Topic: Eric Clapton

Hey everybody,

I saw the Crossroads DVD a few weeks ago and it made me listen to Eric Clapton again ... I used to like him a lot when I started listening to the Blues, but as I kept discovering all the other Blues artists I kind of stopped listening to Eric. Strange enough...
My dad and me even called one of his albums "Blues kitsch" - very harsh, isn´t it?!
Eric has helped to "popularize" the Blues(rock) a lot, maybe I thought he was the "Popstar" of Blues and that´s why I turned my back on him.

But as I said - watching the Crossroads Festival has made me listen to him again - I started with "From the Cradle" and isn´t "Blues before sunrise" a perfect song?! Love it...
What´s your opinion about Mr. Clapton? Has anybody read his autobiography? What´s your favourite album?
If anyone wants to share his/her thoughts - here´s the place smile .

Eva

P.S.: Oh my God, Eric´s outfit at the Crossroads Festival made me think about a special quote from a special person (I guess you MIGHT know him...): " I looked like a golf prodigy – it was sick. "   - man, that hat! wink

Re: Eric Clapton

One or two of us here are also members of the Clapton fan site. Take a look Eva... www.ericclapton.com

Geoff

never give up, never slow down
never grow old, never ever die young

Re: Eric Clapton

All I can say is, Who else still has the mojo at his age? Very few. Check out his song The Core. My favorite.

http://www.deezer.com/track/104776

No, this site is not run by Deezer.

"Unless you change direction, you are likely to end up where you are headed."
-Chinese proverb

Re: Eric Clapton

I've always loved Clapton.  I SOOO want to go to the Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood concert that's coming up (I forget the exact date) at Madison Square Gardens, but money-wise and distance-wise I can't see it happening.  I already know a couple other people who are going, and I'm so jealous.  I've only seen Clapton live once, in the mid-90s, and it was that blues tour (From the Cradle, maybe?) where he played all the old blues classics and only a few of his own songs... it was a great show, but I'd have liked to have heard more of HIS material.  I've seen Winwood once too, with Traffic in the mid-90s... now THAT was a terrific show.  Anyway, yeah, Clapton's great!  smile

--Vik cool

Re: Eric Clapton

Clapton deserves everyone's respect. One of the great blues players of all-time. Sure he likes to try out different styles of music, but even still, he always approaches those styles from a blues perspective.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

My ReverbNation page for Dees & Friends - check us out!
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Re: Eric Clapton

Hey Eva:

The BluesMistress brought the Crossroads II DVD set, as well as the Autobiography. The DVD is of course an incredible tribute to the Man, and his efforts to help others battling with personal demons.

The book is a great read. Very well written, and the style is very much like Eric talks. His interview recently with Larry King was amazing. There are some high highs, and many more crushing lows in his life.
I recommend it as wonderful accounting of the journey that he has had in arriving at Crossroads II.

I was at Crossroads I, and it was life changing for me.

RockinRon and The BluesMistress

Two kinds of women in this world. Theres naughty and there's nice
Any man will tell you that one is a virtue
And the other is a Vice.
Warren Haynes-Inside Outside Women Blues #3-By a Thread

Re: Eric Clapton

I've always loved Clapton (even through his rough spots).  Cream is still one of my all time favorite bands, hands down.

Well, the night I was born
Lord I swear the moon turned a fire red

Re: Eric Clapton

I have been a fan of Clapton for many years. I first heard about Joe on the Slowhand mailing list.  I got Clapton's biography for Christmas and it is on deck to read next.  I have read that Clapton loves the blues, but deep down he is shy and did not want offend anyone by being the young white guy playing the blues.  I believe that is why he has waited until he has "paid his dues" so to speak, to do some pure blues recordings.  My favorite Clapton album varies with my mood, could be anything from Back Home, Pilgrim, From the cradle, Journeyman to 461 and Eric Clapton.  Some of his more recent albums that I do not like the studio versions so well, are much better live with a real drummer.  I think that is a very similar effect to Joe.  Songs that are just ok on the CD are fantastic live.

just my opinion,

Jim

Re: Eric Clapton

My brother called me yesterday...said he just bought Erics new book for my B-day that just passed...it's in the mail...now if I get it one piece!

Dave

Re: Eric Clapton

Hi Eva,  there are a lot of folks on this forum that are really into Clapton.  We have seen him multiple times over the years, even got to go the Cream Reunion concert in NYC back in 2005 and this past summer at the Crossroads II festival.  I have always had a lot of respect for him and what he has been through and what he is accomplishing.  What other artist would auction off his favorite guitars for charity?  His music always touches the soul and yes there was a time that he was somewhat commerialized but he is far from that now.  If you ever get a chance to see him perform live, go for it, you will not be disappointed!!!

Music is good for the Soul...

11 (edited by Angela 2008-01-26 11:28:37)

Re: Eric Clapton

Hi Eva and everyone else,

Clapton's restless nature seems to have paralleled his musical journey, he's experimented with everything.  He has created music for all moods, but overall I think his emotions pour into the blues and that's where he is truly at his best...Same Old Blues, Blues before Sunrise, Old Love, Before You Accuse Me, etc. etc...yes!  I think of Clapton as one of my top Guitar gods with the lower case "g" and on a deep philosophical level, Clapton has connected with the man upstairs in the last ten years, as these have been his happiest years of his life...meeting his soul mate, having a family to come home to, staying sober and giving back.  I love the closing sentences of his autobiography. WARNING-don't read if you don't want to see...   "Music survives everything, and like God, it is always present... It always found me, and with God's blessing and permission it always will."  I think Clapton feels he is on this earth for a reason!  I hope he lives a long and happy life!

I don't have any one favorite, but love all the early Cream/Blind Faith/Delaney/Dominoes...all the bluesy stuff, as Joe says, mixed right in there with the pop on Behind the Sun and enjoy the new stuff in a different way, like Back Home/Escondido...such a diverse catalog of music from the ultimate Journeyman.  Eva, with you being a Beatle fan, if you don't already have George's Live from Tokyo, check that out w/Eric on that tour, both Crossroads and I like the live One More Car, One More Rider dvd and also enjoy Unplugged and Riding with the King (would love to see the 3 generations of bluesmen together!! ) I especially hope in my lifetime to see Joe and Eric play some guitar together!

Edited to add: I forgot to mention a couple of  things...I was distracted by ticketmaster and trying to surprise the hubby w/tickets to see comedian Ron White lol lol lol to celebrate our Anniversary, which also happens to be Clapton's birthday!

When I first read about Joe in that infamous GuitarOne article naming the up and coming new Guitar gods, Joe mentioned Clapton as his major influence, which actually had me going back to uncover some of Clapton's other projects that I wasn't listening to as much. 

And Eva, I think its really sweet how you and your Dad connect musically, he must be really special! smile

StringsforaCURE~Helping cancer patients one STRING at a time.
http://stringsforacure.com/

12 (edited by Barbara 2008-01-28 09:34:39)

Re: Eric Clapton

Hey Eva.  Have watched the Crossroads DVD and loved it!!  I just finished reading Eric's book last week.  Have to say it is a really easy read. He writes about his life story honestly.  He has many incredible highs and a tremendous amount of very low periods in his life.  You will know everything about Eric once you read the book.  It is simply amazing to me that he survived all his demons, addictions, one night stands, bad realtionships to have finally come to a peaceful, happy and loving point in his life with a family.  He will always be a huge guitar god to me.  Love Cream/Blind Faith/Dominoes and all his other stuff.  I just happened to listen to Layla last week and was completely blown away, as always when I hear that song, by the energy/force/beat along with his powerful voice singing.  Don't know if you have heard this before but he wrote that song for his first wife to be Patty Boyd (who at the time was married to George Harrison...he wanted her to leave George).  I read Patty's book first called, "Wonderful Tonight" (Eric wrote that song about her too) and then I read Eric's.  He is the man, he still has the MOJO and he passionately loves the blues!!!  Least we forget he looks pretty good at 62.  You should read his book........

                             Barbara smile

Re: Eric Clapton

Jane H. wrote:

tiny purple fishes

run laughing through her fingers

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
             It is
Blues From the Bottoms

Re: Eric Clapton

Clapton is easily one of my biggest influences on the guitar.  His tone, touch, style, tasteful playing, songwriting and voice are impecable.  A true timeless artist.

15

Re: Eric Clapton

Thank you my dear Bonabuddies - after all of your posts I want to "rediscover" Eric even more. I know what I´m going to read when my Uni exam-time is over (1 and a half weeks to go)... and Angela: I will look out for George´s live from Tokyo - I don´t have it up to now (just when you think you´ve got ALL the Beatles and post-Beatles stuff, you have to realize that you don´t smile).
Just listened to "Layla" again, what a fantastic, breathtaking song ... it´s one of the songs that you can listen to all over again and it still carrys you away (like Joe´s songs do...).
Thank you!

Eva

Re: Eric Clapton

Eva, this is all the proof you need about Clapton right here.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDZQ997nI2U

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

My ReverbNation page for Dees & Friends - check us out!
www.reverbnation.com/deesfriends

17

Re: Eric Clapton

Great video, thanks Deezer!
That was my good-night-video for today - I´ll have some good dreams now smile

Eva

Re: Eric Clapton

I liked that comment by Clapton at the end of the video: I play better when I'm challenged. I've noticed that with Joe too - like when he played with Walter Trout.

"Unless you change direction, you are likely to end up where you are headed."
-Chinese proverb