LONG JOHN BALDRY

 

IT AIN'T EASY

1971

U.K.

MUSICIENS :

Long John Baldry - vocals, 12-string guitar (track 3)
Maggie Bell - vocals (tracks 3, 4)
Elton John - organ, piano (tracks 8-10)
Ron Wood - guitar (tracks 2, 4, 6), 12-string guitar (track 5)
Alan Skidmore - tenor saxophone (track 2)
Lesley Duncan, Tony Hazzard, Doris Troy, Tony Burrows, Roger Cook, Madeline Bell, Kay Garner, Liza Strike - backing vocals (tracks 2, 9-10)
Sam Mitchell - dobro, (tracks 3-4) guitar, (tracks 2, 5-6) slide guitar (track 6)
Ian Armit - piano (tracks 1-6)
Ricky Brown - bass guitar (tracks 2-6)
David Glover - bass guitar (tracks 7-10)
Mick Waller - drums (tracks 2-6)
Roger Pope - drums (tracks 7-10)
Caleb Quaye - guitar (tracks 7-10)
Ray Jackson - mandolin (tracks 3, 5)
Joshua M'Bopo - guitar (tracks 7-10)
Madeline Bell - tambourine (track 9)
Lesley Duncan - chorus caster [choirmistress] (tracks 2, 9-10)

TITRES :

1. Intro: Conditional Discharge

2. Don't Try to Lay No Boogie-Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll"

3. Black Girl

4. It Ain't Easy

5. Morning, Morning

6. I'm Ready

7. Let's Burn Down the Cornfield

8. Mr. Rubin

9. Rock Me When He's Gone

10. Flying

Bonus:

11. Goin' Down Slow

12. Blues (Corn Bread, Meat and Molasses)

13. Love In Vain

14. Midnight Hour Blues

15. Black Girl (alternate take)

16. It Ain't Easy (alternate take)

17. I'm Ready (alternate take)

Une infection pulmonaire contre laquelle il a tenté, en vain, de lutter, a finalement eu raison, en 2005, de ce grand et vaillant gaillard de deux mètres de haut. Long John Baldry, né en Angleterre, mais devenu définitivement citoyen canadien dans les années 80, est l’un des plus grands acteurs de la scène Rhythm & Blues britannique des 60’s, un chanteur de blues hors pair et, à coup sûr, un artiste éminemment influent pour les générations qui lui ont succédé. (jean claude)