Slowhand
essential recording
Clapton had already established himself as a guitar legend by the time he released Slowhand. His heroin habit long behind him, Clapton’s songwriting mastery was fully evident on the album, particularly in the stunning ballad “Wonderful Tonight.” It fully actualized all of the potential hinted at in his earlier “Promises,” and Clapton trusted himself enough to slow things down. Some of his most expressive guitar work can be found throughout this album, not jus [Read More...]
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After his major comeback in 1974 with 461 Ocean Boulevard, Eric Clapton shied away from the mainstream with his next two releases. There’s One In Every Crowd & No Reason To Cry. With Slowhand, he returned to the sounds that made 461 a hit. On his first solo album, he had a major triumph with J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight”. He returns to the Cale catalog for another triumph, the searing “Cocaine”. The song has a propulsive riff and a ringing guitar solo. On the flip side of that is “Wonderful Tonight” which is built around his waiting for his wife to get ready for a party. The song is among the prettiest things he’s ever done and it his easy picking of the guitar shows that subtle playing is just as powerful as in your face power chords. “Lay Down Sally” has a country flavor and was a big hit becoming his second top ten single and peaking at number three. The best song on the album is the lengthy “The Core”. The song has some marvelous vocal interplay between Mr. Clapton and Marcy Levy and some stellar guitar work. Slowhand was a return to the top ten for Mr. Clapton reaching number three in early 1978.
Slowhand is clearly one of Eric Clapton’s stronger solo releases. Whereas there are plenty of guitar solos and effects, many of these tunes are quite pleasing. A little bit mellow but certainly quite focused.
The lead off track, Cocaine features a very distnictive riff and steady instrumental support. Like the gutiar solo in the middle. Wonderful Tonight will always be known as a classic wedding song. One of Eric’s best compositions. Lay Down Sally features some mellow guitar picking and a nice chugging rhythm. Next Time You See Her features some good drumming by Jaime Oldaker in addition to some tasty guitar licks. We’re All The Way is a pleasant focused ballad.
The second half kicks off with a riveting duet between Eric and Marcy Levy on the Core. Super guitar solos by George Terry and Eric as well as a good saxaphone break by Mel Collins. May You Never is a catchy tune with cute vocal styling by Eric. Mean Old Frisco is a fine blues number and Peaches And Diesel is a pretty instrumental with touching guitar parts.
A solid if not overly spectacular release that showcases the mellow side of Eric Clapton.
This is, in my personal opinion, by far the best Eric clapton album. We all have our own choice of music & albums of favourite Rock stars are no different.
The album starts with Cocaine. I never get tired of listening to cocaine -the best song on this album – great tunes, amazing vocals. wonderful tonight is my next favourite – the classic Hit that you will occasionally hear in soap operas. If you are on the romantically inclined side, you will love this love song. “Lay down sally” is another big hit song and I dont have to say more. “Next time you see her” is one of those repetitive catch-line songs that you cannot get enough out of and you find yourself singing the line over and over again when you are at work.
You have to have an acquired taste to enjoy “We’re all the way”. “The core” – Eric comes out with his strong guitar skills on this one. Its simply awesome. It also has very nice vocals of Marcy Levy. “May you never” and “Mean old frisco” are good songs if you are in the right mood – listening to good songs mood! “Peaches and diesel” is a Rich guitar/ drums instumental piece which at first sounds like “wonderful tonight” but its really not and it just sounds wonderful.
I have been listening to the vinyl format of this album but I recently switched to CD. I do have to confess that I like listening to vinyl because I think certain albums sound much better on vinyl but thats just me. vinyl or CD, there is a reason why Eric clapton is nicknamed “slowhand”. Dont take my word for it. listen to the album and you will find out that I was right afterall!