Jimmy Witherspoon with young Robben Ford on guitar! Nothing's Changed (1972/73)

from 'Black Omnibus TV show', taped in Hollywood, Ca, 1972 or january 1973
Jimmy Witherspoon : vocal
Robben Ford : guitar
Stan Poplin : bass
Jim Baum : drums
Paul Nagel : piano

[@arthurblackhistoric]

Holy cow!!! Robben would only have been around 20 or 21 at the time, and yet his playing had so much maturity and finesse.

[@cardoma]

Wow. A very young Robben Ford just playing his heart out. Love it.

[@adaptiveagile]

only thing cooler than Witherspoon with Ford is a James Earl Jones Intro. Triple play!

[@Geotubest]

Well said! All of them legends!

[@kettymartire7660]

😱😱😱😱 mamma mia che meraviglia di bluesman....che blues meraviglioso grazie per la bella musica che ci hai regalato❤❤❤❤❤

[@romanslegion7771]

What a fantastic accompaniment. Robben Ford is just a phenomenon. He just juiced up Mr Witherspoon , as well as the rest of us , with his unparalleled voice on guitar. Thank you,Robben , for showing us the way.

[@BHAKTIBROPHY]

Love the story of how Robin and his band started playing with Jimmy. And thank goodness, because there's nothing like two Masters together!!

[@JonaBlend]

That's the Gibson Super 400 that Robben was killing it on back then. Stan Poplin on bass.

[@crystalgoode8411]

I listen to this version of this song at least three or four times a day when I wake up! This is what KZbin is all about. NOT the trash thrown at us with foul language and behaviour!! Seeing this over and over again imagining I was there in person.... phenomenal and priceless moment

[@AndrewVOdom]

this clip may go down as one of the all-time greatest performances captured on tape...Thank you

[@murph3001]

I totally agree ____ never gets old

[@voskresene]

Wow, Robben was already tearing it up in the early 70's. I guess that guy was born a bad ass.

[@tonyaustin2506]

voskresene You should hear his brother play harmonica.

[@BITESIZEJONES]

For sure man. Soul and theory

[@53jakey53]

His brother played most of the harmonica on Talk to Your Daughter I believe.

[@sclutovic]

@@tonyaustin2506 in my humble opinion, Mark Ford is the greatest blues harp player of all time (or at least in the handful of the greatest - like James Cotton, Carey Bell, Charlie Musselwhite, James Montgomery, etc.) Virtuosity runs through the Ford family

[@sclutovic]

The clips of the Ford Bros at Sierra Center stage (there was 1 long clip of the entire concert but can't seem to find it) - but there are shorter clips of individual tunes from that evening's performance) showcase Mark and his unbelievable blues harp virtuosity and deep deep soulful understanding of the blues.. check out Ford Bros live at Sierra Center stage clips on YT

[@jimmunding6009]

One of the most soulful blues recording ever made.....Spoon left us way too soon......

[@jakeizlove]

That, good people, is what they call dynamics.

[@pedro-tp3nd]

Thats the first time i have ever heard jimmy witherspoon. Mind Blown.

[@loveone4292]

Same for me

[@johnpriceii8097]

I watched the video to hear some early Robben Ford and was not disappointed. I just want to say I had never heard Mr. Witherspoon before, but he also has that rare musical gift that puts one on another level than most performers.

[@murph5438]

Hey Spoon you were great then --------- nothing's changed --- thank you so much for this masterpiece ---RIP soul man ---

[@96cmb]

one of the best blues performances I ever heard Spoon and Robben the authenticity of Spoon singing has no pair You can believe he lived every note he sings about...and Robben with all the respect to Kingfish and Gales, is the blues genius of our times

[@jloveyork]

Wow! I heard Ribbon talk about this gig but to actually see it!!!! Amazing!!! Thank you very much!!!

[@JustAnotherBlader]

goddam robben that was phenomenal my life is a little better cause i heard this performance

[@GuiitarBilly]

I first saw / heard Robben in 1973 at a mainly jazz guitar festival/concert called Guitar Explosion. I was a kid and went to see headliner Roy Buchanan, who along with Robben & an aging T-Bone Walker were the only non-jazz guys on an incredible bill. Robben Killed it playing his stunning jazzy blues on that jazz box thru a cranked Fender Twin or Super & the older (I called them ‘blue-hairs’) audience loved him. Incredible night, somewhat life changing for this young rock guitar fan. We also got to see/hear Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall and the amazing duo of Herb Ellis & Joe Pass. Unfortunately Roy had a just ok night and actually said he didn’t think he had any business headlining, following those world class players. I always say about that evening that I was a rock, blues & country guitar fan who walked in to see Roy’s tele tricks and walked out a major fan of jazz guitar, and a lifelong fan of Joe Pass (RIP, his music/playing lives on) & Robben...who I still see live every chance I get. Heads up, Robben has a new album coming, first single - an instrumental called ‘8-Cent Beer’ (I think) -is great.

[@Guitfiddlejase]

Damn dude!! You saw/heard Kenny Burrell. Jim Hall. ..and then Joe and Herb in the same day?!?! I can't even imagine man.. Buchanan was right. He shouldn't have headlined that gig. Of "The Greats", the only one I heard with my own eyes was Joe. It was in Colorado Springs back in 1986. Joe was apparently in town visiting Johnny Smith (ok I DID see Johnny many times at his guitar shop, but..) Joe was featured that night with Ella Fitzgerald. Tommy Flanagan was the piano player. Joe Pass was as great a guitarist nee' as great an improvisor as I have ever seen. Anyway, it must have been something else seeing all those heavies in one day man!

[@GuiitarBilly]

@@Guitfiddlejase one of the best things about that concert was that it put Joe on my radar. After that night I’d go see him whenever he came through town if i wasn’t gigging…probably 8 or 9 times over the years. The last time was at the original Yoshis. He was playing sick but we never knew. He was smiling and playing great as usual. There are a couple excellent live albums from that 2 night run. Pretty sure Joe Pass was a once in a lifetime talent. I’ve read that Robben Ford is a Joe fan.

[@billdarnell5650]

Thank you for putting this out there. I forgot how soulful Jimmy Weatherspoon was. And of course Robben is an awesome accomplice.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Nothing's changed Jimmy, apart from those white kids playing behind you brother. Robben Ford! Damn.

[@bluespeace01]

killer performance.....look at Robben's face during his solo....amazing!!!!!!!!

[@sclutovic]

Christophe -- Thanks for all your great Robben clips !!

[@ChristoMusic]

You're welcome Nick ;-)

[@WheelchairBandit]

Thank you SO much for sharing these videos! I've always wanted to see footage of Robben from this era.

[@geetarnut]

Brian Mayes Robben knew what he wanted to say/play,,, even "way back" in in 1972!

[@bobaldo2339]

Spoon was magnificent back then - great smooth & unmistakable voice, and terrific delivery.

[@glassncobalt]

Saw this show and band, so good on all fronts. 'Got to see and hear the great Jimmy Witherspoon and Robben Ford for the first time. Been following since.

[@murph3001]

In July of 24 this performance is still and will always be great. Spoon nothins changed

[@murph5438]

Hate to repeat myself but this piece keeps blowing me away ---- a bombastic superb performance for all time --- what a great cat he was --- go on Spoon !!

[@murph3001]

Murp h sorry bbombastic is the wrong word. Greatness

[@murph3001]

Sorry. Bombastic is s wrong word here I misused the word ______ fantastic is the word

[@murph3001]

Sorry misused bombastic here

[@murph3001]

Bombastic _____ misused the word sorry_____

[@murph3001]

Sorry bombastic is the wrong word here.

[@murph3001]

One of great performances EVER

[@aureliobrighton1871]

This is THE allegory for Presence ... all of them present are full of it to the loveliest brim . and that huge Jazzbox R.F. is wringing out . wonderful 🌷:)

[@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out]

deep deep deepest down home/downtown blues. that means. The real deal in the sound and groove with a touch of the sophisticated jazz harmony......Les McCann Lou Rawls Jimmy Lewis Jimmy witherspoon Jimmy Smith, all those great Jimmys and my northern Cali homeboys Chris Cain, Robben and Stan here.....I shoot for the stars.....I want to make it sound that good. call me Stan Call me Robin call me Chris.......I still got it......better than ever.. I aint even lyin..I want to play....If you're in town .....I can hook you up a gig that will pay for your hotel and meals in expensive Frankfurt and maybe a little left over I aint even lyin Call me.

[@Geotubest]

Damn this was great. Love Robben Ford. Jimmy Witherspoon..wow, that voice!

[@murph3001]

A super great blues man Wow

[@tedjumble8826]

Jimmy was a THUNDER:I like so much that SUPERVOICE.

[@88pynogrl]

Powerful!

[@murph3001]

Whenever I get back to this the greatness shines as bright as ever ____ for all times ___ nothin changed

[@murph5438]

Once more --- and I do ask this in the light of great music ----- does it get any better than this !!

[@frederickcooper3797]

Blues at its best. What a team...

[@ClarenceHW]

Witherspoon testifies! Robben had his shit together early on.

[@robertosozio3425]

Nice fantastic video great voices nice jazz Blues,, very nice

[@giuseppeantonucci6333]

Il signore del blues de luce e un robben Ford guitar grandioso

[@timstaffell]

Blimey! Jimmy Witherspoon, Robben Ford AND Darth Vader!

[@vmat1000]

It was around this time i first read about Robben in Guitar Player magazine saying Rock music made him physically ill. I somehow knew he was a deep player though i hadn't heard him. Funnily enough, GP called him on this a year or two later after session work, most was rock related. Its all good..

[@alcallme8527]

Robbin, a m.f-er from day one!!!

[@marilynstevenson865]

Magic! As simple...and as profound...as that!! Thank you for the upload!!

[@fordfanjpn]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. Robben had a guitar face in those days. ;-)

[@Smoothways]

Can you not hear Mike Bloomfield and Peter Green all the way through in Robben Ford' s solo?! Have you ever heard a full blown jazz guitar ever being played with such overdrive - such an agressive tone? I can imagine back in the days some traditionalists thinking of this as blasphemy and the biggest sin in life! For those surprised to see a RF in his early 20s jaming with the greatest - reading about his life he already entered the big stages with his brothers as a teen!

[@johnwilson1997]

Well the tone reminded me of Eric C, Have You Heard solo on the Beano album.

[@discotex2236]

Incredible gem!

[@coravisser3846]

Brilliant how good is this wauw amazing played.Thank you for uploading Cristophe Madrona

[@TheLittleSidekick]

What a joy to my ears...!!! Thank you for sharing this.

[@LucianoRiestra]

Thank you!! thank you very much!!

[@СергейБелый-м4г]

Красивейший блюз !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@biffdorkinton555]

So glad the cameras were rolling for this!

[@tunesmith.blue.]

Thanks for posting, lucky enough to have seen them !

[@tomszambecki1329]

Look up the Charles Ford Band for A whole badass family of Fords. Saw Witherspoon at the Golden Bear in Santa Monica around this time with Hollywood Fats. Also badass guitar. Great moment to see the Master

[@fredpg]

Spoon w/ Hollywood Fats?!! Lucky you!

[@berndkoelbl3852]

Wonderful ! Thanks for uploading, Christophe

[@kettymartire7660]

Che voceeeee💥💥🔥🔥💯💯💯💯💯

[@jellison7]

Wow! Classic--thank you so much for posting!

[@zippel78]

excellent video thanks for sharing it.

[@chazsinger]

Thanks for posting this gem!

[@lpgoog]

Wow!!!😮❤

[@mindisaction]

Shout out the true man!... ✊🏿

[@WilliamKroupaJr.]

Awesome upload! Thank you for sharing! :)

[@loveone4292]

Thank you so much for this video

[@RAMLIA1]

Love it !

[@fatsocks352]

Super 400 sounds amazing !

[@bonnie1097]

aww! a young James Earl Jones! thanks for sharing

[@bobbysbackingtracks]

Bad to the core! Wow.

[@railcar123]

Gotta love Robben's Super4

[@JohnEAdams]

This awesome -;0)

[@fjt3637]

the oldest footage I ve ever seen of Robben since then.

[@FrettieFingers]

Epic Robben

[@DizzyKrissi]

Wow, true emotions.

[@valterpieri9904]

GRANDE ROBBEN ON SUPER 400

[@rawdonwaller]

What i wouldn't give to hear Jimi play this. I'm a long time Robben Ford fan (30y). I think this performance is superb. Yet, i feel Hendrix would have built it up more gradually, and ended it more emphatically.

[@ARibas-lb5zr]

Awesome

[@sethcrook4374]

brilliant

[@stephanleo]

Allegedly this was the tone Alexander Dumble based his amp on.

[@reggiechavez1747]

A week or two after this tv show (PBS, KCET, Los Angels), I went saw Spoon, with Robben Ford, and the band seen in the video, (minus the piano, if memory serves me well), at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach Ca. The band starts the evening with Robben playing alto sax ! And sounding good!. When Spoon came out on stage,, Robben switched to guitar,. I remember him playing the Super 400, with what appeared to be a tweed Bassman, or Bandmaster head, with a tweed, two 12 cabinet . Cranked. It was a jaw dropping performance.

[@jimpowell6964]

Wow, indeed!

[@sacho747]

great moments yeah

[@lameredechat]

I grew up with the Ford boys in Ukiah. They used to practice and we'd go crazy then. The whole town loved the blues. Thanks guys.

[@freakyoffspring]

That's how you do it. Bliss!

[@lucasstrofer1788]

🔥

[@mikegreen5619]

whoa!

[@raffaele8234]

Robben's mojo working.............wowwwwww

[@AntonioBetancourt48]

gigante...

[@sargentppeper]

WOW!! :)

[@Yourbankaccount]

Wow, didn't expect Darth Vader here! Hahah

[@davidallen346]

Darth Vader loves the Blues

[@steveprice3894]

..........the DENTS still on the pillow where you laid your LOVELY HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@fyrcrack1]

Was that James Earl Jones in the beginning ?

[@ChristoMusic]

fyrcrack1 yes it's him

[@howlindonster6131]

Oh yeah ...

[@hanskung3278]

Damn, that's a big ole fat guitar

[@rawdonwaller]

Before Darth Vader went to the 'Dark' side.

[@StefanRydberg]

Yeah - Darth Vader 😎

[@ChristoMusic]

another great Jimmy & Robben's video here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmjIg4GcbZiiarM

[@YaoEspirito]

Only a badass holds a bass that way.

[@藤ドラ]

なるほど、これが正しいブルースクラップなんですね。

[@kostasantonopoulos1478]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@alnaqba4986]

Is that Larry Taylor on bass?

[@ChristoMusic]

you can read this information on the video's details

[@c.s.mcleod7383]

Apparently......nothings changed.

[@thomasvick1755]

R.F. could get great tone out of a rubber band stretched across a broom stick