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
Released30 March 1970
Recorded15 January 1970
Venue Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London
Genre Jazz-rock, Afro-fusion, blues rock
Length78:02
Label Polydor (UK & Canada)
Atco (US)
Producer Ginger 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
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide D+ [2]

Ginger Baker's Air Force is the 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.

Contents

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 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Da Da Man" Harold McNair 7:16
2."Early in the Morning"Traditional; arranged by Ginger Baker 11:13
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
3."Don't Care"Baker, Steve Winwood 12:32
4."Toad"Baker12:59
Side 3
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Aiko Biaye" Remi Kabaka, Teddy Osei13:00
6."Man of Constant Sorrow"Traditional; arranged by Denny Laine 3:50
Side 4
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Do What You Like"Baker11:47
8."Doin' It"Baker, Ric Grech 5:26

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Charts

AlbumBillboard

YearChartPosition
1970Pop Albums (US)33
Pop Albums (UK)37

SingleBillboard (UK)

SingleYearChartPosition
"Man of Constant Sorrow" (studio version)1970 [4] Pop singles86

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References

  1. 1 2 Eder, Bruce. Ginger Baker's Air Force at AllMusic
  2. 1 2 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