Clapton discussion (Page 2 of 6)

I was nothing but a Beatles guy until Clapton played on the White Album. Bought Blind Faith still a favorite of mine. Got Then Play On first then worked back to all the other Fleetwood Mac Albums. Have been a fan Fleetwood Mac through all the changes and I mean all the changes. It took me awhile to appreciate Clapton. I have my prefered albums and some I hardly play. What I like most about him is he kept making them. Even with his drug and drink problems. I only wish Peter could of kept it together.

I will agree with Duncan that during the same time period 67 to 70 Greeny was the more prolific artist. However Clapton over the years has cemented his legend by producing over the years a body of work that has remained relevent through out his long career. He has made the blues palatable for many. He has made good pop records. I don't think you have to write everything to be a great artist you just have to make them your own.

I will agree that his book was a dissapointment. It did help explain some of the reasons he moved in the directions he did. I am a fan of Clapton. I just had to aquire a taste for him. Kind of like wine. I don't know if I will ever aquire a taste for wine though.

But I stay away from the Gary Moore discussions nowadays.

Yes agreed!  BALANCE is an oft neglected art form.  It's what I try to give my kids.

Not my poor wife though
Poor thing teeters on the edge
Well, she's never bored

"This is a credit to Clapton, but I will always feel that this recognition is also due to many of the founding fathers, his contemporaries and younger artists such as Joe."  Greenose, some of the youth, but not the majority, are interested in the founding fathers enough to go back and listen to the original at least once...I know my "jimmy page is god son" dug into the old blues after he read a Zep book and also Jack White's covers on a few had him go back and listen to the original.  You won't be happy with some of his comments about some of the real old blues stuff, so I won't repeat it ...BUT if it wasn't for the new guys, Joe included, covering the old guys, the majority of listeners wouldn't be aware of the old stuff.

Yes, me too Jeff, I mentioned Gary Moore, after hearing his versions of Oh Pretty Woman and As The Years Go Passing by I started to listen to Albert King, Otis Rush via All Your Love, and Jimmy Rogers via Clapton's covers on From The Cradle. Often I've preferred the original. Possibly like Angela's son, I've got into Son House after hearing the White Stripes version of Death Letter Blues, Junior Kimbrough from the Black Keys etc.  Naturally through Joe too I have tracked down originals of tracks like Burning Hell, Man Of Many Words, Highwater and more. In some cases I prefer the originals, in some I prefer the covers, but its all good if it leads to more music exploration! 

As Joe has rightfully pointed out, some songs have been overcovered.  I don't think my MP3 player could stand another version of Sweet Home Chicago, Mustang Sally, Red House, Hoochie Coochie Man or Sky Is Crying!  So I love it when artists gig at little deeper when it comes to cover versions.

Keith, you comment is in jest but is is certainly partly true.  By 1970 Clapton had started his solo career, Hendrix was dead and Green had retreated within himself, Gallagher was in my opinion the best when it came to the period 1971 to 1976 releasing a superb series of studio albums, live records and sessions for older bluesmen, take your pick with any release from Deuce to Calling Card, he was by far the most consistent performer.  The story of Rory has been badly told too, with much of his decline (and liver damage) being due to a reliance on prescribed drugs, to combat anxiety and a fear of flying, rather than simply alcohol abuse as has been widely suggested,

Its probably inaccurate to suggest there was one great guitarist of all times.  You could start 100 years ago with Charley Patton, then Son House then Robert Johnson, moving to Muddy Waters, Hubert Sumlin, the three Kings, Buddy Guy and Otis Rush. The batton then passed to  Clapton, Hendrix and Green in the late 1960s, Gallagher and Page in the 1970s, Stevie Ray Vaughan in the 1980s, Gary Moore's blues revival in the 1990s and bang up to date with Joe Bonamassa! 

Thanks for all your contributions to date, it has been an interesting discussion and has helped me learn a little more about why Clapton is held in such reverence. Actually now I start to appreciate some of the reasons that Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan receive more praise than some of the others.  The first of these is understandably a lack of knowledge of those who shined brighter earlier. Hopefully this discussion may encourage us to listen to some of the other past masters. The second is the fact both Clapton and Vaughan were seen to overcome their personal demons which sadly afflicted some of the others.  These are qualities which cannot be underestimated when comes to a full assessment.  Happy New Year!

I agree totally with Greennose on his assessment of Clapton.  Everything he stated rings true.  But, if you ask any average Joe with just a passing knowledge of contemporary music, you'll find few who have ever heard or listened to the likes of the "other" great English guitarists except Clapton.

To be honest Phil, its not really about selling out for me, its about the quality of the music. I don't feel the quality of Clapton's solo works matches the quality of his earlier works.  Clapton may be the acceptable white face of the blues but in my opinion there are and were far other artists who may not have been as active for a long period in the music industry as Clapton, but who were worthy of greater praise.

It would be a dull place if we agreed on everything, but from what I can see the response has been mixed and I'm heartened to see there are others that sympathise or agree with my point of view.