London Hyde Park 1969
London Hyde Park 1969 is the official video album by Blind Faith of their appearance at a free concert held in Hyde Park in London on 7 June 1969. It was released in the UK in 2005, and in the US and Canada in 2006.[2] The concert was the band's debut performance and took place two months before the release of their debut album, Blind Faith, in August 1969.[3]
London Hyde Park 1969 | |
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Video by | |
Released | 2005 (UK) 2006 (US) |
Recorded | 7 June 1969 |
Venue | Hyde Park, London |
Genre | Blues rock[1] |
Length | 62:13 |
Label | Sanctuary Visual Entertainment |
The DVD contains the band's 45-minute performance at the event, plus additional material, including interviews with Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton, and videos of the band members performing in some of their former groups, namely the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Family and Cream.[3]
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
The Guardian | [1] |
In a review for AllMusic, Bret Adams described London Hyde Park 1969 as an "excellent" recording of the concert.[3] He found Clapton's electric guitar on "Can't Find My Way Home" "fascinating" because he played acoustic guitar on that song on Blind Faith. He was also impressed with Winwood's keyboard playing on "Do What You Like" and "Presence of the Lord".[3] Adams noted that while the inclusion of several covers in Blind Faith's set highlights one of the band's weaknesses, namely "a lack of original, fully realized songs", he called the event "pivotal" in the history of rock music.[3]
Writing in Clouds and Clocks, Beppe Colli noted how "ill-at-ease" Clapton appeared at times, but complimented Winwood and Baker's performances.[4] He cited "Can't Find My Way Home" as the set's best piece and described the video album overall as "an absolutely indispensable document".[4]
In a review in Vintage Rock, Shawn Perry had mixed feelings about the video. He described the band's performance as "listless" and "sub-par at best".[5] He felt that while Clapton played "flawlessly", he appeared "indifferent" and seemed happy to let Winwood take the lead.[5] Perry said "Can’t Find My Way Home", "Do What You Like" and in particular "Presence of the Lord" came across nicely, and summed up the DVD, saying, "Warts and all, it’s still a worthwhile souvenir from a pivotal period in rock and roll."[5]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "I Feel Free" (60s Intro) | Jack Bruce/Pete Brown | Cream | 1:44 |
2. | "Steve Winwood interview" | 0:09 | ||
3. | "I'm a Man" (Promo video clip) | Steve Winwood/Jimmy Miller | The Spencer Davis Group | 0:45 |
4. | "Winwood interview contd." | 0:24 | ||
5. | "Hole in My Shoe" (Promo video clip) | Dave Mason | Traffic | 1:23 |
6. | "Dim" (Promo video clip) | Roger Chapman/John Whitney | Family | 0:35 |
7. | "Ginger Baker interview" | 0:14 | ||
8. | "Toad" (Cream's Farewell Concert) | Ginger Baker | Cream | 0:39 |
9. | "Eric Clapton interview" | 0:55 | ||
10. | "Sunshine of Your Love" (Cream's Farewell Concert) | Bruce/Eric Clapton | Cream | 2:44 |
11. | "Blind Faith intro" | 0:29 | ||
Total length: | 10:01 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Well All Right" | Holly/Allison/Mauldin/Petty | Blind Faith | 2:01 |
2. | "Sea of Joy" | Winwood | Blind Faith | 5:21 |
3. | "Sleeping in the Ground" | Sam Myers | Blind Faith | 4:04 |
4. | "Under My Thumb" | Jagger/Richards | Blind Faith | 5:36 |
5. | "Can't Find My Way Home" ([lower-alpha 1]) | Winwood | Blind Faith | 5:41 |
6. | "Do What You Like" | Baker | Blind Faith | 5:09 |
7. | "Presence of the Lord" | Clapton | Blind Faith | 5:55 |
8. | "Means to an End" | Winwood/Jim Capaldi | Blind Faith | 4:05 |
9. | "Had to Cry Today" | Winwood | Blind Faith | 6:25 |
Total length: | 44:17 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "I'm a Man" (Promo video) | Winwood/Miller | The Spencer Davis Group | 2:50 |
2. | "Hole in My Shoe" (Promo video) | Mason | Traffic | 2:39 |
3. | "I'm So Glad" (Cream's Farewell Concert) | Skip James | Cream | 2:26 |
Total length: | 07:55 |
Personnel
- Blind Faith
- Ginger Baker – drums
- Eric Clapton – guitar
- Ric Grech[lower-alpha 2] – bass guitar
- Steve Winwood – keyboards, vocals
- Matthew Longfellow – editor
- Ghizela Rowe – producer
- Freddie Rowe – executive producer
- Robert Stigwood – executive producer
Source: DVD credits[6]
Footnotes
References
- Denselow, Robin (7 April 2006). "Blind Faith: London Hyde Park, 1969". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- "Blind Faith – London Hyde Park 1969 (master)". Discogs. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- Adams, Bret. "London Hyde Park 1969". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- Colli, Beppe (28 April 2006). "Blind Faith – London Hyde Park 1969". Clouds and Clocks. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- Perry, Shawn. "London Hyde Park 1969". Vintage Rock. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- Sanctuary Visual Entertainment (2005). London Hyde Park 1969 (DVD). Blind Faith.
- "Blind Faith – London Hyde Park 1969". Discogs. Retrieved 8 September 2018.