Back in the 1970s, guitarist Eric Clapton stepped out of the spotlight of rock and roll and worked on putting himself together both personally and musically. At a time when many guitarists were trying to see who was the “fastest gun in the West,” Clapton quietly put together a set of subdued studio albums and self effacing concert shows that tipped his cap to the music that got him to fall in love with music in the first place, the blues. This 4cd and single dvd boxed set has “Slowhand” material that includes the entire albums 461 Ocean Blvd, There’s One In Every Crowd and E.C. Was Here. A bucketload of unreleased material that includes alternate and rehearsal takes is included here, as well as remixes and expanded versions of tunes that will have your heart flutter. A cd of Clapton with his axe hero Freddie King is a true joy, as is the dvd/blue ray of the sessions that has enhanced sound quality.
The casual intimacy of the sound and feel of 461 Ocean Blvd was not appreciated at the time, but in retrospect, it’s easy to see how these sessions set the tone for present day material by the likes of Mark Knopfler and even indie artists, where simple material such as “Let It Grow” and the acoustic/dobro takes of “Please Be With Me” and “Give Me Strength” now sound like paradigm shifts. Relaxed yet heartfelt sessions that brought out roots music on EC Was Here mix American folk with American Church, and don’t miss a beat. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” sounds bona fide, and sits well right along side “Singing the Blues” and “Better Make It Through Today” and even a take of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” makes sense here. The concert material from the 1974 Long Beach Arena concert as well as the songs from a multitude of other gigs contain no flash or showing off of chops; “Badge” and “Crossroads,” as well as the anthem “Layla” are all welcomed by the guitar-worshipping crowd, but Clapton is self effacing while giving tribute to the music and not the attitude. A session with Freddie King is a joy, with the two pairs of six strings have fun with “TV Mama” and a previously unissued “Boogie Funk.”
Sort of dismissed by guitar freaks at the time, this material has held up amazingly well, in fact better than the guys who were shredding their strings during the same period. Impressive retrospective!