of "Bell Bottom Blues" or if it was someone else's idea? It's simple and subtle genius regardless.
Bobby, I saw you in the Dominos on November 26, 1970 (Thanksgiving Day) at Music Hall in Cincinnati and I’m still not over how great the concert was. Thank you for these videos.
Bobby's screams on the live version of Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad sound like a southern preacher trying to exorcise and send the devil back to hell! So much raw emotion and power, brings me goosebumps every time!
@Thomas Bell I loved that Mad Dogs & Englishmen band with Joe Cocker which, of course, featured both Jims playing drums at the same time. Saw the movie back when it came out in the early 70's and loved the album from that tour. I still listen to it sometimes. I have the 6-CD box set documenting their whole 3-night stand at the Fillmore East too, from which the original album is taken..
Agreed. Don't forget Derek and the dominos, Traffic. Jim Gordon wrote the piano outro for "Layla". I'm curious. When talking about Jim Gordon's decline, I didn't read the word schizophrenia once. Am I off base here?
@@chrismessenger9104 Actually Gordon didn't write the piano outro. Rita Coolidge did. Jim and Rita were a couple for awhile, and he heard her as she was working that part out. He later passed it off to Clapton as his own. Bobby Whitlock was the 1st I heard tell how that piano part came about. Wish Bobby would see this and tell that story because he was around the two of them while Rita was working on it. Plus he told that story a lot more interesting than I just did.
I'm so happy to find this channel. Bobby Whitlock us one my all time favourites but I had no idea he was such a wealth of grwat stories. Completely charming and utterly engrossing.
Love this series. Lost touch for awhile, but back before and during the pandemic I spent a lot of time listening to Bobby n Coco. She has a way of pushing his buttons (in a good way), and you can see his face light up with yet another memory... Still so passionate about the music...I can listen to him for hours. 😻 😎✌
I'm watching Bobby and Coco doing these and he's just hysterical. It just puts s smile on my face. Macon we had some great times back in back in the day....Bobby you look great, you've got great Gene's man! Wild Bill.
I love the background stories! I've been a big Keltner fan for quite a while, I love his work with John Hiatt, Nick Lowe and Ry Cooder in the Little Village band. His Polyrythyms really stand out!
@@ronhoffman7941 He and his wife and their band cut it live in concert. It was actually a surprise to the audience cause it wasn't announced beforehand. They did a great job. Of course Derek sounds a lot like Duane but the rest of their band is great as well. Also had Doyle Bramhall and Trey Anastasio sitting in. Some of the songs had a bit more jamming but it's a terrific album.
These talks are just phenomenal! Thank You soooooooooooo much you two. This is the music, I grew up with and it still moves me, till this day. That Grooooooooooooooove!
Bob, I have been a huge fan of your playing/vocals ever since I first heard Layla but I am listening to the Live With Eric album for the first time ever and Gimme Some Lovin'. Nothing against Steve Winwood, but that version smokes all others imo. (Your vocals, along with Terry Kath's, are some of the most soulful I have ever heard.) These segments are total platinum. I love listening to the stories and am blown away by the musical history you have been an integral part of. I am using these videos (and the associated music) as some of the musical education I am giving my 19 year old daughter!
Both are Great drummers. Each with their own feel, approach, tone, & individuality. The 1st time I heard Jim Keltner's drumming was when I first heard Leon Russell's version of Dylan's Hard Rains Gonna Fall...Keltner's drumming is like a metronome, right on the money ! AWESOME.
I saw DB and friends at the Amphitheater in Chicago, August of 69….I’m thinking the two drummers were Gordon and Keltner. What a ridiculously solid powerhouse! They were on before Blind Faith.
John Fusco is a screenwriter, producer, and television series creator. His screenplays include Crossroads, Young Guns, Young Guns II, Thunderheart, Hidalgo, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and The Highwaymen. He is also the creator of the Netflix series Marco Polo.
This whole series is like having a cup of coffee with old friends. Bobby's laugh is infectious, and your interviewing chops are first rate. I have a short story for Bob and Coco. In the winter of 2015 (if I recall correctly) my wife and I spent a week in Austin to see her niece, and I - an old best friend. The weather was cold and rainy, we probably dragged it down from Chicago. I caught up with my old friend and we were having a bite to eat on a raw and rainy late afternoon. We wanted to see some music and had a hard time finding anything that rang our bell. Flipping through the local entertainment publication (can't remember the name of it), I saw "Bobby Whitlock & Coco Carmel at the Saxon Pub"....my eyes widened and I had a lump in my throat. My buddy looked me - scared for moment - and I showed him the print, and he looked at me and said...(I'm so used to this) "who are they?". I told him about Bobby's history, what little I knew of your history; and the excitement grew as I ended and said, "I have to see them". He said The Saxon was next door to his guitar shop. We walked into the Saxon, the cover was what our band charged and I couldn't believe that I was going to see you two for 10 bucks or so...didn't even pay attention to it....there was hardly anyone in the place, and they were talking to you and Bob like they were neighbors,friends or family. I think your mailman was there in our small and devoted crowd. Listening to Bobby tell his stories through the evening and your musicianship Coco, I was nearly in a state of tears; I'm never inclined to cry, but grew up learning to play the drums by copying Jim Gordon with Bobby, EC, and Carl Dean...it took me right back to the release that that particular album gave me. When the show was over I had a chance to tell Bobby (always one of my musical icons...the passion, the soul, the effortlessness with which he works...) what it meant to see him that night and what D and The Dees did for an 11 year-old kid from South of Chicago; lifting me above an alcoholic father and some tough times growing up. You both are a gift, from your ego-free connection to us all and the vast amount of soul you put back into our lives. This mid-August I am having a "Last Waltz" on our outdoor patio (my bandmates call it "The Sanctuary")..we will don't do very many covers, but Tell The Truth and Keep On Growing will be in the setlists. I am leaving the US to retire in Europe...at 62 I am tired of the US and the only thing that keeps me going is music. Maybe I'll find some players in my new home country. Keep on playing and elevating us with with your passion,music , and art. Niel
Keltner & Gordon were both on the drum kits backing Joe Cocker on Maddogs & Englishmen. Listen to the drum intro to Honky Tonk Woman where they are both blasting away.
Pardon my ramblings, but my heart is touched by seeing all this Renée and Bobby are Facebook friends, but I'm away till the elections (bbc) study) I saw Jim Gordon in front of a Studio in '72 on way back from Silverlake to the Valley deep on Sunset (Roger Dollarhide's studio) So I parked and walked over to Jim, whose trap case said 'Dekek & the Dominos set no 2' The blonde Camcos? The 10 inch concert tom was the extra fizz that he brought.. Diamonds and Rust is very subtle, but with great effort, I found the live album on RU-vid, w Larry Carlton etc.(sorry I'll edit more names later) Knectal on Piano? On 'Rikki' he had the blue sparkle 10 inch concert tom, then Ringo's tom-toms..(I had to spell that out, lol) With his sliding stick on the snare style (making a circle on da head between beats) What's not to love? Jim came up behind me, at da drinking fountain, 'was that You playing my drums?' exact copy, Yes Jim, he was always nice to Me..as when I drove up at the studio 2 years before.. This was '74.. I called him from the union book originally..the 3rd time I called, after He took me to a session, (💚☺️) his Mother answered and said, 'Jim's on your with Joni Baez' No doubt! Sundown up in Toronto w Gordon(hah) Lightfoot was next..Alohas UK guys and Bobby! I'm goodman on Facebook.. Renée and Louise and Atticus are Mutuals.. Alohaa You All People..(from lonely kona mountain) Alohoho
Accept No Substitute is a unique album. Keltner on When the Battle is Over is so tasty it'll melt your mind. Jerry McGee plays masterful guitar throughout. Still my favorite Delaney and Bonnie album!
Thanks so much for the commentary on Jim. That's not the first time he's been called a freight train. I like to think of him as a locomotive with great feel. He really combined power and finesse like no other. Oh - and by the way - was Bobby talking about the California Dreamin' song, recorded by The Mamas and the Papas? I think that was Hal Blaine that played drums on that one, or so I've read. Also - I think Radle and Gordon were one of the best rhythm sections ever, period.
The last time I saw Jim Gordon was at Western-United ( which became OceanWay) doing the drums on a Johnny Rivers recording of “Hang On Sloopy” about late 1973.... Don Johnson’s a really nice cat! I met him through Dickey. 30 years ago!!
I love when Bobby says, “not technique, I hate that word,...(it’s) touch and feel”. That’s what Bobby and all the musicians he played with were all about.
I’m drawn to Bobby’s nature, and see why, I loved his ability from the moment. Ya see, I was simply following Eric and company, and as a Del.and Bonnie fan I simply knew there was a kibbutz, in it . Thank you, again and again, it’s meaning full.🙏🏾
No doubt the Jim's were tough. Gordons an amazing drummer and Keltner got that Beatle magic as well. That session lineage of Blaine,Palmer,Gordon,Keltner and Porcaro is my holy grail. Bobby nails the musicality and creativity of these two...this is more a music theory class rather than a interview so kudos to you both.
Been playing drums for many years. Early influences were Ginger Baker & Mitch Mitchell. After listening to Layla I began studying Jim Gordon. Found out he was 2nd only to Hal Blaine as a go-to session/touring drummer. Sad what happened to him and from what I gather from your posts working with him could be a bit rough. Solid drummer tho' and you sure put out some memorable music. I like your stories of the inside info of your many years in the industry. Aloha!
Bobby, I live in Scotland, lucky to see the Dominoes early 70's in Greens Playhouse which became the Apollo. Unfortunately it was knocked down a long time ago. It had a really high stage, you might remember it as you seem to have a great memory. What was it like working with Jim Gordon, any interesting stories?
😀Thanks for telling about how Keltner had good organization of his drum playing, which will help me to keep things in mind to enhance my drumming abilities 😊👍😊
I'm loving these interviews. I check in every morning and listen to at least one. I was so excited to Bobby's name. I had the pleasure for about 2 days to hang a little with Eric Clapton and I did ask Eric about if he ever saw Bobby any more this was in 1985 and he said you would show up in his driveway which I'm not sure what that exactly meant. Anyway I'm so glad to see Bobby looking so great still singing great and I'm so glad he found CoCo she is as beautiful as she is smart. She's an old soul. I'm so glad you two found love together. By the way my name is Vito Lafata I'm a guitarist originally from Detroit Michigan. I met Eric when we were both written about in the July 1985 issue of guitar player magazine. God bless you two. I hope your love lasts forever.
Bobby does tell the story about visiting Eric quite a bit right after the Dominoes split. He was kind of stuck without anything to do, and Eric was staying inside all the time...getting deeper into the smack. Wouldn't come out of the house. He ended up leaving Eric to his own devices and came back to the States to start up another band.
Gordon has an interview on YT from Drummerworld Magazine (1982) where he said he was an ensemble drummer and did not like to solo. Have you heard seen that Video Bobby? I heard there was a funny story regarding Jim's LONG solo on Let It Rain like Eric wouldn't come back to the stage?
Ohhhh I have long wished that there were some kind of way to have Jim Gordon interviewed in recent years. I don't even know if he is still with us or not......or if he is.....if he is capable of speaking to what he remembers of those days AND if he could speak anymore about his theory of playing drums, etc. Bobby or CoCo....could you please comment, as an old basement drummer that I'll always be still feels that Gordon was something quite special. My heart just bleeds for his situation that locked him into his fate so very long ago. God Bless joel in tucson
Bobby you’re beautiful man and thanks for sharing memories. Eric obviously loved The Band, Robbie, Levon, Rick etc and if I’m not mistaken when you got the Dominoes together Eric had just got back from spending time with those guys. You got any stories about Eric’s love of The Band.
Hi! My name is Keith R. Higgons, and I have a podcast called Abandoned Albums. I pulled a clip from this episode for my recent episode - it's an interview with writer Joel Selvin, who has a book coming out on drummer Jim Gordon. I credit your channel in the credits. The podcast dropped earlier today and is available all over. Anyway, I wanted you to be aware of both the book and my use of the clip. Thanks so much!
Bobby, listening to you is like going back home. As a kid I lived in Memphis, Oklahoma and Alabama and picked up those accents. Now I'm up here in Indiana with Yankee accents.
Recently saw Edward James Olmos is a documentary...the Bobby Keys doc?...and he was talking about that neighborhood he lived in that was just packed with famous musicians...Don Johnson co-wrote some songs for the Allman Bros. Band, I think!
This is fantastic! Delaney & Bonnie, Leon, Clapton, I dug all that stuff. I think it is important to point out that the music was part of and reflective of a whole different hippie, communal, revolutionary scene. Corporatism, materialism, ego, status symbols and the rat race were out. We were trying to avoid all that and do our own thing where we all shared what little we had and dreamed of getting a little stake out in the country where we could build a cabin, go off the grid, live a simple pioneer life, smoke pot and walk around outside naked. I don't know how it was for you guys because you had money. We were desperately poor, trying to find our way. The brotherly and sisterly ad hoc sort of nature of all this can be seen in the Delaney & Bonnie record "Motel Shot." One thing we sure got right was the whole peace and love theme that overlaid it all. Oh, man, we sure did have some great music to go along with it all. I always wondered what happened to Delaney & Bonnie. The last I heard of either was circa 1979 when Bonnie Bramlett came across Elvis Costello in a bar. Earlier, she had read an interview with him where he dropped the 'N' bomb in reference to Ray Charles, so Bonnie walked up to Costello and punched his lights out for it. Thanks a lot. I intend to check out all your videos.
Jim G took me to sessions after he played 'Rikki' as a Trio? Grant high buddies! 'Only you know and I know' was a masterpiece! Living in the material World was my fav Keltner tracks. Jim G had Ringo's Toms! Aloha
Keltner played on Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever album if I'm not mistaken . One of my favorite albums. Also there's a Whitlock family from my town in Indiana,. They were inventors , musicians and very eccentric but brilliant people. I'm friends with one of the grandchildren and he's a good musician and artist. A strange cat but a great bassist and an interesting fella.
@@BW-CC The patron of the family , JW Whiltock invented something called an automatic harp , which he received a patent on in 1900 and eventually sold the design to the Wurlitzer Company . H He was a businessman inventor , musician and all around brilliant man who is well known here in my hometown of Rising Sun, Indiana and the surrounding area . His life and work are worth reading about
@@ronniecohen5668 Yes. I only knew his work with Toto. I am curious to hear what other music he played on. I shall educate myself on this. Any tips welcome.
Here's what I'd love to know: Did Jim Gordon do any professional drumming-whether on record or on tour-post-1978? The latest work of his I can find is touring Europe with Jackson Browne in 1978. In the documentary "Runnin' Down A Dream," Benmont Tench says Tom Petty tried him out during the "Damn The Torpedoes" sessions of 1978 and 1979, but he doesn't specify in which year; and ultimately his work wasn't used regardless. So again I wonder: Did Jim Gordon do any professional drumming after 1978?
@@theonlydjtopcat Thanks. And per the link below on just one song. I wonder whether they brought him in for the whole album, and replaced him after one song when the saw his condition (mental or drumming-wise): www.discogs.com/Phil-Keaggy-Phlip-Side/release/1476720
@@Ben-to8vt His playing style degraded after 1977-78. He played in Burton Cummings band for some time. You can compare his drumming on Burton's 1st album in 1976, and then his drumming on Burton Cummings TV special in 1977, which is available on RU-vid. He plays like a kid, who took drumming lessons for a year two. But definitely not as a professional session drummer. Really sad.
Heres that song Coco mentioned w JK (Get ourselves together )...ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DptmgUfgiFY.html EXCELLENT gtr -Jerry McGee I drove 5 hrs to Toronto to see them but we got there a little too late .I remember the poster looked like the first LP cover (I shoulda grabbed one!) I had the first LP and loved it Saw them open for Blind Faith .Also later in Buffalo with Kenny Gradney on bass I recall. I even saw the Dominoes @Kleinhans in Buffalo
@@BW-CC We had some interaction when he came to my school GIT in 78. I was the only guitarist that knew any Little Feat songs.He also got me into the Forum for the Lowell George tribute after LG passed.I got to hang in the backstage with Mike McDonald and Emilio Castillo Our mutual friend Kimbo Smith who along with KG recorded with Chico Hamilton at that time introduced us. Here is the Chico record. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tzkfYvB7D9c.html Unfortunately later when I worked a show with Little Feat in NOLA in 1995 Kenny told me Kimbo had committed suicide
Hi Kane, did you grow up in Huntington Beach, on Veronica Drive? Just before I left town to go to college in Fall '72, someone told me that the McGee family lived across our back fence (we lived on Warfield). I am a major fan of Gerry's playing on The Monkees first album.
I'm wondering when Bobby last had contact with Jim Gordon. There isn't much information about him since he went to prison. The fact he has been denied parole so many times would indicate he isn't doing well. I'm wondering if there were any signs that he might be capable of such things during those years playing together.
I remember Clapton telling an interviewer that he wanted to visit Jim Gordon, but then he was advised it would be better if he didn't. I do know that John McLaughlin visited his former bassist Binky McKenzie in prison (McKenzie killed 4 policemen in a domestic dispute) and continued visiting McKenzie for many years afterwards, pretty much the only one to do so, according to former Cream lyricist Pete Brown (Binky McKenzie was in Pete Brown's band).