Slowhand fails to drive one back to reassess either the highs or lows of claptons career, be it his caustic brilliance with mayalls bluesbreakers, the tedious live recordings with cream, the patchy venture of blind faith, dull solo albums like 1989s journeyman or the engaging acoustic sessions of 1992s unplugged. The author concluded that claptons own autobiography was the only formidable deterrent to writing one, but he felt it withheld as much as it revealed. Eric clapton if you ask the man on the street who the best blues guitarist is, chances are eric is going to come up. Customize your notifications for tour dates near your hometown, birthday wishes, or special discounts in our online store. Greyhound bus an eric clapton song recorded 20 may 1977 previously unreleased. My nickname of slowhand came from giorgio gomelsky. Stars, strays and ashtrays an eric clapton song recorded may 1977 previously unreleased. The yardbirds manager, giorgio gomelsky, gave eric clapton the nickname slowhand in early 1964. That assurance and the albums eclectic material make slowhand rank with 461 ocean boulevard as eric clapton s best albums. Eric clapton s blues, philip norman returns to the heroic age of british rock he has chronicled unforgettably in shout. Slowhand is the fifth solo studio album by eric clapton.
Nov 16, 2018 now his remarkable life story is told by rock musics foremost biographer, philip norman in slowhand. His heroin habit long behind him, claptons songwriting mastery was fully evident on the album, particularly in the stunning ballad wonderful tonight. The life and music of eric clapton by philip norman 448 pp. For half a century eric clapton has been acknowledged to be one of musics greatest virtuosos, the unrivalled master of an indispensable tool, the solid. The life and music of eric clapton norman, philip on. The book goes deeply into clapton s private life which eventually appears in his music and that amazes me. Eric clapton tears in heaven official video youtube. This is laidback virtuosity although clapton and his band are never flashy, their playing is masterful and assured. Among those is of course his guitar playing, that has evolved since the sixties towards a slower, more relaxed approach that culminated with his 1992 hit unplugged. He kept saying i was a fast player, so he put together the slow handclap phrase into slowhand as a play on words.
Dec 20, 2018 notably, the author didnt interview clapton for the book. In this thorough book, norman hits all the important notes, and clapton emerges as a person more comfortable with his fretboard than with other people. The life and music of eric clapton by philip norman overview from the bestselling author of shout, comes the definitive biography of eric clapton, a rock legend whose life story is as remarkable as his music, which transformed the sound of a generation. The contents of this amazing book and dvd combination are completely essential reading and viewing for clapton fans everywhere. The legendary artist has published his own memoirs with the help of a ghost writer. Slowhand remastered from the original olympic studios 14 flat analog master tapes, plus four album session outtakes. Slowhand deluxe edition by eric clapton 600753407202 cd.
The life and music of eric clapton by norman, philip isbn. One explanation for that is the colossal success of his 1992 unplugged album, another is a fiftyyear career devoted to the guitar. Eric patrick clapton, cbe, nicknamed slowhand, is a grammy awardwinning english rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. He is the only threetime inductee to the rock and roll hall of fame. Featuring a masterful and comprehensive text packed with great photographs of eric clapton, this unique production is also packed with candid film and audio interviews with clapton insiders. Country select a country united states afghanistan albania algeria american samoa andorra angola anguilla antarctica antigua and barbuda.
Slowhand is claptons fifth solo studio album and was released in 1977 the album was named after eric claptons nickname, which he got fom giorgio gomelsky, manager of the yardbirds on my. Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the kindle edition of this book. In the latest of his long list of accomplished rock biographies, novelist and playwright norman paul mccartney. Clapton an authorized biography warner books 1986 us. The studio album collection 19701981 box by eric clapton vinyl, jan2016, 9 discs, polydor. Jul 22, 2010 tears in heaven is a ballad written by eric clapton and will jennings about the pain clapton felt following the death of his fouryearold son, conor, who fell from a window of the 53rdfloor. Written with claptons consent and access to family members and close friends, the 432page biography is packed with new information and critical insights revealing the complex character behind the legend. Clapton biography portrays a restless rocker forever bolting his bands.
Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists. Nov 28, 2018 book claims eric clapton was determined to stay sober after sons tragic death. Eric clapton was reportedly just three years sober, after battling drug and alcohol abuse for over a decade, when. Jan 10, 2018 but why is eric clapton called slowhand. From the psychedelic days of cream, the classic rock of layla, the 70s and 80s hits through to the grammywinning unplugged and bluesy from the cradle album up to the present day, slowhand faithfully recreates the music of the worlds greatest guitarist eric clapton. The deluxe, limited edition book eric clapton live history has been published, documenting his entire live career in 275 photographs, 85% previously unseen. Winner of 17 grammys, the rock n roll hall of fames only threetime inductee, he is an enduring influence on every other star soloist who ever wielded a pick. Welcome to, and today were counting down our picks for the top 10 eric clapton songs. Recorded 4 may 1977 it was first issued on the 1999 eric clapton compilation blues as an outtake from slowhand 12. For half a century eric clapton has been acknowledged to be one of musics greatest virtuosos, the unrivalled master of an indispensable tool, the solidbody electric guitar. Limited edition eric clapton live history book charts his. Now, with clapton s consent and access to family members.
Slowhand features wonderful tonight, lay down sally and cocaine songs that are still heard regularly on radio and at eric clapton s live shows. Slowhand from the bestselling author of shout, comes the definitive biography of eric clapton, a rock legend whose life story is as remarkable as his music, which transformed the sound of a generation. I have also read claptons own autobiography ghostwritten and have seen the documentary life in 12 bars. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. Isbn number 0862761484 9780862761486 seller id 094267. Publisher ny proteus publishing company, incorporated 1984. The yardbirds rhythm guitarist, chris dreja, recalled that whenever eric clapton broke a guitar string during a concert, eric would stay on stage and replace it.
Released on 25 november 1977 by rso records, and titled after claptons nickname, it is one of his most commercially and critically successful studio albums. How eric clapton became rock nrolls greatest survivor. Eric clapton songbook british guitarist eric clapton is the most widely acclaimed bluesman of our times and there are several good reasons for that. Eric clapton s slowhand 35th anniversary super deluxe editon 3 cd 1 dvd audio only 1 lp box set includes.
So long after its release is a great recommendation and testimony to its place in clapton s canon. The deluxe edition features the remastered original album with four added bonus tracks. For all things eric clapton related, visit ericclapton. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The story behind why eric clapton is called slowhand. Among music book scribes, philip norman stands near the top in terms of influence and skill. The life and music of eric clapton by philip norman. One has clapton telling biographer ray coleman that slowhand was an ironic, tongueincheek allusion to claptons ability to play incredibly fast. The life reveals little thats unknown about eric claptons life and music in this straightforward yet enjoyable. At some point i learned to hate him, the way he treated the people who adored him. The english audiences would wait out the delay by doing a slow handclap. Eric patrick clapton, cbe born 30 march 1945 is an english rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Slowhand was released on 25 november 1977 by rso records. Ad a stint with the rootsy folkblues group delaney and bonnie and friends was followed by claptons selftitled 1970 solo debut. Jul 19, 2014 ladies and gentlemen, give it up for slowhand. According to eric clapton, the guy that managed the yardbirds, giorgio gomelsky, then gave him the nickname slowhand.
Clapton had already established himself as a guitar legend by the time he released slowhand. Eric clapton slowhand 35th anniversary edition 2012, cd. For half a century, eric clapton has been acknowledged to be one of musics greatest virtuosos, the unrivalled master of an indispensable tool, the solidbody electric guitar. He is one of the most successful musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries, garnering an unprecedented three inductions into the rock and roll hall of fame the yardbirds, cream, and solo.
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