A DVD of clips of the Spencer Davis Group while Stevie Winwood was in the lineup sounds enticing, even if it is unauthorized, and even if it is only 45 minutes long. But although the Footstomp label has put out some good DVDs, this one has to be considered a ripoff even by bootleg standards, as more than half of this material has been issued on official releases of clips from the German Beat Beat Beat show, the movie Ghost Goes Gear, and a 1967 Finnish TV program. As shown on this disc, the clips from Finnish television in particular are a real insult, as this not only features just a portion of the program available in full on the official Gimme Some Lovin' DVD, but also presents it in pretty awful visual quality, whereas the official release contains it in excellent condition. That does leave a few odds and ends that aren't easy to find elsewhere, like a decent 1966 version of "Keep on Running" from French TV, though the British 1965 clip of "My Babe" is real jiggly and the promo film for "I'm a Man" is a typical period mix of mod-psychedelic street footage and group hijinks. Sure, it would have been nice if some of these bits could have been added to Gimme Some Lovin', but everyone save completists should stick with Gimme Some Lovin' as the best visual record of the band.
Winwood Years
The Spencer Davis Group
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Winwood Years Review
by Richie Unterberger
