Delaney & Bonnie & Friends: To Bonnie From Delaney 180g vinyl

Clapton’s enthusiasm went so far that he invited the pair to accompany him on a peaceful tour of Europe and was booed by German fans because he stood in the background as a mere accompanist and did not play any solos. The master of the guitar may have had good reasons for staying out of the limelight, if one is to believe the Chicago Daily News, who declared that Delaney & Bonnie were better than Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles together.

Indeed the combined voices in the arrangements are so closely knit that there is not a millimetre of space between the singer and backing. In “Hard Luck And Troubles”, a dry cantankerous groove, the vocals cling to a sinewy bass line, criss-crossed by short chords on the organ. Gospel is celebrated spiritually, yet not too much so, in a rocking, rhythmic and dense interplay between the soloist and chorus. And what is more: the great ballad, hovering above a vibrating carpet of sound on the organ (“The Love Of My Man”) and crisp, firm winds (“Alone Together”) are included in this exquisite collection of great and even great songs.

Recording: 1970 at Decca Studios, New York, by Don Casale, and Atlantic South-Criteria

Studios, Miami Fl., by Ron Albert & Chuck Kirkpatrick

Production: Delaney Bramlett, Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd

Format: 1LP 180g 33rpm / gatefold sleeve

Manufacturer: Speakers Corner

Original label: Atco

This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head. All royalties and mechanical rights have been paid.

About Pure Pleasure Records

The creation of Pure Pleasure Records, a label dedicated to the Restoration of the Art of Sound on 180gm Vinyl. Nothing Else!.

The attention to detail. Research, Research, Research.

First Step, the Record Labels, who own the music. Their permission to reproduce their artists, which facilitates the reproduction. This is a real privilege. The process of restoration would not be possible without them.

Sourcing the best available masters to work from, then over to spending stunning days with the experts at Mastering. Air Studios with Ray Staff. Graheme Durham at the Exchange, Shaun McGhee at Abbey Road. Ron McMaster at Capital mastering in Hollywood, Kevin Grey at Coherant Audio. Tracking down the original covers, forever amazed at the skills of Brian Shields in reproducing the covers to such a high standard.

The final result. A Work of Art! Each release is given the care and attention to detail these works of art deserve.