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Bassists with Eric Clapton
- Thread starter IamGroot
- Start date
I think the whole Cream thing was a misrepresentation of the musicians involved. You had two jazz players and a blues guitarist playing rock. Bound to be great due to the personnel involved, destined to fail because of the nature of the same. It's like watching three Olympic athletes from the same country trying to beat each other for a medal. Beautiful but ugly.
As a side note, there have been threads here about hiring/firing musicians that were great musicians but, shall we say, "sadly lacking" in the character department. It's a double edged sword. The conflict can stir up energy that produces great live performances (as opposed to a snorefest). It can also consume the musicians involved. If Cream had one or two more members it may have survived longer, but without as much panache.
As a side note, there have been threads here about hiring/firing musicians that were great musicians but, shall we say, "sadly lacking" in the character department. It's a double edged sword. The conflict can stir up energy that produces great live performances (as opposed to a snorefest). It can also consume the musicians involved. If Cream had one or two more members it may have survived longer, but without as much panache.
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Yes, and a perfect job on that, and the tour. That’s my favorite version of EC, right there, and much of it has to do with the band, the arrangements, the songs, the production in general.
All great bassists, but for me my fave with EC will always be the late Carl Radle. Carl hit that sweet spot where he supported the groove and yet his little tags and fills here and there were icing on the cake to his lines. Wonderfully inventive parts under 'Bell Bottom Blues' and 'Layla', I always think of that resolving line at the end of the verses leading back to that stop before each chorus. And to be doing this sandwiched between Eric (and Duane Allman) in front of him and the mighty Jim Gordon (surely the Jeff Porcaro of his day, or later, JR Robinson) was where angels feared to tread.
The opening to Bad Love is so simple and yet so darn good.Pino Palladino on "Bad Love"...with Phil Cillins, IIRC. From Journeyman.
Some flash is present.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I just auditioned for a Clapton tribute - everything from Cream and Beatles (Guitar Gently Weeps) through his 80s hits, fretted and fretless. A wide variety of fun stuff.
Loved Radle's playing. I grew up a progger in the 70's, but it was guys like him, McVie, and Deacon who taught me how to play bass....
This is a major deal.
And it’s probably the reason why Les Claypool and Geddy Lee are such popular bassists.
I just recently read a quote from EC where he said Radle and Gordon were the best he'd played with, which I thought was saying something given his bandmates in Cream.
Ok, here is is, actually it was an excerpt from an audio book. Where he says the rhythm section was the most powerful he'd played with...just brilliant.
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I disagree completely. All of them knew two things when playing with Clapton...when to play flashy, and when not to play flashy. Also, Steve Winwood never played FOR Clapton. They were the co-leaders of Blind Faith and very much on an equal footing with each other. Bruce was already covered....Cream had no leader.
gregbackstrom
These aren't stock curves--things move around!
And he wrote a lot of their songs too. (Can’t remember without looking whether Peter Brown wrote the lyrics during the Cream years.)
One of the reasons I've been able to keep working is the ability to do vocals and harmony while keeping the groove going. Not bragging... it's just a skill that anyone can do with enough practice.
I’ve just been listening to “Backtracking” after years. Bruce certainly put the “guitar” into “bass guitar”!
Carl Radle and Jim Gordon are one of my all-time favourite rhythm sections. I love Radle’s tone, too.
Also, at the risk of flames, Clapton can be a challenging listen pitch-wise on guitar on that 70’s stuff. It surprised me after all these years. Very “edgy” at times
Carl Radle and Jim Gordon are one of my all-time favourite rhythm sections. I love Radle’s tone, too.
Also, at the risk of flames, Clapton can be a challenging listen pitch-wise on guitar on that 70’s stuff. It surprised me after all these years. Very “edgy” at times
Winwood mainly plays keys and guitar, both at genius levels, but never saw him play bass, but I bet he can.
