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#69722 by HowlinJ
Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:16 pm
Pertaining to Mani20's ulterior motives in creating this thread, any discussion about 'ol Slowhand is cool with me.

however...

I regard any of our criticism of the man's playing as somewhat ludicrous.

I mentioned on this forum previously of my experience in seeing Clapton live at the Murry The K extravaganza back in 67. I can't resist a retelling for the benefit of anyone whom might have missed it.

First point... A few of my pals and I ventured into New York City, not to see Clapton or his new band Cream, but primarily to see The Who, Wilson Picket, and Mitch Ryder, who were also appearing on the bill.( cost of admission, about four bucks, plus six dollars round trip bus fare from Pennsylvania )

Second point... Although we knew who Eric Clapton was, because of his work with Mayall and the Yardbirds, we were totaly ignorant of the fact that he was a member of this minor, low billed new band Cream. When Cream was introduced and the members were announced, I recall my old pal and I looking at each other in disbelief that we were about to see one of the original Yardbirds perform in addition to all the other great acts. However, judging from the lack of response from the rest of the audience, it was obvious that most of them didn't have a clue as to who Eric Clapton was!

Third point.... (and testament to the fact that Clapton was, and is, an extraordinary guitarist) .. I recall Eric playing what I believe to be a psychedelically painted Gibson SG Standard through a couple of Vox Super Beatle amps, and the tone that he produced was nothing like I've hear before! I swear, the dude laid down power chords, let them feedback in real time, and soloed over top of himself! All with a couple of hundred watts of power and no digital tecnology! The total effect of this on top of Bruce's bass and Bakers amazing drumming definitely made a deep and positive impression in young Howlin's mind! :D

Had to get that off my chest, now I must go do some work,
later,
:wink: Howlin'

#69769 by Paleopete
Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:47 pm
My wife bought Pilgrim, & I listened to it. I was amazed at how frikken bland it sounded to me.


Same thing I thought, never listened to it again. Journeyman, however, is an entirely different story. My first copy was on cassette with Eric Johnson's A Via Musicom on the other side, it stayed in my tape player for 2 months. I'd listen to both every day when I got home from work. Still listen to it now and then, great CD. Especially the song Bad Love, with Phil Collins on drums and backing vocals. Harrison is on a couple of tunes too.

Speaking of Harrison, I noticed a while back he was also on a CD I have by Jeff Lynne, "Armchair Theater". Some really nice slide work on a couple of tunes and I think he co-wrote a couple.

I've always been a Clapton fan, still am, but I nerver did consider him the greatest guitar player of all time as some people do. Given a choice of going to see Gilmour, Clapton or Eric Johnson it would be a really tough choice between Gilmour and Johnson...but not Clapton, who I would like to see but it's not on top of my list.

Clapton was an innovator, whether you want to admit it or not, in the 60's he was the first guitar player I know of to use lighter gauge strings. they didn't exist, so he got some banjo strings...Ditto for Marshall amps, nobody used them until Clapton had Jim Marshall build him one (the Bluesbreaker it came to be called) while he was playing for John Mayall. but Fender assisted in that when CBS took over and they started making changes in the amps that musicians didn't like. Mostly to cut production costs, although at times to do things like reduce oscillation, but it happened at the cost of cutting the highs. Fender paid no attention to the musicians, and when they finally came to their senses it was too late, Marshall had already grabbed the majority of the amp market.

Nope, Clapton isn't a speed player, and I think Gilmour should be the one with the nickname "slowhand", but he is able to play almost anything without ever even hearing it, can handle more different styles than most guitart players will even attempt, and comes up with some great lead work at times.

Great, yes. But not what some people make of him, at least to me, but still an old favorite of mine. I think the only one I have now is Journeyman, and the never played copy of Pilgrim. Used to have several on album and cassette - Layla, a 70's compilation, a couple of others...

#69881 by Hayden King
Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:37 pm
Kramerguy wrote:I always saw him as one of the most over-rated lead guitarists of all time. I understand that he's not a speed player, but I look at other players like Gilmour who are showered with praise for the same thing (slow melodic) and wonder how Clapton gets so much praise in comparison (Gilmour destroys Clapton IMO)...

Don't get me wrong, Clapton is a good player, but I never saw him as a "top 100 of all time" kind of player. More of a reliable jam band kinda guy.

I can see him in a top artist slot because he sings and he writes too, but on guitar merits alone.. nope, not even in my top 500.


I'm amazed at how many people give him super status as well. I can't think of anything that he has done that would lead anyone to even consider him a "great" guitarist, much less one of the best. I personally know many guitarist that would smoke his ass at any speed or style and I don't consider him an incredible writer either. He's just good at both and no more than that IMHO.

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#69893 by Chippy
Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:14 pm
I amazed at how many people will conjure a conversation based upon acne.

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