Customer Reviews

Money & Cigarettes

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Money and Cigarettes" is not one of Eric Clapton's better remembered albums, but that's not because it isn't any good. It ranks somewhere in the second tier of Clapton albums behind classics like "461 Ocean Boulevard" and "Layla" but well ahead of some of his lesser efforts. The best songs here include the easy rockin' "I've Got a Rock'n'Roll Heart," "Pretty Girl," and "Slow Down Linda." The album is also one of Clapton's more bluesy, which perhaps accounts in part for its lack of popularity. Nevertheless, it is a worthwhile listen for Clapton fans.

This Eric Clapton album is like a port in a storm, in a way. All of his albums after "Backless" and until "Journeyman" are kind of disappointing, with the strong exception of this one. All of his albums in the 70's and 80's started to drift heavily onto a more poppy sheen, this one included, but it's the songs themselves that speak for this album. There just seems to be this energy and sincerity to the way Clapton plays and sings that I have heard rarely since, and hadn't been displayed to fans since 1977's "Slowhand". The lone single, "I've Got A Rock N' Roll Heart" is (other than being a Clapton fan who wanted more than just "Crossroads") what led me here, and it's not even the strongest cut on here. The whole album is quite strong, melodic, fun, and one of the better Clapton albums. If you're going to pick three to buy, buy "Slowhand", "Eric Clapton" (his solo debut) and this one.

The early 1980's were something of a forgotton time for Eric Clapton's career.Now he was about to come back very strongly but,the fact was that Clapton's soul,blues and boogie woogie mix of pop/rock music just wasn't really being paid attention to as much anymore now that different post punk and new wave music was being bought to the forefront on the radio. Those genres were definately a breath of fresh air in terms of innovation to an extent but for those who stayed with people like Clapton he actually still had a lot to say. The most interesting thing about this album is that it doesn't really stray all that much from the style Clapton had been using during his mid to late 70's solo career. With Ry Cooder and Albert Lee on the board this is very much a laid back styled rhythm & blues affair. The reason I use that term is because blues artists of this era who were working within the then current ideom actually wound up doing not necessarily straight ahead blues but a sound that was something like a modern variation on what Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin did in the 50's and 60's. Claptons version of "Everbody Oughta Make A Change",therefore is top notch rhythm & blues and,for an even more decent reference there is the presense of Booker T & The MG's Donald "Duck" Dunn actualy ups the ante even more. Many of the songs such as "The Shape You're In","Ain't Going Down" and "Man Overboard" follow a similar lead: none are exactly lowdown blues or smooth blues exactly but have have that rhythic bite and crunch that brings it up to having something of a retro/modern soul flavor to it. "Pretty Girl" brings the same approch to a wonderful romantic ballad that features some wonderful slide guitar playing. "Man In Love","Crosscut Saw" and "Slow Down Linda" are very much reminders of the type of music that Clapton worked magic with back in the day with Cream,Blind Faith,Derek & The Dominoes and even to a certain extent The Plastic Ono Band. Since these songs have a strong small group flavor they tend to make one forget the musicians intensely legendary status and just find him and his fellow musicians relaxing and letting the music flow. The album ends on a pretty appropriatly upbeat note with "Crazy Country Hop".One of the best things about this album IS the fact it wasn't a hit album and would up being forgotton in the huge cannon of Clapton albums extending back to his earliest work with John Mayall and The Yardbirds. The fact he was able to create such an enjoyable album that gets better with each listen says a lot.

MONEY AND CIGARETTES, Eric Clapton's first CD for his new label, Warner Brothers Records, is a classic in the vein of his previous four Polydor albums and 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD. With Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. & The MGs on bass and Tom Dowd once again producing, Clapton puts out a low-key set of classic blues-rock and soul. On "The Shape You're In", he warns his wife of the dangers of her alcoholism, whereas "Ain't Going Down" is about perseverance in the face of adversity, and "I've Got A Rock And Roll Heart" celebrates the music itself. Even though this album tanked commercially, becoming his first in several years not to go gold, it's still classic Clapton.

In Clapton's biography he tells us that the name of this album is reflective of the fact that he quit drinking shortly before this and these are his only two remaining vices. He forgot to mention women. Concerning the music, there is a hit on this album (Rock & Roll Heart) as well as the usual assortment of blues classics and and Clapton-penned tunes. If you're any kind of Clapton fan at all then you will love this album. If not, then you better stick to his greatest hits.

My wife heard the song on the commercial for the new Eric Clapton phone and wanted it. So we order this CD that has it.
The whole CD is pretty good and the price and service from this seller was great.

After the disappointing Another Ticket, Eric Clapton followed it up with the often overlooked, Money & Cigarettes. The album is a easy going affair of simple, fun and enjoyable tunes. Nothing included here is an instant classic, but Mr. Clapton sounds like he's enjoying himself and you will equally enjoy songs like "I've Got A Rock & Roll Heart", "Crazy Country Hop", "Crosscut Saw", "Man Overboard" and "The Shape You're In".

I really like this album. It's a good solid mix of blues and rock, and I think for sure, one of his best, although I do have many Clapton albums and I would be hard pressed to pick my favourite. Just like it would be hard for me to pick my favourite song from this cd. They are all so good. A perfect cd to listen to while cruising down the highway.

Short Story; Five great songs and no major turds...easily Eric's strongest outing of the 1980s. Very well remastered, too!

Long Story; The chorus of Crazy Country Hop features they lyrics "Ooh-weee, oh-oh...Oooh la, la, let's rock and roll". A brief discussion broke out among Eric and his sidemen about whether these profoundly fruity lyrics compromised their manhood. They were interrupted by the phone outside the control room. Eric answers and then turns to his band, "Hey guys, my smokin' hot supermodel wife Pattie Boyd is callng from the $1.50/minute car-phone in my Lamborghini Countach. She's in the McDonald's drive-thru and wants to know what you guys want on your Big Macs." Needless to say, it was then decided by unanimous vote that the Oooh la-la lyrics were not a problem for men in their situation.

Don't even think about bothering me with a rant about how profoundly inaccurate my story is.

Ok folks here it goes.The year was 1983 and comercialism was still going strong.Most groups put out music every year.In the seventies you had to wait a life time{so it seems} I've got a rock n roll heart bellowed from radio stations.It sold the album.Its amazing when I look back and bought records on one single.Sometimes it was a good album and other times it was like getting dental work done without novacane.This album is laid back but enjoyable.Its not Slowhand but its not reptile either.Eric might of been relaxing on a tropical island somewhere but money was flowing in just from that song alone.The song man overboard is a little cheezey but doesn't kill the album.Crazy Country Hop is always a treat thanks to the nutty lyrics and music by J.Otis.The good thing about today as I mentioned earlier was that you can sample music so you know what you're in for.I sampled this and bought it.Your call!