One of the many lovely moments in The Last Waltz is about 30 seconds or so into Further On Up The Road when Eric Clapton’s guitar strap comes unhinged and you can hear him call “Rob!”.
Robertson effortlessly steps in, plays his solo until Clapton is sorted, and then steps back to let Eric back in.
Completely undercuts the cocks-out soloing that was being set up for our edification, and just makes me smile.
Any more mistakes and mishaps that actually enhance a performance?
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On I Saw Her Again by The Mamas & Papas, one of the Papas come in early on the last chorus, but it doesn’t sound out of place.
Something similar happens on the Kingsmen’s version of “Louie Louie”
When McCartney was told that story he is reported to have said, ‘Nobody is that lucky.’ And the ‘wrong’ vocal is audibly in a different part of the mix to the other vocals, so I’m confident enough that it was deliberate.
Well that clip leads me to post my favourite YouTube clip, Eric and Jeff Beck at the Secret Policemen’s Ball. Eric is playing well but Beck has clearly arrived intending to make his mark and kicks his arse hard in the first solo – all credit to Eric for acknowledging that he’s been had with the look at 2.36. Eric may be freewheeling at a charity do but Beck at this stage was relaunching his career at full intensity, and in fact hasn’t let up since.
https://youtu.be/CoLibGwmnUA
But it also shows why Eric Clapton is a global superstar and Jeff Beck is Mr Hi-Ho Silver Lining. Showing off is fine as long as its not all you´ve got.
Amon Duul II, Archangel Thunderbird: the guitarist comes in too late after the breakdown at 2.10. He had one job to do,,,
Even James Brown was not immune, although if it was one of his band he would have fined them at the very least.
(Bring It On.. Bring It On)
“That’s all right, I’ll say it again..”