Somebody Holds The Key

Eric Clapton was the face of blues rock for more than a generation.  Steve Winwood stood tall within the pantheon of prog rock immortals.

Yet they gave us Can’t Find My Way Home, a haunting, rapturous, achingly beautiful folk song.

Good work, fellas.

ps – yes, I’ve written about this song before.  It’s just that kinda song, ya know?

It's Gibson's 10 Greatest Supergroups!

Gee, were there that many? Here's the list:
 Blind Faith
 Asia
 Traveling Wilburys
 The Firm
 The Highwaymen
 Them Crooked Vultures
 Chickenfoot
 CSNY
 Bad Company
 Cream

No order on their list, so no complaints allowed.

Lotta ground covered, but one common thread. Big egos and short life spans. OK that's two threads.

Not sure about the Wilburys and Highwaymen though. Were they groups, projects, or larks?

Also wondering just a little about revisionist history ... Blind Faith and CSNY were definitely hyped at their inceptions as supergroups. So were Emerson Lake and Palmer, who are happily omitted from Gibson's list. I remember similar hype about Asia (way too much actually), but I honestly don't remember hearing the term since.

Bad Company were big, and yes you knew there was some connection to Free, but did people really think it was a big deal that the bass player had come from King Crimson, and that they were a super group? Not so much.

And yes the whole concept started by revising history. Cream was referred to as a supergroup - and they were superb - even though, like really, only Clapton was known beforehand. Alexis Korner? The Graham Bond Organization? These hardly made Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker household names.

Anyway, the whole concept is a downer. "Oh boy! Just imagine how great it's gonna be when these guys get together! It's gonna be amazing!" Sets us up for disappointment, doesn't it. Best case is the band can't keep it together for long. Worse case is the music just doesn't live up to the hype.

We do like to set ourselves up, don't we?

The Reason I've Been Waiting All These Years

Back to the Sad Songs thing.

Blind Faith's Can't Find My Way Home certainly belongs on the list. One of those mood-changers that always grabs me.

Perfect vocal performance from Winwood, clever blending of two guitars into one by Winwood and Clapton, and gorgeous music sailing through a sea of heartache.

I love the tension. The music makes a feeble attempt or two at hope, but ultimately succumbs to despair and melancholy. It's almost so pretty you kinda feel good, but in the end you feel like weeping.

Well done, lads. Briefly, you held the key.