Recommendations of the Editorial team
The early work
Yardbirds: “Five Live Yardbirds” (1965)
With their deconstructed rock’n’roll and blues standards from Bo Diddley to John Lee Hooker, the Yardbirds bring the London clubs to sweat- and get a cream evening on October 3., 1963 in the Marquee Club. Clapton is in the shadow of Harmonica player Keith Relf, but every now and then he comes out of cover.
The breakthrough
John Mayall & The Blues Breakers: “… with Eric Clapton” (1966)
Clapton’s self -confidence can be heard in every solo. The recordings sound raw, spontaneous, earthy, simply pioneering. They mix canonical by Otis Rush, Ray Charles and others with Mayall compositions. Clapton sings for the first time, of course a song by his overfather Robert Johnson – and can do that too.
The psychedelic
Cream: “Disraeli Gears” (1967)
Atlantic does not initially believe in the hit potential of “Sunshine of your love” – it will be her most successful single until then. Producer Felix Pappalardi is good for the band, no trace of the debut conservatism. Clapton has fun with the WAH-WAH pedal, and the knot also burst as a songwriter.
The masterpiece
Cream: “Wheels of Fire” (1968)
The most commercially successful production of the band, not least because of the Jack Bruce genius stroke “White Room” and Claptons Ingenician Robert-Johnson adaptation “CrossRoads”. The studio LP demonstrates its compositional quality and versatility, the live album its improvisational fire.
The soulful
Blind Faith: “Blind Faith” (1969)
Nice interaction between Clapton’s guitar and Steve Winwood’s organ, and simply a bunch of good songs that soul soul in Steve Winwood. But Clapton’s singing on “Presence of the Lord” can also be heard. The degoutant pedophile cover ensured the desired scandal.
The American
Derek and the Dominos: “Layla and other assorted Love Songs” (1970)
With Bobby Whitlock, Clapton has finally found the right partner to put his vision of Americana to work, and with Duane Allman a guitarist who lures him out of the reserve, but does not keep it up. Not everyone is the laid-back clapton comfortable, but “Layla” helps to get used to it.
The successful
Eric Clapton: “461 Ocean Boulevard” (1974)
After heroin addiction, Clapton comes back to Miami in the sun. You hear that. You have to persuade him to take into account the sparkling Marley cover “I Shot the Sheriff”. The single hit also makes the album one of its most successful (USA: No. 1). Now Reggae is becoming a chart.
The live classic
Eric Clapton: “Just One Night” (1980)
With the great Albert Lee and Chris Stainton as Sidekicks, Clapton is audible. He plays heart-warming blues standards and turned on country rock. Two thirds are foreign compositions, but the band adopt them and the audience in the Budokan Hall appreciates this.
The comeback
Eric Clapton: “Unplugged” (1992)
Clapton is one of the big winners of the MTV series. The intimate, reduced format suits him. His interpretations by Son House, Big Bill Broonzy and others are a little too harmless and smooth for some, but the down -frequently tripped version of his old hits demonstrates “Layla”, which is also in the song.
The homage
Eric Clapton: “Me & Mr. Johnson” (2004)
Because the production of “Back Home” stops, he prescribes a few excursions through the catalog of his home saint in 2004, which they pay homage to reduced acoustic, but also powerful electrical versions. The band is just fun, for Clapton it is probably more than that.