Raw Velvet — Bobby Whitlock CBC

Reviewed by Stephen Matthews

Bobby Whitlock has every right to sit proudly in his gilded hall of mirrors (see backcover); this is one of the best rock 'n roll records I've heard for a long time. Raw, gutsy, munching but with a distinctly softening velvet touch. Whitlock's tough, gravelly voice screams its way through exciting self-penned rockers like 'Bustin' My Ass', 'Case your Pain' and 'Tell the Truth' (a considerably better version than Eric Clapton's).

The sound is very similar to other bands he has been involved with such as the Shelter People, Delaney and Bonnie and especially Derek Dominoes (the guitarist, Rick Vilto, plays very like Clapton) and the recording has that same deliberately blurred quality.

'Bustin' my ass for a dollar in the hand
Oh, my lord, it's driving me mad
Some folks think it's easy, oh year'
Definitely groin music.