Eric Clapton

JakeK · Post by **JakeK** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:30 pm

Who here likes Eric Clapton, his guitar work and his bands Cream, Blind Faith and The Dominoes?

I've always admired Clapton, but I've been listening to a CD I bought last year called "Complete Clapton", which is, what I feel, the most definitive Clapton collection, for me. The man is one talented guitarist, and has played some of my favorite riffs and solos.

I was first turned onto Clapton when I was about 5 or 6, and my mom played a CD single of his with two songs called "My Father's Eyes" and "Change the World". I found them both catchy little singles. Then, fast forward to 2001 or 2002, when I'm 10 or 11, and I discover he's the one who played the solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". I knew from then he's a talented guitarist.

Now we're up to 2004, when I buy a DVD of "Concert for George". I'm impressed with the way he puts his stamp on the songs and (again) his guitar playing. 2007 sees me buying "Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert" and "The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus". He plays the solo that would intially be for George Harrison better than George himself played it! While "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is one of the standouts on "30th Anniversary"

At least one Louisiana radio plays the softer, acoustic version of "Layla" at least once a week, but when I first heard the harder-edged, jammed out original version of "Layla" by The Dominoes, I'm blown away at what an amazing riff is played.

Eric Clapton is probably #1 in my favorite lead guitarists. He can just look at his series of Fender Eric Clapton Strats (which I'm a huge fan of, because of Eric, not Townshend) and know he will give it his all. His recent performance with Bruce Hornsby on Jay Leno proves that he can still wail at 67(?) years old.

Who else is a Clapton fan? If you aren't, what are your problems with him?

kiramdear · Post by **kiramdear** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:37 pm

He's hit and miss with me since about '68. Way more hit than miss, though. Love his blues and rock stuff, but some of the softer pop work left me a bit indifferent. He's definitely on my short list.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:55 pm

Definitely one of my favourites!!

Especially his 'lesser' stuff that never got any airplay, like "Blow Wind Blow" and "I Can't Stand It".

Did some great early stuff with John Mayall too.... like "Bernard Jenkins".

winston · Post by **winston** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:00 pm

He had great potential when he was in Cream with Jack and Ginger. Like many others I was not thrilled when he moved to a Stratocaster as his main instrument, because he gave up his signature tone in the process. But I gave him another chance and (aside from his pop stuff which is not my fave) he is back in my top 10 as a guitar player. Much of his live stuff these days leaves me cold though because he ad libs far too much and has changed the live arrangements to many of my favourite songs to their detriment.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:21 pm

he ad libs far too much and has changed the live arrangements to many of my favourite songs to their detriment.

Unfortunately too true, Brian......

peewee · Post by **peewee** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:39 pm

I pretty much am in lock step with Brian here. EC was a big influence on me when I was coming up, especially the album John Mayall - Bluesbreakers aka "The Beano LP" from '66 -- one of the first if not the first record to feature a pairing of a Les Paul and a Marshall amp. Then it was his work with Cream that really did it for me and IMHO, I think that he was at the height of his creativity at this point. He had defined his own voice as a guitarist in this configuration. I also love his work with Blind Faith but oddly enough was never too keen on Derek and The Dominoes or the majority of his solo work.

Like Brian, I believe EC's playing is best suited for either a Les Paul or an ES-335. The humbuckers really add an extra degree of heft to his solos as well as added sustain. IIRC, Clapton has said that he was inspired by Buddy Guy's tone from the late '50s and early '60s and that's what lead him to the Strat -- much like he was trying to capture Freddie King's vibe when he picked up the Les Paul. However, he couldn't locate a P90 loaded LP and stumbled onto the '60 'burst.... and the rest is history!

egosheep · Post by **egosheep** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:59 pm

JakeK wrote: At least one Louisiana radio plays the softer, acoustic version of "Layla" at least once a week, but when I first heard the harder-edged, jammed out original version of "Layla" by The Dominoes, I'm blown away at what an amazing riff is played.

To me, the highlight of the whole affair is Duane Allman's slide guitar.

I've never been a fan of his. I own Bluesbreakers and like that. I'm not a fan of Cream, but I can at least see the appeal there... I definitely agree he was much better when playing an SG or 335. I'm not really into guitarists unless they play really great songs within a great group. Obviously it's a matter of taste, but with stuff like the Beatles or the Stones, it was the great songs that got me obsessed with the guitarists. Never really happened to me with EC.

antipodean · Post by **antipodean** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 12:58 am

Clapton set the benchmark for lead guitar work in the '60s, with a nod to the great bluesmen before him. Apart from Jimi Hendrix, I can't think of anyone who took guitar to a higher level. His style has been imitated so often that it's hard to remember how innovative he was. If he has become less frenetic and adventurous with age, that's pretty much a universal affliction.

xpitt · Post by **xpitt** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:44 am

Clapton surely set standards at the beginning , later a lot of talented guitar players came up so you could choose between a wide range of styles to listen to; but what really imprressed me much more was his singing improvement over the years. That's one thing that hooks me up rather than his guitar playing now. One of my favourite solos of his ever is the one on "Holy Mother", nearly just one never ending note but with such a feeling and sustain, great !

wmthor · Post by **wmthor** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:04 am

Clapton has to be listed in my Top 5.

tennis_nick · Post by **tennis_nick** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:50 am

egosheep wrote:
JakeK wrote: At least one Louisiana radio plays the softer, acoustic version of "Layla" at least once a week, but when I first heard the harder-edged, jammed out original version of "Layla" by The Dominoes, I'm blown away at what an amazing riff is played.
To me, the highlight of the whole affair is Duane Allman's slide guitar.

The slide in that tune is really love it/hate it it seems. me? I hate it. It sounds like what they play on movies when there's a spooky ghost running around, it ends up sounding VERY Cheesy (to my ears anyhow). The out of tune factor comes into play too, but it never bothered me as much as the vibe of the solo.

His playing on "It's Too Late" is IMMENSELY superior (in my opinion of course).

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:10 pm

Great You Tube posting of Carl Perkins, Ringo and EC doing "Matchbox"

Here's the sole televised performance ever, from the brief career, (and only tour in 1970) of Derek and the Dominoes:

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