slowhand Digest Volume 01 : Issue 293
Today's Topics:
Fw: Re: The Slow Digest
Cream: Farewell Concert & Sweet Toronto
Credits on: Eric Clapton & Friends
RE: Clapton can mail it
EC Limited Editions (remastered)
ERIC CLAPTON GIGS
EC nails it!
Re: clapton can mail it
Radio shows; edge of Darkness
Mixolydian thoughts!
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--=_--SlowhandDigest--
From: "Jeff and Mary Berk"
Subject: Fw: Re: The Slow Digest
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DeltaNick "underwelmed"????
Mary
----- Original Message -----
From:
Cc: ;
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 8:29 AM
Subject: Re: Re: The Slow Digest
> Jonathan,
>
> I have *never* had the impression that DeltaNick was "underwelmed" by
Clapton.
> Give the guy some slack - all he did was propose a number of questions to
get
> things going here on the digest...
>
> Greg
>
>
> <<
> Subject: Re: The Slow Digest
>
> It's interesting to me, Nick, that you remain such an active digest
presence
> while you remain, for the most part, underwhelmed by EC>>>
>
--=_--SlowhandDigest--
From: "Kevin Wilson"
Subject: Cream: Farewell Concert & Sweet Toronto
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I recently bought the Cream Farewell Concert on DVD and noticed a few
things specifically relating to E:
1. In the interview segment he has very long fingernails. My wife would
die to have her nails grow that long. (Maybe his well-manicured nails
affect the way he plays today :) )
2. During one of the solos on White Room, his guitar suddenly changes
model and then changes back.
3. Some of the shots of our guy are repeated on other songs, appearing
out of sequence.
I also got a copy of Sweet Toronto on DVD and was disgusted to hear
Clapton's guitar relegated to the background. Yoko's dog-yowling is now
more prominent and the only worth of having the DVD is to see the
different Clapton-look of the time, not that he gets much camera time
either (which is probably understandable because John Lennon was the
star, blah, blah, blah). Back to my trusty Live Peace in Toronto LP,
which still plays quite fine - thank you very much.
Kevin
--=_--SlowhandDigest--
From: "Kevin Wilson"
Subject: Credits on: Eric Clapton & Friends
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Some observations and questions re: the credits on the Eric Clapton &
Friends DVD:
1. Name of the guitarist who accompanied Sheryl Crow - not credited.
2. Name of the other 2 singers who backed-up Mary J Blige - not
credited.
3. Since when did Dave Sanborn also write Going Down Slow, as credited
at the end?
4. The first Mary J song was partially credited to Cutis Mayfield (which
must have pleased EC) and the last song performed by Mary J (which I
enjoyed and which I think EC could have been more prominent on) was
credited to Babyface, which is not bad for Babyface, having two songs
performed by another artist, when you are not even present.
Kevin
--=_--SlowhandDigest--
From: "Nick Komanowski"
Subject: RE: Clapton can mail it
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"King" wrote:
>He is the only artist who has transcended thirty five years.
>Who is in more demand , played on
>more peoples albums ,than any other artist
I bet Larry Carlton would be surprised to hear that :)
Regards,
Nick
--=_--SlowhandDigest--
From: "Ken Norris"
Subject: EC Limited Editions (remastered)
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I just saw 10 EC albums, scheduled for release on January 1st, on CD Now.
They are listed as Limited Edition (Remastered). It looks like the Polydor
catalogue. One is called Eric Clapton Live. And pricey ($35.00). Anybody
have any info on this stuff?
Best,
Ken
_________________________________________________________________
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--=_--SlowhandDigest--
From: "Luis Lopes dos Santos"
Subject: ERIC CLAPTON GIGS
Hi Folks,
A very good friend of mine he's looking for the following gigs:
--"US TOUR 1981" ,Seattle 7-03-81, 2 CD ;
--"THE JOHN WILE TESTIMONIAL" (Wolverhampton,16-11-81), 2 CD ;
--"KYOTO" (4-12-81), 1 CD ;
--"MINNEAPOLIS 1982" (7-06-82), 2 CD
--"CUMBERLAND COUNTY CIVIC CENTER" (Portland,17-06-82), 2 CD ;
Any chance?
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Luis, Portugal
--=_--SlowhandDigest--
From: "David Dell"
Subject: EC nails it!
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I agree with what "MP" said about Eric being able to do pretty much
anything on guitar that he'd like to. The "quiet Beatle" we just lost
also said the same thing in an interview years ago. Eric's just not into
extended long jams or only blues anymore, but his creative genuis and
impeccable phrasing shine through in nearly every live show (a few in
person & many on CD) I've heard from all the various stages of his solo
career.
Having said that, however, DeltaNick and others are free to like the
earlier stuff better, or even only like the old stuff. And being or not
being a guitarist doesn't really have anything to do with that decision.
It's all really a matter of taste and personal opinion.
Dave
--=_--SlowhandDigest--
From: "DeltaNick"
Subject: Re: clapton can mail it
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>> After hearing all the experts this is funny.Have you ever played
guitar(Delta Nick)What is he doing with the Bluesbreakers that he hasn't
done now.He can dust anyone with shear will.He is the only artist who has
transcended thirty five years .Who is in more demand , played on more
peoples albums ,than any other artist.Why? Because he is that good.Can Eric
Clapton Put out any thing he wants to.Yes .Can Eric Clapton dust any
guitarist with phrasing ,emotion and just shear will. Why is Eric Clapton
still as popular today ,more than any other artist of his time.He is that
Good .He tries to be humble, but believe me,he knows how good he is.So, if
anybody can play ,what he plays. ,let me know <<
Okay, I'll let you know.
I've been playing guitar since 1965 and I've owned several guitars over the
years: Kay, Harmony, Fender, Gibson, Epiphone. I still have the Gibson Les
Paul that I bought in 1969, and an Epiphone flattop that I've had since
1978, although I sold my Strat, bought in 1967, in order to buy the Gibson.
My daughter owns a black Strat (looks like "Blackie") and my son has a
Fender P-bass, so these instruments are in the house and I sometimes play
them as well.
I prefer EC's earlier guitar playing, his earlier guitar tone, and his
earlier "concentration" on the guitar. He still plays great guitar, but I
think he played passionately and intensely more often in his earlier days.
And I think he played much more aggressively in his earlier days, which I
also like.
Examples? There's a live recording by EC and Jimmy Vaughan from "Blues
Nights," at the RAH, from around 1991. They play "Hideaway," and, in my
opinion, it's not anywhere nearly as passionate, intense, and aggressive as
the version on "Beano." To me, it sounds like Clapton imitating Freddie King
on the 1991 version, but Eric Clapton in afterburner mode on "Beano." Same
goes for a "All Your Love," also on "Beano" and "Blues Nights," if I'm not
mistaken. Want another? EC has played "Badge," a song I really enjoy,
hundreds or thousands of times. However, I prefer the original version,
especially the guitar, to subsequent versions, such as on "24 Nights." It
doesn't mean that I don't like the later versions. I just like the earlier
ones better for the aforementioned reasons.
I don't think EC concentrates on his guitar playing anywhere near as much as
he did 30+ years ago. But I'm not interested in hearing any more 16-minute
versions of "Spoonful" either. Sure, Clapton sings more today. But Stevie
Ray Vaughan sang AND concentrated on his guitar playing. I much prefer
Clapton's guitar playing to SRV's, but it seems as though EC chooses to
highlight this aspect of his talents less than he used to. He certainly
plays fewer solos on his studio albums than he did in the past. You may say
that he's really a "live" musician, but he still records most of his
albums--including new material--in the studio.
I think just about everyone agrees that Clapton sings better today than he
used to. He's really made exceptional strides with his singing, all the more
remarkable since I think he has a rather unremarkable voice. He's taken what
God has given him and really improved upon it. I think that he can do things
with his voice today that other singers must certainly envy. But everyone is
not in such agreement regarding his guitar playing. My opinion is that
Clapton set the standard, revolutionized the electric guitar, and was THE
cutting edge in the 1960s. Although he still plays great guitar, I think
he's not really breaking much new ground today. Opinions, as we see
expressed in the Slowhand Digest, are near-unanimous regarding EC's singing,
but somewhat divided on his guitar playing.
Otherwise, I pretty much agree with what you've written above.
DeltaNick
--=_--SlowhandDigest--
From: "Tracy Warner"
Subject: Radio shows; edge of Darkness
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>There's been a bit of talk recently about Radio< >stations broadcasting
EC's shows, either in full< >or excerpts. However, I've yet to hear of
anyone<
>claiming to have actually heard/tapedone of< >these broadcasts.<
I've given up on radio and don't know what's been broadcast lately, but
shows from the 1985, the short 1987 and 1990 tours were all broadcast on
radio. At least one of the mid to late 1970s era concerts was on the King
Biscuit Flower Hour--too bad that hasn't been released on CD as some of the
other King Biscuit shows have been.
** ** **
Someone asked about Edge of Darkness. It was released as a vinyl EP and on
BBC records as a mini CD; (in the early days of CDs, mini-CDs were released
with an adapter that allowed them to be played on home CD players). I bought
one for about $35 on E-bay; they come up from time to time there. It is long
out of print, so you'll have to get a used one.
--=_--SlowhandDigest--
From: dave brulenski
Subject: Mixolydian thoughts!
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The "Nick" questions!
Do any of you think that EC has become predictable and boring? No
Do you think he's just coasting ... and stopped heavy lifting some time
back? Yes and No. EC is now in his 50's, enormously successful and
semi retiring. Certainly he doesn't have to make a name for himself but
I believe that he still feels that he must achieve a high level of
quality with his work.
Do you think he cares? Yes.
I can listen to "Reptile," but it's pretty much background music only.
Nice album, but it's not a great album. And I certainly
feel that it's much more listenable than the drek he put out in the
1970s. Do you find yourself REALLY listening to this album, or just
putting it on for some pleasant sounds, while you do something else? I
think Reptile is my least favorite Clapton album.
To which albums do you REALLY listen; I mean, when you close your eyes
and forget, momentarily, about everything
else in the world? BluesBreakers, Layla Sessions, From the Cradle and
Journeyman would probably top my list.
Is "Reptile" this kind of an album? Not even close.
Can we expect more of such "pleasant" music from Eric Clapton? I have
learned never to predict the future when it comes to art. EC is an
artist. I don't rule out anything. He can still smoke mostly anyone
out there when he puts his mind to it so I still have hope.
Will he ever really "rock" again? I don't think so. I don't see "rock"
as a valid choice for and elder statesman such as Eric.
When was the last time you think he really rocked? I would say the
Journeyman/24 nights era. A lot of that time frame Eric certainly
Rocked! My first instinct was to say "From the Cradle" but I don't
consider super charged blues to be under the definition of "rocked".
Although it's clear that EC sings much better today, do you think his
guitar playing has changed in the past two decades?
Yes. With regards to execution and tone, certainly Yes. His phrasing
has key elements that revolve around each other but that is what makes
up Eric's signature style. I would say that the changes are reflected
in the type of music he is accompanying.
People say that his guitar playing changed following the '60s, because
he had to grow. But one CAN grow in unpleasant directions. Getting fat
is growth too, right? And some older folks actually grow smaller. Has
Clapton grown fat musically?
No. I think he deserves a good amount of credit for continuing along
his path of a lifetime of musical exploration and expression. A lot of
people just stop creating. Lose their inspiration. Eric has proven to
be a quintessential musician in that music is his life, his means of
expression.
Is he musically shrinking? Is his musical well dried up? I don't
believe that an artist's Musical ability, and the gift of being able to
create it, can be compared to the process that degrades one's physical
body as they age. The mind, heart and soul are the crucial elements
here. An true artist such as Eric draws from the world in which he
lives. His emotions are his "musical well". I still believe he is a
very compassionate person who can create great music and will continue
to do so. I will concede that his physical ability to play as fast as
he did when he was 18 may decline with age.
Does Clapton's music really excite you any longer? Not on his last
album, no.
Is his guitar playing anything special any more? Yes, he still has the
ability to bring you to tears if he wants to.
i.e. when I was at the Crossroads benefit concert in NYC his rendition
of Little Wing made the hair on the back of my neck stand up!
Do you think that maybe some fans are just confused, that his guitar
playing changed dramatically, following the '60s, as a result
of drug and alcohol abuse. Yes.
Do you think that some people have confused this with "growth"? Yes
If his guitar playing continued to grow following the '60s, did it ever
stop growing, such as during the '70s or '80s? No I don't believe so.
It did change. Change is growth. Too many people are focusing on just
his guitar playing and how fast and out front it should be. There is
more to him then that. While I will say that Eric's playing after the
60's did not continue on the same course he was on back then, I do
believe that his playing progressed on other levels. The true measure
of a guitar player is how he compliments and infuses the song with his,
or her, guitar playing. As EC has stated many times. Sometimes it's
just one note. Case in point - "Holy Mother". One note! Who can say
that is not powerful?
"Someone Like You". That is a great song and a great performance but
certainly not they direction he was going in 1967.
On a commercial recording, when was his last great guitar solo? The
first one that comes to mind is "Five Long Years" From the Cradle!
Is Clapton primarily a singer, or a guitarist? Both
Is the guitar something he just wears around his neck, something to
occupy his hands while he's singing on stage? Ahh, nothing like a
little sarcasm!
Do too many fans fawn and gush over everything EC does? Some do yes.
Is Clapton capable of making bad music? Yes.
If Clapton burps, how many fans will believe he has attained new musical
heights? 17
Good job Nick. Nice way to get some conversation going here.
Best Regards,
Dave B
End of slowhand Digest V01 Issue #293