Ginger Baker's Air Force (album)

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Ginger Baker's Air Force
Live album by
Ginger Baker's Air Force
Released30 March 1970
Recorded15 January 1970
VenueRoyal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London
GenreJazz-rock, Afro-fusion, blues rock
Length78:02
LabelPolydor (UK & Canada)
Atco (US)
ProducerGinger 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
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideD+[2]

Ginger Baker's Air Force is the 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[edit]

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[edit]

Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Da Da Man"Harold McNair7:16
2."Early in the Morning"Traditional; arranged by Ginger Baker11:13
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
3."Don't Care"Baker, Steve Winwood12:32
4."Toad"Baker12:59
Side 3
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Aiko Biaye"Remi Kabaka, Teddy Osei13:00
6."Man of Constant Sorrow"Traditional; arranged by Denny Laine3:50
Side 4
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Do What You Like"Baker11:47
8."Doin' It"Baker, Ric Grech5:26

Personnel[edit]

Musicians[edit]

Production[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart (1970) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[4] 37
US Billboard 200[5] 33

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Eder, Bruce. Ginger Baker's Air Force at AllMusic
  2. ^ a b 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 (59). New York: 46.
  4. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "Ginger Baker Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
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