Customer Reviews

461 Ocean Boulevard: Rarities Edition

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been a Eric Clapton fan all of my life but I have to say I was very disappointed by this cd,first of all the sound quality is awful and i have to say it is probably the most uninspired playing by Eric that I have ever heard.I believe this should have stayed in the vault.I guess this was one of Eric's low points in his life and you can certainley hear that.

Worthwhile listen for the serious Clapton fan and colector only. This is not Clapton at his best, but does capture a tentative, unsure artist on his comeback tour. Useful to contrast his playing on this tour with the 1975 tour on which he was more out in front and confident in his abilities.

"Uninspired" Clapton is still way ahead of inspired competition.
A very good insight into creative process. Plenty of decent playing.

It's a shame that this wasn't released as a 4cd boxset containing both concerts at the Hammersmith Odeon. These were the last 2 shows of Clapton's 1974 Tours of US, Europe, Japan. Clapton had a wonderful band and they are razor sharp here. The cd starts off with Clapton on accoustic guitar and George Terry playing beautifully melodious solos on Charlie Chaplain's Smile and Let it Grow. Yvonne Elliman (JC Superstar and Saturday Night Fever fame) is by far my favorite vocalist to ever work with Clapton. Then it's I Shot the Sheriff, Clapton's first song on electric guitar in London since the Rainbow concert where he had considerable help from Pete Townsend and Ron Wood. He steps on the wah wah peddle and really delivers, playing an absolutely beautiful solo. The next night Sheriff would be more of a guitar duel with George Terry. Little Wing has beautiful slow powerful guitar and backing vocals from Yvone Elliman and Marcy Levy. The versions of Layla, Badge, Little Wing, I Shot the Sherriff are the best I've ever heard. And Let it Rain rivals the version on Derek and the Dominos live, which imho is the only other cd that can match this for showing Clapton at his astounding best.