Eric Clapton
Slowhand

THE REVIEW

Eric Clapton has over forty years of career under his belt, during which he has gained great popularity and an excellent reputation as a guitarist. His discography is immense: ranging from his time with the Yardbirds to that with the Cream of Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, with whom he laid the foundations of hard rock, to his involvement in Steve Winwood's Blind Faith, a successful experiment in white blues, up to his very long solo career. The solo career is the most debated period of the English guitarist, who has not been able to scratch as in the past, constantly oscillating between highs (few) and lows (many): he is often remembered for the celebrated live album "Unplugged", which on one hand rightly honors his technical skills but on the other highlights the lack of impact of his studio works.

"Slowhand", dated 1977, aligns perfectly with the aforementioned considerations: an album that can be appreciated in some parts but does not fully convince. It opens with the cover of "Cocaine” by J.J. Cale, a piece destined to become a classic of Mr. Slowhand’s live repertoire, revamped in a decidedly more rock arrangement. The second track is a second classic: "Wonderful Tonight", a romantic ballad that Clapton sings with a moved voice. The lively "Lay Down Sally", also destined to be endlessly reproduced in live performances, is the third classic of the album. The following "Next Time You See Her" is not particularly appreciated except for the engaging chorus while "We’re All The Way" passes quickly without leaving a mark. "The Core", enriched by the backing vocals of Yvonne Elliman, develops on a captivating riff but is extended to almost nine minutes, probably too many even for skillful hands like Clapton's, who navigates the long coda of the song at his best. The second cover of the album, "May You Never" by John Martyn, also presented in a rock arrangement, surely cannot compete with the original folk version. Both "Mean Old Frisco" and the instrumental "Peaches And Diesel" leave a bitter taste: irritating the first, flat the second.

In conclusion, the album deserves a solid enough rating, mainly for the first three tracks and "The Core", but it is penalized by some lackluster tracks.
Interesting, but not essential.