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Eric Clapton.
How much I adored that refined touch, that artistic elegance, and the style always precise and impeccable.
How much I adored that rich and oily sound produced by his Fender, unparalleled.
I believe I adored it so much that I consider any of his performances and musical productions a masterpiece. Totally blind to that so evident limit that accompanied much of his solo career, marked indelibly by undisputed success and his worst days, artificial visions, and moments damned to the heavens.
Money and cigarettes.
Dark corners and maternal refuges.
Yellowed beard and full watches.
Minor chords.
"Change in the weather, change in the sea,
Come back baby, you'll find a change in me.
Everybody, they ought to change sometime,
Because sooner or later we have to go down in that lonesome ground."
Money And Cigarettes (1983) is a perfect example of a transitional album, which I would define as atypical when compared to Clapton's more classic blues patterns in the past or subsequent periods. It is a fairly balanced and well-produced album, which, although it completely departs from the famous "Slowhand" of 1977 or the excellent "From The Cradle" of 1994 for its greater vivacity, is akin to them as one of the icebergs of that man's troubled artistic journey, who still represents one of the highest expressions of guitar music in the history of R'n'B.
Among the grooves of the LP, we find very interesting ideas and complex musical passages, musical phrases, and riffs of a good level but most importantly, the valuable collaboration of Ry Cooder, accompanied by the lesser-known Albert Lee, invaluable hands on the shiny guitar necks. A collaboration that definitely raises the level of a work that came to light at a very delicate moment in Clapton's life and offers new stimuli and a desire to play.
A desire to play that emerges in every single track. A desire to change.
A desire to listen that increases.
"It ain't no big deal, we're all lucky to be alive,
I myself don't believe in luck, or taking chances, I will survive.
Every move I make, every twist, every turn
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 The Shape You're In (04:09)
by Eric Clapton
I took my baby to see a show.
She was telling me she didn't want to go.
I said, "Come on girl, what's the matter with you?"
But I could tell by the smell that she'd had a few.
I said hold on girl don't get too tight,
You started early and we've got all night.
You've got to take it easy, take it slow.
We don't want the whole world to know
About the shape you're in.
Well, my little girl really loves that wine.
Wine will do it to her most everytime.
If it's red or it's white or it's in between,
She can drink more wine than I've ever seen.
Chorus
Now I'm not trying to get heavy with you.
I'll mind my own business if you want me to.
But I love you girl, I don't love no one else.
I'm just telling you baby 'cause I've been there myself.
Chorus
04 I've Got a Rock 'n' Roll Heart (03:16)
by Troy Seals, Eddie Setser and Steve Diamond
I've got a feeling we could be serious, girl;
Right at this moment, I could promise you the world.
Before we go crazy, before we explode,
There's something 'bout me, baby, you got to know, you got to know.
I get off on 57 Chevys;
I get off on screaming guitar.
Like the way it hits me every time it hits me.
I've got a rock and roll, I've got a rock and roll heart.
Feels like we're falling into the arms of the night,
So if you're not ready, don't be holdin' me so tight.
I guess there's nothing left for me to explain;
Here's what you're gettin' and I don't want to change, I don't want to change.
Chorus
I don't need to glitter, no Hollywood,
All you got to do is lay it down and you lay it down good.
Chorus
08 Crosscut Saw (03:31)
(Guitar Intro)
I'm a crosscut saw, baby drag me across your log
I'm a crosscut saw, baby drag me across your log
I'll cut your wood so easy for you, you can't help but say "hot dog"
Some call me wood-cutting Sam, some call me woodcutting Jim
Last girl I cut wood for, she want me back again
I'm a crosscut saw, baby drag me across your log
I'll cut your wood so easy for you, you can't help but say "hot dog"
(All right!)
(Guitar Solo)
I got a dull-blade axe, that really cuts good
And I'm a crosscut saw, bury me in your wood
I'm a crosscut saw, baby drag me across your log
I'll cut your wood so easy for you, you can't help but say "hot dog"
(Guitar Solo)
10 Crazy Country Hop (02:47)
by J. Otis
Way down in a country town one day
A little ole' country band began to play.
They had two guitars and a beat-up saxophone;
When the leader said go them cats began to blow.
Ooh wee oh oh, ooh la la
Let's rock and roll.
Now all the poeple gathered 'round
Just to dig that rockin' rollin' sound.
Suddenly the drummer rang a bell
And all them country cats began to yell.
Ooh wee oh oh, ooh la la
Let's rock and roll.
Ole' MacDonald did a crazy bop
Said it's time to milk my cow, I got to stop,
But just before I cool it and cut out
Here's something all you cats can think about.
Ooh wee oh oh, ooh la la
Let's rock and roll.
Snaggle-toothed Malinda was a drag,
She latched onto a dude who showed up stag.
He tried to run and then he tripped and fell;
She kissed him and we all could hear him yell.
Ooh wee oh oh, ooh la la
Let's rock and roll.
Well, a hound dog ran a polecat into town,
Brought him to the dance and laid him down.
Someone hollered skunk and you can bet
All them country cats is runnin' yet.
Ooh wee oh oh, ooh la la
Let's rock and roll.
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Other reviews
By matteodi.leonar
"Money & Cigarettes, almost 30 years later, can rightly be considered the only great Clapton work of the Eighties."
"The unique pleasure of hearing two phenomena dialoguing, the impeccable perfect blending of Eric’s guitar with the unmistakable slide of Ry Cooder."
