668 Eric Clapton - Slowhand (1977)

 668 Eric Clapton - Slowhand (1977)

Studio album - Blues Rock



About the Act:

Eric Clapton started life as a baby, in Surrey, England, but soon became one of the best-known blues guitarists in the world, despite being English. His musical career spans from 1962 to the present, and as well as a solo career, he played in some rather well-known bands - The Yarbirds, Cream, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie and Derek & The Dominos. He has had 22 studio albums as a solo artist, several with the bands, a handful of collaborations, and guested on lots of other albums. He is known as "God" by some of his fans, and a "Slowhand", a reference to the fact that his guitar style is more about feel and texture than technicalities and speed. He is one of my favourite guitarists ever.

About the Album:

This was his fifth solo studio album. Apparently the band were drunk most of the time during the recording. It did well commercially and the critics were split. The opening song "Cocaine" has been criticised for being pro drugs, although Clapton says it is anti-drugs. It was written by JJ Cale.  The album title is also a nickname Eric was adopting (given to him by somebody else) indicative of his guitar style which is not speedy and technical, but slow and nuanced.

My History with this Album:

Surprisingly, little. I do have a copy of this album, but got it fairly recently, and have not listened to it much. Other albums around the time, I know very well, so this one is an exception. I know the first three tracks (Cocaine, Wonderful Tonight and Lay Down Sally) really well as they are on a live album I have played many, many times.

Review:

This is Clapton almost at his best in my opinion. The songs are mostly accessible blues rock, some slower ballads. The focus here is a rhythm section, soloing guitar lines and organ, giving a kind of blues/country/rock feel that is very likeable. The playing is good, and with good heart without being flashy. It's kind of Blues goes Pop really, and is Clapton starting to reach into the mainstream (by the time he hit the 80s he was hardly recognisable as Blues). Wonderful Tonight is probably his largest hit, and is slightly too schmaltzy for my taste. Lay Down Sally is an excellently poppy bob and sing-a-long-able. There's not a great deal of depth to the lyrics, although "The Next Time You See Her" is surprising when you get into it. Marcy Levy does some backing vocals and is featured more in a duet, she has a nice voice. Eric's voice is, as always, muted. It suits the music, but in a couple of tracks it sounds almost broken, very rough.

There's some great stuff on here, I can't knock it. It's Clapton, and therefore for me like a familiar-smelling blanket, warm, comfortable, and safe. If this were the only Clapton album in the world, I would probably play it more. He has done albums I like better.

8.3/10


Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/album/2c0bqDdHYpcyd8eQp55tbO

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA2-nXsHvm3KQ_wT2nHg-fr2Ys3XePAws

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slowhand



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