Eric Clapton - Slowhand

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A good mixed and mastered issue of one of the best albums.
If you can play sacd get rid of the original and buy this one. April 9, 2008

Eric Clapton's Best Album

This Album and his hit from the 90's "Journeyman", showcase this blue guitarist at his all time finest. Many big hits on this song including Cocaine, Lay Down Sally, and Wonderful Tonight. Just about all his radio hits from the '70's are here save Layla & I Shot The Sheriff.
However, my personal favorite is Track 6: "The Core". Clapton's mastery of the guitar, musical composition, and vocals really shine in this almost 9 min long beauty. The interlude extended solo sounds like something you'd hear live - not on an album cut. Enjoy! March 15, 2007

Slowhand SACD Review

Finally, Slowhand comes to hi-resolution format. I have heard multiple CD versions from the original to the Gold Disc to the remastered, but this new SACD version just blows the rest away.

Slowhand has always been my favourite Clapton album over the years. Classic Clapton originals like Lay Down Sally and Wonderful Tonight define his style and songwriting capabilities and singing. His voice has an aching and tender reach on the ballads, and yet bluesy growl on the fast tracks.

From 461 and Slowhand, Clapton began to rely less on his guitar prowess on albums, but move towards stronger songwriting and singing to establish his albums, and Slowhand is the best example of it. And yet, his taste for covers cannot be faulted either.

Dusting off JJ Cale's Cocaine and William's We're With YOu All the Way shows how he can choose the right material to augment his own songs, until they blend into a seamless piece of excellent work.

Ending the album with an instrumental ballad that recalls the piano coda to Layla, Slowhand remains his best and most focused work over the years. And throw in a great guitar jam in the epic Core, you get a Clapton masterwork that is as timeless now as it was commercially and critically successful during its original release almost 30 years ago.

Listening to the 5.1 mix by the original producer, Glyn Johns did a superb work. Although some has commented the mix sounds muddy, its actually not and its true to its original sound. Its natural and spatial mix and creative surround mixing by Johns gives this classic a new dimension that was not there before.

The electric solos now sound more alive and kicking and even the tender fender licks that kick off Wonderful Tonight sounds so much there and enveloping. Its the drums that has a tendency to sound muddled underneath and the strong bass levels that gives the muddy impression. BUt '70s recordings tend to be presented in such fashion and listening it over again, the surround mix is just perfect and natural. Compared to the bright but not as creative surround mix of 461, this is far superior in the end.

A compulsory purchase and listening for every Clapton fan.

July 22, 2005

A good surround recording, but not spectacular.

This is without a doubt Eric Claptons best album. After a couple of mediocre lps, Theres one in every crowd, E C was here, and No reason to cry where Eric was going in a more ambitious direction with special guests in his band and bigger productions (which is not always a good thing), Clapton decided to go back to a simpler low key approach. And it worked. Keeping his vocals to a minimum and letting his guitar do more of the talking, he came up with a beautifully solid and laid back sound, similar to his 461 Ocean Boulevard album which was his other classic. The classic Cocaine, Lay Down Sally, and The Core to name a few, this is a real feel good lp. Sometimes simpler is better. I'm sorry to report however that the SACD version of the album did disapoint me. The new surround mix was done by the original producer Glyn Johns, and you would think that since he handled the original recording, that he would really go all out on the remixing into surround on this LP. Unfortunately no. Don't get me wrong, this is a decent sounding mix. Clean and spacious but it could have been more dynamic. It sounds a little flat. Also a little muddy. However, it is definitely worth repeated listenings and still is a very enjoyable album. I still recommend it. May 25, 2005

Give EC A Hand

After his major comeback in 1974 with 461 Ocean Boulevard, Eric Clapton shied away from the mainstream with his next two releases. There's One In Every Crowd & No Reason To Cry. With Slowhand, he returned to the sounds that made 461 a hit. On his first solo album, he had a major triumph with J.J. Cale's "After Midnight". He returns to the Cale catalog for another triumph, the searing "Cocaine". The song has a propulsive riff and a ringing guitar solo. On the flip side of that is "Wonderful Tonight" which is built around his waiting for his wife to get ready for a party. The song is among the prettiest things he's ever done and it his easy picking of the guitar shows that subtle playing is just as powerful as in your face power chords. "Lay Down Sally" has a country flavor and was a big hit becoming his second top ten single and peaking at number three. The best song on the album is the lengthy "The Core". The song has some marvelous vocal interplay between Mr. Clapton and Marcy Levy and some stellar guitar work. Slowhand was a return to the top ten for Mr. Clapton reaching number three in early 1978.
May 6, 2005

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