These three tunes were part of the soundtrack of my life in 1970 and 1971 when I was just hitting 13 years old and was buying records. There was a German TV show call "Beat Club" and by 1970 most of the acts that appeared on "Beat Club" played live versus the lip synching that has always been part of TV and rock and roll. But no lip synching here, nope, we hear these bands play for real and all these cuts are pretty hot.

While members of Free, most notably vocalist Paul Rodgers, found greater success in bands like Bad Company. I still enjoy this song more than anything Bad Company ever did. This live version shows that these guys were not just a studio creation. It puzzles me why Free was unable to follow up in the States with more classic blues rock beyond this fantastic single, "All Right Now".

Being a fan of the Animals, I was surprised to hear that Eric Burdon was doing some work with an L.A. funk-soul band called War. But when I heard "Spill The Wine" it seemed like a stroke of genius, the marriage of a gruff white British blues-rock singer with the polyrhythmic funk from the West Coast of the USA worked out as a major hit song in 1971 in the States. This live version shows the power and incredible talent of War and Eric Burdon is in very fine voice.

The James Gang provided me and my Buds hours of air guitar fun and it was always hard for me to choose between "Funk 49" and "Walk Away" as a favorite, both always got me out of my seat. I love how Joe Walsh attacks "Walk Away" in this live cut with some rip roaring guitar. The whole band is in very fine form and plays with great energy for our friends in what was known as West Germany at the time.

I am glad you took me seriously, Prank, I was beginning to think that perhaps I would need to take sterner measures with you. I appreciated the weather you provided this week and I expect to see the Sun more as you melt all this vile snow. I am also pleased that there are no idiot squirrels out and about. At least there is one thing good about this abominable weather you have provided me this year, no chattering rat squirrels taunting me from the branches as I enjoy my mid-day naps outside on the decks overlooking my Domain.

Now I will keep this very simple and hope you understand, my dear Human, that we are done with Winter. Can I make that any clearer? Can your teeny tiny but occasionally clever Human mind comprehend this demand? I trust that you will keep the temperatures above 50F of your Human degrees until your St. Patrick's Day and then I expect a real Spring. Be damn sure you understand what I am saying, Prank, non-compliance will not be tolerated. See? I can be positive in tone with you....

Woogs


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