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.

Ginger Baker's Air Force
Live album by Ginger Baker's Air Force
Released	30 March 1970
Recorded	15 January 1970
Venue	Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London
Genre	Jazz-rock, Afro-fusion, blues-rock
Length	78:02
Label	Polydor (UK & Canada) Atco (US)
Producer	Ginger Baker & Jimmy Miller
Ginger Baker's Air Force chronology
Ginger Baker's Air Force (1970) Ginger Baker's Air Force 2 (1970)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	D+[2]

Critical reception

The album was not well received by critics, including Greil Marcus of Rolling Stone[3] 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".[2] 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".[1]

Track listing

Side one

1. "Da Da Man" (Harold McNair) – 7:16
   • Lead vocal by Jeanette Jacobs, organ solo by Stevie Winwood, guitar solo by Denny Laine, sax solo by Graham Bond.
2. "Early in the Morning" (Traditional, arranged by Ginger Baker) – 11:13
   • Lead vocals by Ginger Baker & Denny Laine.

Side two

1. "Don't Care" (Baker, Steve Winwood) – 12:32
   • Lead vocals by Steve Winwood & Jeanette Jacobs.
2. "Toad" (Baker) – 12:59
   • Drum solos by Ginger Baker, Remi Kabaka & Phil Seamen.

Side three

1. "Aiko Biaye" (Remi Kabaka, Teddy Osei) – 13:00
   • Lead Vocals by Graham Bond.
2. "Man of Constant Sorrow" (Traditional, arranged by Denny Laine) – 3:50
   • Lead Vocal by Denny Laine, bass guitar by Steve Winwood, violin by Ric Grech.

Side four

1. "Do What You Like" (Baker) – 11:47
   • Lead vocal by Steve Winwood.
2. "Doin' It" (Baker/Grech) – 5:26

Personnel

Musicians

• Ginger Baker – drums, percussion, timpani, vocals
• Denny Laine – guitars, vocals
• Ric Grech – bass guitar, violin
• Steve Winwood – Hammond organ, bass guitar, vocals
• Chris Wood – tenor saxophone, flute
• Graham Bond – Hammond organ, alto saxophone, vocals
• Harold McNair – tenor and alto saxophones, alto flute
• Jeanette Jacobs – vocals
• Remi Kabaka – drums, percussion
• Phil Seamen – drums, percussion

Production

• Ginger Baker – producer
• Jimmy Miller – producer
• Roy Thomas Baker – engineer
• Andy Johns – engineer
• Nigel Williamson – liner notes
• Russ Landau – reissue coordination

Charts

Album – Billboard

Year	Chart	Position
1970	Pop Albums (US)	33
	Pop Albums (UK)	37

Single – Billboard (UK)

Single	Year	Chart	Position
"Man of Constant Sorrow" (studio version)	1970[4]	Pop singles	86

References

1. Eder, Bruce. Ginger Baker's Air Force at AllMusic
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: B". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
3. Griel, Marcus (28 May 1970). "Live Cream". Rolling Stone. New York (59): 46.
4. liner notes Ginger Baker Do What You Like Compilation album Polydor Chronicles P2-58542