Still, a three minute instrumental take on Dr Ross’ Cat's Squirrel (credited as Traditional, arr. Sam Splurge) actually does that pretty well, with a rolling riff from Clapton, blasts of harp following the riff and Baker thrashing away underneath. A flurry of scatty alrights from Bruce lead straight into a Clapton solo that in turn brings the harp back in. The whole thing twists and rolls quite magnificently, and it’s one of the overlooked gems on the album.
That’s not a description you’d be inclined to apply to Clapton’s vocal take on Robert Johnson’s Four Until Late. Fortunately Bruce does his stuff quite tastily on the harp solo, but along with Dreaming this is the album’s weak point. The harp extravaganza continues on Muddy Waters’ Rollin' and Tumblin' and here is where the difference in approach between American authenticity and British adaption comes into focus. This one’s right in Yardbirds style rave-up territory and leads into another often overlooked gem in their take on Skip James’ I'm So Glad, the other overlooked gem on the album.
On the surface there’s not much there in the lyric department, practically nothing beyond I’m so glad / I’m so glad / I’m glad I’m glad I’m glad but there’s a great riff and a sort of Sufi twirler Holy Roller vibe (it was, apparently, a spiritual in its original incarnation). The combination of riff, Claptonic solo, funky bass line and pounding drums works a treat and it’s probably my personal favourite on the album.
Given my rating of N.S.U, Sweet Wine, Spoonful, Cat’s Squirrel and Rollin’ and Tumblin’ (all of which will find themselves into Hughesy’s Top 1500 Most Played eventually) that’s a pretty big wrap.
The years have made me slightly more tolerant of drum solos, but repeated exposure to the monster that spawned hundreds of imitations has me inclined to reach for the shuffle button when the distinctive riff that leads into Ginger Baker’s solo extravaganza on Toad rears its ugly head.
As stated, I’ve mellowed a bit and as a drum solo this is better than most, but still...
They've remastered it and whacked it back out on iTunes for $10.99 with I Feel Free tacked onto the front, so what we’re looking at (or would be if some skinflint hadn’t gone for the Those Were The Days box set for $31.99 is the American version of the album with Spoonful restored to its rightful slot at the end of Side One.