There's only one reason to watch The Spencer Davis Group: Gimme Some Lovin'--Live 1966, but it's compelling: the chance to see the young Steve Winwood in action. Still a teenager at the time of this eight-song, 1966 gig (filmed in black-and-white in Finland), Winwood was a genuine prodigy, a superior lead guitarist and organ player and an astonishingly precocious singer. Such was his dominance of the group that rhythm guitarist and nominal leader Davis, bassist Muff Winwood (Steve's brother), and drummer Peter York were relegated to the roles of sidemen--very capable sidemen, as the entire quartet plays with considerable drive and commitment, but one need only listen to a few moments of Davis' lead vocal on the Elmore James standard “Dust My Blues” (a.k.a. “Dust My Broom”) to know who was the real star of this show. Winwood does nothing to dispel the notion that his principal influence was Ray Charles; indeed, he tackles “Mean Woman Blues” and especially “Georgia on My Mind,” two tunes indelibly associated with Charles, but acquits himself well on both counts, and the Davis Group's three biggest hits (“Gimme Some Lovin',” “I'm a Man,” and “Keep on Runnin'”) sound terrific here, enhanced by Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Despite everything that came after--Traffic, Blind Faith, lots of solo albums--this period may still stand as the best work of Winwood's career. The DVD includes a dreary 1967 documentary (the Winwood brothers were gone by then) with a German voiceover, sans subtitles. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (S. Graham)
The Spencer Davis Group: Gimme Some Lovin'--Live 1966
(2005) 92 min. DVD: $19.95. Music Video Distributors (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 20, Issue 3
The Spencer Davis Group: Gimme Some Lovin'--Live 1966
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