Eric Clapton The
Blues
Eric Clapton: The Blues is a two disc compilation that is
comprised of one disc of studio tracks and one side of live material.
The emphasis is blues tracks and guitar playing so if you are looking Clapton's
pop
hits this is not for you.
The material selected
for
Eric Clapton: The Blues certainly fills
a niche. How? First, the studio material emphasizes songs from his
lesser known albums avoiding duplication. Second, the live side from
disc 2 provides a strong sampling of Eric in concert between 1974
and 1978.
Easily
the best song from the studio side is "Have You Ever Loved a
Woman" from his album Layla and Assorted Love Songs.
From the 461 Ocean Boulevard session "Ain't
That Loving You" offers good slide overtones.
The live material takes most of
its material from Crossroads 2, with two songs from Just One
Night, and one previously unreleased. "Have You Ever
Loved A Woman" is one of the better songs showing great control
of sustain. The rendition of the ballad from the Slowhand
album, "Wonderful Tonight," is beautifully done in all respects;
the introductory guitar melody, the singing, and the guitar solo. Two Robert
Johnson covers are included, "Kind Hearted Woman" and
"Crossroads." The latter was a Cream staple; this take is
at a slightly slower pace with less of a rock tone. The two tracks
from Just One
Night are excellent with compliments to some strong bass work by
Dave Markee.
For Eric
Clapton fans seeking to hear some of his material from lesser known
albums and /or find Crossroads 2 too much, this is a superb
collection. Overall, the material was well selected. A chronological
song sequence would have been an improvement. Barry
Small
©
Grade B
Many
of the artists that Eric Clapton covers can be found in our Acoustic
Blues.
