Here is a scan of my 45 RPM record from 1972.
(click on the picture if you want to see the detail)
I am sure I probably assaulted someones over-grown lawn in the delta of Mississippi with my Dad’s 3.5 horse-power discount store push lawn mower to earn the money to buy this vinyl. Maybe that is why I still have it, to remind myself of how hard I worked back then to buy something I truly love to this day. It was probably a humid 99 or so degrees that day and earning a dollar was not so much fun for a young kid but I always thought of the music on the other end of the last strip of grass in the yard. This scan is my 45 record of “Let it Rain” as recorded by Eric Clapton. This one was produced and arranged by Delaney Bramlett. I just pulled it from an old yellowed case in my collection. I knew it was still there as I could still see the red Polydor label in my mind.
I guess by now you may have heard that Delaney Bramlett died on Saturday. http://delaneybramlett.com/
I remember buying this disc after hearing the song and falling in love with the music. Given I was in Mississippi at the time I thought it was very cool that a boy of the South was hanging with the likes of EC. I recently heard an interview with Eric and he made some comments about the very early 1970’s. At the time, he wanted to be a side man instead of the lead guitar he had been playing in the band Cream. When he met Delaney and Bonnie he fell in love with the fact they were a true rhythm and blues band from Mississippi. He said he could finally just play the guitar without the worry of being the lead guitar. From the tone of this particular interview he really enjoyed this time of his career.
Delaney made his mark on the music world with everyone from Leon Russell to George Harrison…on and on…my personal thought is we just lost another musician from the South who did the country proud with his contribution to our generations sound. I will miss him as I already miss the others who have passed on and made their mark on what I like to listen to. Thanks Delaney and Bonnie. You will always rock.
LET IT RAIN
The rain is falling through the mist of sorrow that surrounded me.
The sun could never thaw away the bliss that lays around me.
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let your love rain down on me.
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let it rain, rain, rain.
Her life was like a desert flower burning in the sun.
Until I found the way to love, it’s harder said than done.
Now I know the secret; there is nothing that I lack.
If I give my love to you, you’ll surely give it back.