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I don't "get" Eric Clapton

#61
As someone who was, for a decade or so (in the past, hooray!) constantly accused of looking like Mr. Clapton, I'll say:

I like/d Cream musically- the lyrics (apart from the blues standards) sometimes don't fly, but OK, that's how it was then. As with most of the other folks I grew up hearing, his solo work is hit and miss with me; I love some, don't wanna hear some. That's how it is now. I'm pretty fond of the Derek & The Dominoes stuff; the reissue w/extra stuff including the Dominoes' appearance on Johnny Cash's TV show is great. If you're an EC meh-er, you'll love hearing Carl Perkins show Eric how it's done on "Matchbox."

I did see him in the early 80's, would have been the same tour from which the "Just One Night" album was derived. Now, that album strikes me as kinda lame EC, overall, but the show I heard (Austin) was pretty damn good. I don't think it's just because I was there, either- EC was playing that night like he had something to prove, and prove he did. His long workout on "Double Trouble" featured some seriously hair-raising/spine-tickling blues playing. And no, he didn't look like me at all!

Actually, one of my favorite recorded bits of EC guitar is the low-in-the-mix frenzy he drops in George Harrison's "Art of Dying" (on the "All Things Must Pass" LP)- give that sucker a listen, you can tell he's really walloping those strings! (Come to thing of it, some ol' burnout on Telegraph Ave. thought I looked like George! Say what? 'Cmon, gimme a guitar, I can prove I'm not EC or GH!)

But hey, I never cared for Paul Simon much either, but I love his "So Beautiful or So What" album. Go figure.
 
#64
embellisher said:
I know that Clapton is widely considered one of the greatest guitarists ever, and I will probably get lots of flak for this, but I don't think he's all that.

IMHO, other guitarists of his generation are better, Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Page, Phil Keaggy, etc.

As far as his musical output and songwriting, I don't think he's done anything of quality since Cream.

So, let me have it! Tear me up! Or, let me know if you agree with me.
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+ 100%

Not a Clapton fan either.


Sent from my iPhone 5c using TalkBass mobile app
 
#65
The greatest thing Clapton has going for him is longevity. He didn't die young, he stuck around, played guitar a lot, and is very well-known. This is why he's popular, not ability.
If you look at the songs he has written, they're no great shakes. The best Cream songs were written by Jack Bruce, with the exception of Sunshine of Your Love.
His playing is alright, and he knows blues, but his soloing isn't anything to write home about. The nickname "Slow Hand" isn't exactly a compliment. It would be like a runner nicknamed "Slow Foot".
The typical TB argument is "Well, you didn't make millions writing songs and performing, and he has". Indeed. Doesn't mean he's great. U2 is the worst band ever, and they are ka-jillionaires. New Kids On The Block did pretty good too, and they didn't have an ounce of talent between them.
Clapton is the longest-lasting "C+ guitarist" ever.
 
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#66
OK, someone who shall go un-named must allege that Beck tears Eric, &c, on the "Ronnie Scott's" DVD? Oh, c'mon already- Jeff is (as he even states in the interview on said disc) playing some fine Earl Hooker-style slide for sure; but Eric has nothing to apologize for there. Listen to what he plays (rather than volume at which he plays it), it's quite tasty, likewise his vocals- he's not trying to sound like Muddy (who can?), but he puts those songs over very well.

Now, the part about that disc I like is that it was recorded shortly before Zep's O2 "reunion" show, and Page and Plant are in the audience at Ronnie Scott's (watch closely!), and Jeff & Eric just happen to cover Muddy's "You Need Love," which tune of course is the basis of "Whole Lotta Love." Coincidence? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight... I believe the Brits call that "taking the piss?"
 
#68
I TOTALLY agree with the OP.

I don't get the adoration of Slowhand either, but I don't mention it out of fear for my life. "Eric Clapton is god?" WHAT???

I think his best work was with Cream, but... it was HARDLY worthy of deification or adulation, then or now.
 
#73
I like him and his style a lot. From Cream to Derek to his solo stuff with Nathan East to his blues stuff now. I really like when he and his brother from another mother Stevie Winwood collaborate. Speaking of the two, between Eric and Steve who really has the slow hand?
 
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#75
There aren't too many posts with which I could disagree more. Page . . . better than Clapton? Wow. Louder, maybe.

I don't think Clapton is the best ever, but he always played tasty licks, usually had well-structured solos, and always with a good command of his instrument. He made every note count. (I use the past tense because, to be honest, I haven't listened to any new material of his in years.)

You've got your opinion, and your entitled to it. But you asked . . . so I'll just have to say I disagree.
 
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#76
In my humble opinion, Eric is a great "serve the song" player who has mellowed with age. On the Beano album he has all the fire of a player with something to prove- and prove it he did. Same with Cream. Then, once he didn't join the 27 club, he mellowed and focused on writing songs or being a bandleader rather than being a soloist. Maybe he realized that he didn't have the potential to surpass the likes of Jeff Beck. Maybe he just felt that a more understated style would suit him better.
In my book, though, he ranks among the greats as an excellent guitar player and singer who knows how to sell records, and just might be coasting a little.
 
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#78
I think he is a hell of a player but not terribly creative. Going out as a solo artist was a waste of his talent IMHO. He needed to stay in bands with other top notch players with creative input and songwriting to keep pushing his playing into interesting material. But so much of his solo material are covers or bland and derivative.
 
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#79
My friend the blues guitar scholar contends that Clapton in fact invented the smooth, three-fingered string bending technique that made the Bluesbreakers album sound so rad. It was quickly assimilated by young guitar players everywhere, but nobody played like that before him. He was a real innovator, and if his contribution is obscured today it's because it became an integrated part of how blues-rock playing developed in general.
 
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#80
cdef said:
My friend the blues guitar scholar contends that Clapton in fact invented the smooth, three-fingered string bending technique that made the Bluesbreakers album sound so rad. It was quickly assimilated by young guitar players everywhere, but nobody played like that before him. He was a real innovator, and if his contribution is obscured today it's because it became an integrated part of how blues-rock playing developed in general.
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This.
 

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