OK folks, a couple weeks ago I announced the release of Complete Clapton (a 2 disc compilation of 36 of Eric Clapton's greatest songs from 1968 to 2006) and Clapton: The Autobiography (a book in which Clapton personally recounts his legendary life: from the early days of his career, through his turbulent struggle with addiction, to the loss of his four-year-old son).
Here's your chance to win a copy of BOTH of them! Here's the deal, leave me a comment (or e-mail me) with your name, e-mail address and the answer to the following question: Which period in Clapton's storied career do you feel is the pinnacle of his guitar-god prowess (his work with The Yardbirds, Cream, or his solo work) and why.
I'll pick a winner at random next Thursdayish and e-mail the lucky soul pronto.
The Yardbirds - Smokestack Lightnin' : London 1963 - The First Recordings
Eric Clapton and John Mayall (with whom he played with in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers between 1965 and 1966) - Have You Heard : 70th Birthday Concert
Eric Clapton - White Room (live) : 24 Nights
Visit his website, his label Reprise Records, become his friend on MySpace, and join his Official Fan Club.
8 comments:
The pinnacle of "Clapton is God" has to be his work with Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominoes. All you have to do is listen to those albums, they are amazing. All of them. His solo work is also very good but also very inconsistent. Good singles but not always the most solid work. He seemed to do his best work when we worked with other well-known artists, they pushed him to be the best. This body of work is the pinnacle of his guitar-god prowess.
Mike Adams
mikesteams@yahoo.com
I've long maintained that Clapton, Beck & Page were at their best while in the Yardbirds. While Clapton's later work is much more well known (and, indeed, as a solo performer and member of Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominoes, forms much of what we consider to be 'classic rock'), it is his work with Relf & company that inspired British youths to scrawl "Clapton is God" on the restroom walls of London clubs. It was with the Yardbirds that he began to literally create the lexicon of blues rock guitar that classic rock is built upon. Plus he looked really sharp in a suit back then.
librariansean Rapacki
seanrapacki@earthlink.net
His tenure in The Yardbirds was very short-lived, playing blues licks to blues and R&B standards. His solo on "For Your Love" is short and sweet. His solo career is quite vast, "After Midnight," "Tears in Heaven (unplugged)" through to JJ Cale collaboration. He had many commercial hits along the way, mainly for his tuneful crooning. It was in Cream that he fused his high powered blues playing, with psychedelica, to create a very unique blend of Rock. The sound of Cream is timeless and classic. This was borne out at the reunion concert I saw two years ago. One amazing song after another, all still sounding great and Fresh. Check out Foo Fighter's "I Feel Free," it sounds like state-of-the-art modern rock, the song is fourty years old.
For me, it is the mid-seventies period when Clapton finally and permanently stepped out on his own as a solo act.I believe 'Slowhand' is one of the quintessential albums in rock and roll history. Though he learned on the talents of other writers(Bob Marley, JJ Cale) for hits, his live music and guitar playing during this period is unequaled.
mcostello36@gmail.com
I'd have to say his solo work. Perhaps it's simply the work I'm most familiar with and grew up with that makes me feel this is his best. I'd like to think that it's more then that. He's been solo longer, had more hits on his own and has really been able to show his own artistry :)
anastasia_falling@yahoo.com
Wow....Clapton's early years (Yardbirds, Cream) was imitating Freddie King. He flat out copied King's style.
Clapton did evolve and his style did improve after the Cream years. But please for the love of all things good don't say that his early years were his best. I love the Bluesbreaker album but to say that he was anything more than a cheap imitation of Freddie King at that time is an understatement.
I think late Cream and after Cream were his best years. With or without heroin. Bell Bottom Blues and that song with George Harrison are my favorites.
I saw Eric Clapton while in Cream in our town. They were so awesome. IT was pretty obvious they (or at least Ginger Baker the drummer was high.) But he wailed on those drums!! And Eric was supreme to me...have always love his music and Blues roots.
So glad I got to see then in person before I croak...LOL.
I think Eric Clapton was at his best with Cream, this is when I first started playing music and based my playing on his style, I thought Ten Years After were great BUT Eric Clapton with Cream - I lived in South Africa then and did not get big artists touring so missed going to a concert when he played with cream, now live in Australia and would like to get to see him live and meet him if possible, to win this collection of music would bring back so many many memories.
A Man from Downunder
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