461 Ocean Boulevard

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Product Details

Artist : Eric Clapton
Format : Original recording remastered
Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0731453182127
Label : Polydor Group
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 1997-03-17
Running Time : 39minutes
UPC : 731453182127

ASIN : B000002G89

Track Listings for

Disc-1
1. Motherless Children
2. Give Me Strength
3. Willie And The Hand Jive
4. Get Ready
5. I Shot The Sheriff
6. I Can't Hold Out
7. Please Be With Me
8. Let It Grow
9. Steady Rollin' Man
10. Mainline Florida

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

Predictably, given the drug problems which preceded its release, Clapton's second solo album proper seems to come and go in an opium haze of its own making. Oddly though, it suits him. As the history of rock attests, if you're going to get into one hard drug then you may as well make it heroin. Whereas cocaine feeds the ego and destroys judgement, heroin sublimates it and allows the artist to regress into his music. Which pretty much describes where 461 Ocean Boulevard is at. Because tracks like "Steady Rollin' Man" and US chart topper "I Shot The Sheriff" sound like they have all the time in the world, they make light work of putting the listener in a similar frame of mind. Best of all though is "Let It Grow", for many the kind of tender, foetal balladry which finds Clapton at his most quintessential. Inevitably, he cleaned up his act and sporadically attained similar heights. But for sheer mood and sense of moment, 461 Ocean Boulevard remains his masterpiece. --Peter Paphides

Description

After playing the 1973 Rainbow Concerts that were arranged by good friend Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton returned to Florida's Criteria Recording Studio to cut 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD. Because of a stint of personal turmoil, Clapton had not played guitar for two years preceeding the Rainbow Concerts, butwith the help of a core group of musicians including GeorgeTerry, former Derek & the Dominos bassist Carl Radle, JamieOldaker, and Yvonne Elliman, Slowhand put together an albumthat many consider to be his best.
Focusing more on his singing than his guitar pyrotechnics of the past, the new, improved Clapton used a laid-back, J.J. Cale-type vocal styleto great effect on a mellow version of "Willie And The HandJive" and Elmore James's "I Can't Hold Out". Far from beinga kinder, gentler guitar hero, Clapton also showed considerable spark on a slide-drenched "Motherless Children" and thedriving "Mainline Florida", which closes out the album. Of course, his cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff" was the musical statement that took him to the top of the charts and let the general public know he was back. 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD is still one of the highest points of Clapton's solo career.

Customer Reviews

Unpredictable, laid back and fine (2008-06-16)

This is a wonderful album. It marked Clapton's sobriety following his heroin usage, and has a theme of redemption and rebirth running through it. Also, there's a strong taste of someone who has turned himself inside and out. In places, this is passionate, elsewhere playful, and in many places you can hear a man asking himself what he has left. Fantastic stuff, strongly recommended.

Format (2006-12-02)

This CD is in DTS format only - not DVD Audio as suggested.Thers is a big difference. If you want true 24 bit stereo sound, then buy the SACD.

Eric's best album (2005-02-04)

Eric was in various blues-rock groups, notably the Yardbirds and Cream, before embarking on a solo career, during which he recorded many excellent albums. This is one of the best, if not the best of the lot. It includes I shot the sheriff, a British top ten hit that topped the American charts, as well as many other outstanding songs.

The album features Yvonne Elliman (best known for her Saturday night fever hit, If I can't have you) on backing vocals. She provides great support for Eric on this album, especially on Let it grow, my favorite song here after I shot the sheriff (on which Yvonne also sings). Eric and Yvonne co-wrote Get ready and sing it as a duet.

The album opens with a traditional song, Motherless children, and closes with a song that Eric wrote about himself, Give me strength. Both of them are great songs, as are all the songs in between.

The musicians are in top form throughout on this classic blues-rock album. If you are a fan of classic rock music and haven't already got this album, what are you waiting for?

One of EC's best solo efforts (2003-06-07)

"461 Ocean Boulevard", Eric Clapton's second solo album from 1974, is an appealing amalgam of several different styles (rock, pop, R&B, country, blues and even reggae).

It may not have the flashy guitar work of his earlier recordings, nor is it as gritty as fans of Eric Clapton the blues player (rather than Eric Clapton the pop singer) might have preferred. But it is a pleasant, low-key affair with several excellent songs, including a charming, laid-back rendition of Johnny Otis' "Willie And The Hand Jive" and the lovely, folkish ballad "Please Be With Me", originally recorded by Southern rockers Cowboy.

Clapton should stay away from covering Elmore James, though. He obviously knows that he can't match the intensity of James' vocals, so he delivers "I Can't Hold Out" in a very subdued style which doesn't suit the song.

His version of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff", although somewhat watered-down, works really well, though, as does the mournful, almost spiritual blues "Give Me Strength" and the melodious "Let It Grow", both of them Eric Clapton originals.Lovely slide dobro playing on "Let It Grow".Another bluesy spiritual, Blind Willie Johnson's "Motherless Children (have a hard time)", is quite good as well in this electric, up-tempo recording, in spite of the clippety-clop rhythm played by drummer Jamie Oldaker (kind of a strange choice for a blues number).

But all in all, "461 Ocean Boulevard" is a really fine album, and one that Eric Clapton tried again and again to replicate over the next ten years. It's not perfect, but it is as good as the man from Surrey ever got during his solo years.

EC plays it fine and plays it cool (2001-06-30)

461 Ocean Boulevard marked, for a time, a departure for Eric Clapton's up front guitar playing; on this album EC concentrates more on the songs and often puts the guitar soloing on hold, or certainly tones it down. Nevertheless, this album, which is named after the address of the studio, is excellent. Listen to the emotive 'Give Me Strength' and the bright version of Johnny Otis' 'Willie And The Hand Jive' with some nice guitar included. Bob Marley's 'I Shot The Sheriff' is dealt with brilliantly by Clapton and has become a favourite of many, also worth a listen is Elmore James' 'I Can't Hold Out' beautifully performed and confirming EC's blues roots. A fine album. Recommended.

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