Eric Clapton’s 1977 release of Slowhand was the followup to his change in attitude and direction created by his 1974 461 Ocean Boulevard. This one has Clapton (named “Slowhand” from his guitar shredding days with the Yardbirds) with a simpatico cast like Carl Radle/b, James Oldaker/dr and Dick Sims/key with some vocals by Yvonne Ellman and horns by Mel Collins. That’s about it, folks. Nice and understated, and it works like a church pot luck.
You’ve got here some straight ahead blues (Crudup’s “Mean Old Frisco”) a dash of revamped folk (JJ Cale’s “Cocaine Blues”) and a handful of mellow originals, of which “Next Time You See Her” and “Lay Down Sally” are the epitome of laid back jukin’. Clapton sounds so comfortable and at ease with himself here, you feel like he’s playing for himself in the living room and letting you in on it.
There is also a nice collection of concert material of Clapton at Hammersmith Odeon from 1977, and it includes some stellar versions of “Alberta,” “I Shot the Sheriff” “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and “Layla.” Clapton had finally beaten the demons of drug addiction, and his new lease on live is audible. One of the halcyon eras of the king of blue eyed blues guitar players.
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