Ginger Baker's Air Force (album)


Ginger Baker's Air Force is the eponymous debut album by Ginger Baker's Air Force, released in 1970. This album is a recording of a sold-out live show at the Royal Albert Hall, on 15 January 1970, with the original 10-piece line up. The gatefold LP cover was designed left-handed; i.e. the front cover artwork was on what traditionally would be considered the back and vice versa.

Critical reception

The album was not well received by critics, including Greil Marcus of Rolling Stone and Village Voice critic Robert Christgau, who found the sound quality "terrible" and complained that "bands led by drummers tend to leave a lot of space for drum solos". By contrast, Bruce Eder from AllMusic later said the album sounded good for a Royal Albert Hall recording and called it "a must-own for jazz-rock, Afro-fusion, blues-rock, or percussion fans".

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Da Da Man" – 7:16
  2. *Lead vocal by Jeanette Jacobs, organ solo by Stevie Winwood, guitar solo by Denny Laine, sax solo by Graham Bond.
  3. "Early in the Morning" – 11:13
  4. *Lead vocals by Ginger Baker & Denny Laine.

    Side two

  5. "Don't Care" – 12:32
  6. *Lead vocals by Steve Winwood & Jeanette Jacobs.
  7. "Toad" – 12:59
  8. *Drum solos by Ginger Baker, Remi Kabaka & Phil Seamen.

    Side three

  9. "Aiko Biaye" – 13:00
  10. *Lead Vocals by Graham Bond.
  11. "Man of Constant Sorrow" – 3:50
  12. *Lead Vocal by Denny Laine, bass guitar by Steve Winwood, violin by Ric Grech.

    Side four

  13. "Do What You Like" – 11:47
  14. *Lead vocal by Steve Winwood.
  15. "Doin' It" – 5:26

    Personnel

Musicians

Album – Billboard
YearChartPosition
1970Pop Albums 33
1970Pop Albums 37

Single – Billboard
SingleYearChartPosition
"Man of Constant Sorrow" 1970Pop singles86