Eric Clapton [Deluxe Edition] [Remaster]

Performer: Eric Clapton
Artist: Stephen Stills; Sonny Curtis; Rita Coolidge; Leon Russell; Delaney & Bonnie
Engineer: Bill Halverson
Producer: Delaney Bramlett; Bill Levenson (Compilation)
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: lso out of print on CD on Polydor (531 819) - D01. Ultradiscs are mastered from the original master tapes using Mobile Fidelity's proprietary mastering technique, then plated with 24 karat gold and housed in a stress-resistant lift-lock jewel box. Personnel: Eric Clapton, Delaney Bramlett (guitar, vocals); Bobby Keys (saxophone); Jim Price (trumpet); Leon Russell, John Simon (piano); Bobby Whitlock (organ, vocals); Carl Radle (bass); Jim Gordon (drums); Sonny Curtis, Bonnie Bramlett, J.I. Allison (background vocals); Stephen Stills, Rita Coolidge. Recorded at Village Recorders, West Los Angeles, California in 1970. Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Delaney Bramlett, Jerry Allison, Rita Coolidge, Sonny Curtis, Stephen Stills, Bonnie Bramlett (vocals); Bobby Keys (saxophone); Leon Russell (piano); Jim Gordon (drums); Tex Johnson (percussion). Audio Mixers: Suha Gur; Delaney Bramlett; Tom Dowd. Liner Note Author: Scott Schinder. Recording information: A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (09/27/1969-03/??/1970); Island Studios, London, England (09/27/1969-03/??/1970); Olympic Sound Studios, Barnes (09/27/1969-03/??/1970); Sunset Sound Studios, Los Angeles, CA (09/27/1969-03/??/1970); Village Recorders, West Los Angeles, CA (09/27/1969-03/??/1970). Photographers: Tom Wilkes; Barry Feinstein. Arranger: Delaney Bramlett. With this, his first solo album, Eric Clapton did a complete 180 from his work of the previous five years. Gone were the long, jazzy solos and rootsy Chicago blues work. In their place, Clapton was stretching as a singer and seeking to define his own song forms, inspired by the Beatles, the Band, and his new found collaborators from the southern R&B circuit, Delaney And Bonnie. ERIC CLAPTON marks Clapton's first use of the Fender Stratocaster. Its high, wirey, percussive sound stands in stark contrast to the dark, fat, singing Gibson sounds Clapton had perfected with John Mayall, Cream and Blind Faith. This new Clapton sound is quite striking, from the twangy leads on his opening instrumental "Slunky," to the cutting feints and jabs which transform J.J. Cale's "After Midnight" into a Clapton signature piece. Positioned as it is between the legendary BLIND FAITH and LAYLA sessions, ERIC CLAPTON has long been underrated by fans and critics alike, but the roots of much of what Clapton's done since 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD can be found here: the pithy melodic style of "Blues Power," the country/gospel overtones of "Bottle Of Red Wine," and the confessional tone of "Let It Rain." In addition, ERIC CLAPTON is significant both as a showcase for Clapton's emerging vocal stylings and as a proving ground for his Dominoes rhythm section of drummer Jim Gordon, bassist Carl Radle and keyboardist/vocalist Bobby Whitlock. Eric Clapton's eponymous solo debut was recorded after he completed a tour with Delaney & Bonnie. Clapton used the core of the duo's backing band and co-wrote the majority of the songs with Delaney Bramlett -- accordingly, Eric Clapton sounds more laid-back and straightforward than any of the guitarist's previous recordings. There are still elements of blues and rock & roll, but they're hidden beneath layers of gospel, R&B, country, and pop flourishes. And the pop element of the record is the strongest of the album's many elements -- "Blues Power" isn't a blues song and only "Let It Rain," the album's closer, features extended solos. Throughout the album, Clapton turns out concise solos that de-emphasize his status as guitar god, even when they display astonishing musicality and technique. That is both a good and a bad thing -- it's encouraging to hear him grow and become a more fully rounded musician, but too often the album needs the spark that some long guitar solos would have given it. In short, it needs a little more of Clapton's personality. [In 2006, Universal released a Deluxe Edition of Eric Clapton, which contained Delaney Bramlett's previously unreleased original mix of the album on a second disc; containing one less song, it's looser than the Tom Dowd mix, but not quite as commercial, and not necessarily better -- but the subtle differences are worth hearing for die-hard fans. There are also previously unreleased versions of "Don't Know Why" and "I've Told You for the Last Time" here, an early version of "Let It Rain" called "She Rides," a King Curtis tune called "Teasin'" that features Clapton and Delaney Bramlett in support, plus two songs from Delaney & Bonnie that feature Clapton on guitar: "Comin' Home" and "Groupie (Superstar)."] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Rolling Stone (9/3/70, p.44) - "...a warm, friendly record...Clapton's voice is a revelation...mean guitar..." Q (p.122) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[The] horn-heavy gospel-soul troupe swings like leaves in the breeze, while EC plays thrilling bee-sting Stratocaster guitar..." Q (11/96, p.147) - 3 Stars (out of 5)

Over the course of four decades, Eric Clapton has carried the British blues legacy into the mainstream of pop music. From his mid-1960s days with the Yardbirds and John Mayall, through his years as guitar god with Cream and Blind Faith, and eventually to his more laid-back solo albums, Clapton has remained one of rock's most successful musicians. Given his guitar-superstar status, Clapton has played alongside the biggest musical acts of the 20th century, from soloing on the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," to performing at the Band's LAST WALTZ, to recording an album with B.B. King. Overcoming numerous setbacks and tragedies, old Slowhand has settled nicely into a long and prolific career.

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