Last week, we covered the psychedelic rock band Cream, who despite the great assemblage of talent (or maybe because of it) only lasted three years and four albums.
But this week, let’s have a look at the last surviving member of Cream, who also is best known for work with Derek and the Dominos, and the one who had the greatest, and longest, solo career. Eric Clapton’s solo work started in the early 1970s, and he’s still out there today.
Eric Patrick Clapton was born in Surrey, England, in March of 1945, to Patricia Clapton and Edward Fryer, a soldier who deployed to the Continent and then returned to Canada. Clapton was raised mostly by his grandmother and her second husband, who for a long time he thought were his parents.
In 1963, Eric joined the Yardbirds, staying with them until 1965. Then in 1966, as we have seen, he co-founded Cream; after that band split up, he formed the short-lived band Blind Faith, which only lasted a few months, before forming Derek and the Dominos from 1970 to 1971.
He also launched his solo career in 1970. Here are some of what I think are his more memorable tunes, from 1970 to 1985. Layla was technically from his time with Derek and the Dominos, but he performed it live on many occasions after 1971, so we'll call it good.
After Midnight (1970): Originally written by an Oklahoman, J.J. Cale, who recorded it in 1966. Clapton heard it on his car radio, of all things, liked it, and recorded it. That was a big deal for Cale, and in time Clapton picked up two more of Cale’s songs, the famous Cocaine and a lesser-known tune called I’ll Make Love To You Anytime.
Layla (1970): Rumor has it that Clapton wrote this song for the wife of his good friend, George Harrison, and it seems to have worked; after Pattie Harrison split up with George in 1974, she moved in with Eric, marrying him in 1979. I guess she really did have him on his knees.What’s really amazing is that Eric Clapton and George Harrison remained close friends after all these events.
That can’t go without this wonderful, 1992 live and unplugged version. It almost has a blues lilt to it, and here’s the thing: The difference in a good musician and a great musician is how well they do 1) live and 2) acoustic. Eric Clapton is a great musician. I Shot The Sheriff (1974): Most people know that this was originally a Bob Marley tune, recorded in 1973. This was another song that Eric heard and liked. He didn’t want to release the recording at first, fearing that he hadn’t done the song justice. His band members loved it. They convinced Eric to release it – and it shot straight to the top of the charts. Cocaine (1977): Another iconic Clapton piece, this is another of the songs he picked up from J.J. Cale. When Eric Clapton recorded this song, it was a big boost to his career. And, it shouldn’t come as any surprise to note that Clapton was struggling with addiction issues himself when he recorded this; that seems to have been an occupational hazard of rock & rollers in the 1960s and 1970s. Lay Down Sally (1977): This one’s peppier than a lot of Clapton’s work. One of Clapton’s backup singers, Marcy Levy, said this about the song:We were in the studio one day and he [Clapton] said, 'I want to write this song called 'Lay Down Sally.'' So I went into the corner and came up with the melody. At first it had more of a Little Feat groove. But we worked at it all day and eventually Eric hit on the rhythm and I played keyboards, and we recorded the track. Then Eric said, 'Can you write some lyrics at home tonight?' So I did, and we recorded the vocals the next day.
I have a personal memory of this one as well; the year this came out, one of my buddies was dating a girl named Kelly. He used to sing to her every time this song came up on the radio, substituting “Kelly” for “Sally,” to her great annoyance and displeasure.
Wonderful Tonight (1977): Back in the day, this was a popular song at weddings, even though the lyrics described a couple preparing to go out for the evening, and then returning. Rumor has it that he came up with the idea waiting for his future wife, Pattie Harrison, to get ready to go to a Buddy Holly tribute concert, as he was waiting for her to get ready; a position that every man in history is familiar with. Forever Man (1985): Another well-known solo Clapton tune, this one is a pledge of commitment, which is mildly interesting as Clapton and his then-wife Pattie were divorced in 1989. Can’t win ‘em all, I guess.Eric is still making music and, at 81, still performing live. Check it out.Any Clapton or Clapton-adjacent experiences or reminisces? As always, the comments are all yours – and the request lines are open.
