Record Reviews

ERIC CLAPTON ~ MEANWHILE BUSHBRANCH / SURFDOG 198588292648 (Barcode: 198588292648) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2020 - 2024 Released: 2024 This is the 22nd studio album by iconic British vocalist / guitarist / songwriter Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist. It follows a six years long gap since his previous album “Happy XmasFind albums with this title” and contains a collection of eight singles released since 2020 and six new songs recorded for this album, a total of fourteen tracks, only five of which were written by Clapton. The singles include collaborations with Irish vocalist Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jeff BeckFind albums by this artist and others and he is accompanied by a team of excellent musicians, which includes keyboardist Simon ClimieFind albums by this artist, who also produced the album, bassist Nathan EastFind albums by this artist, drummer Sonny EmoryFind albums by this artist and many others. Clapton has been a part of the “Soundtrack Of My Life” since the early 1960s, when I first heard him playing with the YardbirdsFind albums by this artist, John MayallFind albums by this artist, CreamFind albums by this artist and then Blind FaithFind albums by this artist, and so on. It has become impossible to remove him from that sixty-years long musical continuity, and guilty as charged, I still enjoy his music, although admittedly it went through a long chain of radical changes. His voice and of course his guitar playing are still able to touch my soul’s strings. I suppose it is partly due to a nostalgic dependency, but I don’t care ;) Objectively (as absurd as this sounds) this is a great collection of wonderful songs, performed by a great team of musicians, which has a bit of that “old fashioned” touch, which is exactly what is so great about it. I’d rather listen to this and almost everything else that contemporary Pop / Rock has to offer. Overall, Clapton does not disappoint and everybody who enjoyed his output in the las sixty plus years should be entirely happy with what this album has to offer. The presence of Van Morrison and lamented Jeff Beck are the proverbial cherries on top, but the entire album is a joy to listen to. Clapton is not “God”, and he never was intended for that role, but as far as his music is concerned he is quite an Angel.

Updated: 04/09/2025Posted: 30/08/2025

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ERIC CLAPTON ~ THE LADY IN THE BALCONY (LOCKDOWN SESSIONS) MERCURY 602438711529 (Barcode: 602438711529) ~ UK ~ Blues Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is an album by iconic British guitarist / vocalist / songwriter Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist, recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic, following the cancellation of his live concerts. He is accompanied by veteran British keyboardist Chris StaintonFind albums by this artist, American bassist Nathan EastFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve GaddFind albums by this artist, all seasoned and well respected musicians. The album presents seventeen tracks, eight of which are songs written or co-written by Clapton, spanning his entire career, two are classics written by Peter GreenFind albums by this artist and the rest are American Blues classics. The music was recorded almost completely acoustically and has a distinct “unplugged” feel about it. Clapton plays some beautifully tasteful acoustic guitar and sings confidently, accompanied amicably by his cohorts. The resulting music is pretty straightforward, mostly classic Blues oriented, which is a delightful listening experience, unpretentious, straight to the heart, relaxed and honest. Overall, this is a wonderful, nostalgic but not sugary retrospective of one of the greatest British guitarists and songwriters, regardless of what some people might think. It is a soundtrack of my generation, when a great melody and skillful, intelligent instrumental performance meant something. I absolutely loved every second of this album.

Updated: 19/03/2022Posted: 19/03/2022

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