Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse

Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse

Eric Clapton's Powerhouse (also referred to as (The) Powerhouse or Eric Clapton and (the) Powerhouse) was a British blues studio supergroup formed in 1966.

History

Powerhouse was formed with full intention of being a short-lived studio project. In 1965 and 1966, American record producer Joe Boyd was in the process of opening a London office for Elektra Records and was looking for some British talent to feature on the first release from the label's local division, a sampler compilation album. Manfred Mann's singer Paul Jones suggested putting together an all-star band to mark the occasion.

The band starred Eric Clapton (guitar), and featured Paul Jones (harmonica) and Jack Bruce (bass) from Manfred Mann, Steve Winwood (vocals) and Pete York (drums) from the Spencer Davis Group, and Ben Palmer (piano) who had previously played with Clapton and Jones as a member of The Roosters. Originally, Ginger Baker was intended to fill the drummer's position, but he was unavailable at the time.

What's Shakin'

Powerhouse only recorded a few songs in March 1966 (produced by Boyd), three of which were released on the Elektra compilation album What's Shakin' (called Good Time Music in the UK) which also featured tracks by The Lovin' Spoonful, Al Kooper, Tom Rush and The Butterfield Blues Band.

The tracks included were "Crossroads" (R. Johnson), "Steppin' Out" (M. Slim) and "I Want to Know" (S. McLeod). There was a fourth song recorded, a "slow blues", but to this day it remains unreleased.

"The slow blues was never issued, so they must have it on tape at Elektra somewhere," said Clapton in a March 1968 interview, printed in Guitar Player magazine in 1992. "It was pretty good, too."

Due to contractual constraints, Winwood was referred to as Steve Anglo in the original album's liner notes. It has also been suggested that the song "I Want to Know" was in fact written by Jones under a pseudonym named for his wife, author Sheila McLeod. The James Bracken composition, "Steppin' Out", was incorrectly credited to M. Slim...Memphis Slim, the American bluesman who had made the song a cornerstone of his performances since the 1950s.

After Powerhouse

Bruce and Clapton would go on to form Cream with Ginger Baker, and Palmer would later join them as their tour manager. Winwood would soon after help form Traffic. Clapton and Winwood (along with Baker) would later form Blind Faith.

Later releases

The Powerhouse recording of "Crossroads" would later be released on Winwood's compilation album Winwood in 1971, "I Want to Know" was released on Clapton's compilation The History of Eric Clapton in 1972, and both were released together on Winwood's compilation The Finer Things in 1995.

External links

• Biography at AllMusicGuide.com
• Collaborations page at WinwoodFans.com