Ginger Baker's Air Force (album)

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Ginger Baker's Air Force
Ginger Baker's Air Force-album cover.jpg
Live album by
Ginger Baker's Air Force
Released30 March 1970
Recorded15 January 1970
VenueRoyal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London
GenreJazz-rock, Afro-fusion, blues rock
Length78:02
LabelPolydor (UK & Canada)
Atco (US)
ProducerGinger Baker & Jimmy Miller
Ginger Baker's Air Force chronology
Ginger Baker's Air Force
(1970) 		Ginger Baker's Air Force 2
(1970)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic4.5/5 stars[1]
Christgau's Record GuideD+[2]

Ginger Baker's Air Force is the eponymous debut album by Ginger Baker's Air Force, released in 1970. This album is a recording of a sold-out live show at the Royal Albert Hall, on 15 January 1970, with the original 10-piece line up. The gatefold LP cover was designed left-handed; i.e. the front cover artwork was on what traditionally would be considered the back and vice versa.

Critical reception[]

The album was not well received by critics, including Greil Marcus of Rolling Stone[3] and Village Voice critic Robert Christgau, who found the sound quality "terrible" and complained that "bands led by drummers tend to leave a lot of space for drum solos".[2] By contrast, Bruce Eder from AllMusic later said the album sounded good for a Royal Albert Hall recording and called it "a must-own for jazz-rock, Afro-fusion, blues-rock, or percussion fans".[1]

Track listing[]

Side one[]

  1. "Da Da Man" (Harold McNair) – 7:16
    • Lead vocal by Jeanette Jacobs, organ solo by Stevie Winwood, guitar solo by Denny Laine, sax solo by Graham Bond.
  2. "Early in the Morning" (Traditional, arranged by Ginger Baker) – 11:13
    • Lead vocals by Ginger Baker & Denny Laine.

Side two[]

  1. "Don't Care" (Baker, Steve Winwood) – 12:32
    • Lead vocals by Steve Winwood & Jeanette Jacobs.
  2. "Toad" (Baker) – 12:59
    • Drum solos by Ginger Baker, Remi Kabaka & Phil Seamen.

Side three[]

  1. "Aiko Biaye" (Remi Kabaka, Teddy Osei) – 13:00
    • Lead Vocals by Graham Bond.
  2. "Man of Constant Sorrow" (Traditional, arranged by Denny Laine) – 3:50
    • Lead Vocal by Denny Laine, bass guitar by Steve Winwood, violin by Ric Grech.

Side four[]

  1. "Do What You Like" (Baker) – 11:47
    • Lead vocal by Steve Winwood.
  2. "Doin' It" (Baker/Grech) – 5:26

Personnel[]

Musicians[]

Production[]

Charts[]

Album – Billboard

Year Chart Position
1970 Pop Albums (US) 33
Pop Albums (UK) 37

Single – Billboard (UK)

Single Year Chart Position
"Man of Constant Sorrow" (studio version) 1970[4] Pop singles 86

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Eder, Bruce. Ginger Baker's Air Force at AllMusic
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: B". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  3. ^ Griel, Marcus (28 May 1970). "Live Cream". Rolling Stone. New York (59): 46.
  4. ^ liner notes Ginger Baker Do What You Like Compilation album Polydor Chronicles P2-58542
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