I heard last night that guitarist Alvin Lee had died, at the age of 68, on Wednesday in Spain from surgical complications. I am sure the name doesn’t mean much to a lot of you but to those of you who grew up in the time of Woodstock, his name brings up memories of one of the more memorable performances from that show. Lee was the leader of the British band Ten Years After and their frantic version of I’m Goin’ Home took off when the documentary and soundtrack of that festival came out soon after. It was electrifying stuff , then and now, and was one of the definitive moments of that landmark show. I know that it really stood out for me even with all of the the many other incredible performances.
Unfortunately, he always felt that the attention that the Woodstock performance brought forced them in a different musical direction, more pop and away from the electric blues that he so loved and which their earlier success was built. It’s one of those instances where success is a double-edged sword.
Lee’s biggest hit here, besides the Woodstock performance, was the 1971 song I’d Love to Change the World, which hit the Top 40 here. It has a great sound and in many ways expresses the chaos and uncertainty that marked the late 60’s and early 70’s. Lee’s playing on this cut is memorable. Here it is, in memory of Alvin Lee.
Redtree Times 
when i read the title, my mind immediately jumped to this song, which was playing in my head before i opened the notice.
i absolutely loved this song and still do. i had never heard of ten years after, though i bought the 8-track the summer that i was on a barrel-racing circuit. ‘i’d love to change the world’ was all but my mantra that summer when woodstock was a long long way from the mississippi delta!
thank you for this lovely tribute.
z
It’s funny that you mention your 8-track. I first heard Ten Years After on my brother’s 8-track player and still remember knowing where the tracks were on the tape so that I click around to catch it again and again. No fast forward on those tapes. Like you, I loved that song and still do. I know I still have that uncertainty that Alvin has in the song…
On Fri, Mar 8, 2013 at 6:55 AM, Redtree Times