'Slowhand from Surrey' (Eric Clapton)

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Product:	Eric Clapton
Date:	17/01/06 (159 review reads)
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Advantages: A recording career that has spanned over the last 40 years.

Disadvantages: A tragic personal life that left gaps lasting great lengths during those 40 years.

As just another run of the mill, ordinary artist, Eric Clapton will be primarily remembered for his very early recordings and probably very little else.

The greatest of these is 'Layla', released in August 1972 and 'I Shot The Sheriff', released in July 1974. It is, in a sense, tragic as its only when we look closer that we see that this man's whole life has been and will continue to be dedicated to blues and rock music industry and not just a couple of singles.

As well as a creative, imaginative and outstanding solo career, he has also been the epitome of a string of other bands. 'Layla' was of course, released by Derek and the Dominos, but it was also within the groups namely Cream, Blind Faith and The Yardbirds that Clapton earnt his name and accquired the respect and friendship of his contempories, not to mention the other great names in the business, queued solidly to record with him. The biggest legendary name was BB King, the great blues guitarist and also one of Clapton's heros, with whom he recorded the album, beautifully titled 'Riding With The King,' released in June 2000.

Born in Ripley in Surrey on the 30 of March 1945, he was raised by his grandparents. By the time he picked up a guitar he was just another struggling artist trudging around the bars, pubs and working man's clubs with the likes of John Mayall and the little known Fleetwood Mac. In fact, it was with John Mayall that Clapton released the album 'Blues Breakers' (the name of John's band) in July 1966. It was a time when many under paid and over worked muscians sweated long and hard to make a few quid. Most lugging their instruments about on buses, in the back of vans belonging to friends and on trains. It somehow paid off. It was these people who yes, walked in the shadow of Buddy Holly and Elvis, but yet paved the way for future artists in British blues and rock. It was people like Eric Clapton who opened avenues of experimental rock mixed with deep Southern blues in the years of the late sixties and early seventies.

He released 4 albums between August 1970 and November 1973. These being 'Eric Clapton', 'History of Eric Clapton', 'In Concert' and 'Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert.' The last being a show he had been tlaked into doing by a very worried friend by the name of Pete Townsend. Clapton had sunk into a sea of drugs and to drag him safely to shore, Townsend thought it might be good for his friend to make a 'come back' gig with fellow musicians. Clapton agreed and his life after seemd alittle happier for a while.

It was only on the release of '461 Ocean Boulevard'in August 1974 which featured the single 'I Shot The Sheriff', the successful cover of the Bob Marley hit, that Clapton's unique talent as a natural guitarist shone through. Rated as one of his best all time albums, it launched him as a future icon to up and coming artists.

Like ordinary lads growing up in the fifties and the sixties, he had attended a rather normal education. He was a student at Kingston College in Surrey and had studied the strange subject of stain glass design (!) It on his 14th birthday that his grandparents scraped together a few pounds so he could buy his first guitar. Like Paul McCartney aat the same age, Clapton was glued to his new wooden friend and the stain glass career, we are thankful, went, if you pardon the pun, straight out of the window. Supported by his devoted grandparents, he managed to begin an extrordinary career.

One would have imagined that such a iconic band as 'Cream' would have had some sort or extensive life. The band actually lasted only two years. (1966 to 1968) Clapton formed 'Cream' with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. All had decided to go their own ways, musically. Clapton already had a growing solo following of die hard fans. Shortly after this, a young guitarist by the name of George Harrison, sick of The Beatles, was creating his own solo genius. Harrison asked Clapton to play on his single 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps.' Clapton quickly agreed. This wasn't the first time that the two artists would be connected. Clapton soon feel for the beautiful Patti Boyd. She just happened to be Harrison's wife at the time. She eventually gave in and married Clapton somewhere around 1970. Of course, 'Layla' was written about Patti. She had to be the most written about lady. 'Wonderful Tonight' and Harrison's 'Something' where she was also the subject. (Her sister incidently (Jenny) was married to Mik Fleetwood around about the same time.) The live version of 'Wonderful Tonight' was only actually released as a single in November 1991.

Eric Clapton's entire life has been peppered with sky soaring highs and dangerously tragic lows. Derek and the Dominos fell apart totally and in 1971, the drug soaked members drifted away from eachother whilst making an album that was never finished. It was then the 'Rainbow Gig' was organised with Ron Wood and Steve Winwood otherwise known as members of the band Blind Faith. It had been enough for him to get back on his feet again, but it was throughout the seventies that Clapton indured ill health. He had experienced raging greif from the deaths of a couple of his closest friends and fellow musicians due to drugs and drink or both. He too, had struggled hard to quit his heroine only to replace it with his favourite tipple, cognac. It was in these darkest moments that Clapton found peace and solitude in shunning the world and closing the walls in from around him. It was at these times when we heard very little of him in the studio or otherwise. In the entire decade he only released six singles.

The eighties proved to be an engagingly steady climb within his career. A friend by the name of Phil Collins enlisted Claptons guitar expertise on his debut album, 'Face Value', released in 1981. The eighties also saw Clapton release 9 albums and 7 singles. He was back, looking sultry, matured in his 'Robert Palmer' suits. He re released 'Layla'in 1982 and again as an accuostic version in 1992. His greatest chart release of this decade was the single, 'Behind The Mask' in 1987 reaching number 15. The artists were taking their places in the queue again. He recorded 'Tearing Us Apart' with Tina Turner in June that same year, but this strong, happier decade came to an abrupt close; 1990 was, and had to be, the worst year of his life. First, in a helicopter crash, he lost three of his closest members from the ongoing tour in the U.S, then, worse still, in March of that year, his son, Conor was died at the tender age of only 4 after falling out of a window. This, at no surprise was enough for the artist to slump into the shadows of deep depression. The following year, he conducted the most bravest concerts of all. He sang an incredibly moving version of 'Tears In Heaven' dedicating it to his son. It was a heart renching experience for all in the house, but the most for Clapton.

The Nineties saw Clapton taking a back seat in regards to showman abilities. He produced for Climie Fisher and backed the Childline fund raising single, 'Love Can Build A Bridge'in 1995. No in the least bit shocking, but ffans now heard a thoughtful, sombre mood within his music. It was a decade of reflection. He had come a long way both personally and physicaly. Notibly 'Pilgrim' was this complete reflection released as an album in March 1998. Fans breathed a sigh of relief when he collaborated with BB King for the sultry blues album in 2000.

Since then ther have been 3 other albums and only one single 'Forever Man' released in November 2000, and probably the most aptly named single, as he is, as a man, forever a musician, writer and singer. We have heard little of Clapton over the last nearly six years and we wonder if he will ever make a return. His albums still hold their price in the shops so don't think that you are ever going to pick a new one up as a bargin.

If you're a new comer to Clapton's work, be prepared for an artist who aas sung about life, love, drugs and loss. He is someone who we can relate to as human, rather than some super god with a guitar. Long live Eric, and grace us with your presence very soon.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: Human being with a guitar in hand and songs we can all relate to.