Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Hidden Gem, May 24, 2000
Like everyone else here, I agree that this recording is badly overlooked. There are certain times when I prefer the softer side of Eric to the blues droaning of Layla and Assorted Love Songs. This recording has gospel, regaae, and acoustic flavorings as well as just a touch of the blues. Eric's singing is a lift muffled but his tone does compliment the songs very well. The last four songs were all written completely by Eric and let me tell you that they all have good chord progressions especially High. I would recommend this CD for those fans of Eric who can appreciate him as a total musician and not just a blues purist.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Too Subtle For Most, March 22, 2006
You know who you are. The long-time fan of Clapton's, the person in the audience nowadays yelling "Go Slowhand!" as Eric plays lick after passionless lick, the dude who wishes Eric would reunite with Cream for good. If so, this is not for you. Sorry. If it's any consolation, I used to be one of you. Somewhere down the line, my road forked off and, at the tender age of 20, here I am saying that this album is too subtle for most. What is the world coming to? What sense could I have? Hear me out.
The genius behind these songs is not in the mindless soloing, or the screeching vocals. In fact, the record has neither. Rather, it's "There's One In Every Crowd"'s economy that gives it a five-star charm. Most words are barely spoken over a whisper. Most solos barely reach above the tenth fret. And they barely last more than thirty seconds. Instead, the album is full of melodic, moody guitar playing, and breathy even sexy singing. And, God, what a band- they're guaranteed to hit the groove that will either make you melt or shiver by the time the last seconds of "Opposites" dissappear back to 1975. That is, unless you're the guy mentioned above. If you are, again, I'm sorry...your loss.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Misunderstanding Clapton, July 18, 2008
There's One In Every Crowd, the rather overlooked follow-up to the excellent 461 Ocean Boulevard, marks the beginning of Clapton's career when he decided that he no longer wanted to be known just as a bluesy lead guitarist. On this album there's barely a flicker of a Clapton blues solo to be heard. What you get instead is a series of songs some good, one or two mediocre, and a mixture of gospel, reggae and light pop. Most of the songs in this set are composed by Clapton, who plays in a very laid-back style. In fact this style was already beginning to emerge on his preceding solo album (461 OB). But it's taken much further here. By this stage Clapton was pleasing himself and not his fans, who were still clamoring for his fiery Cream style solos. Here he just sings, strums rhythm guitar, a few short non-bluesy solos here and there, and fair use of the Dobro, an instrument that took his fancy for a few years. The same backing musicians as used on 461 OB are present here.
It's not that this record is bad or even boring. It isn't. Bland, it maybe to those who were heavily into Cream or Derek And The Dominoes. But I really like most of the tracks especially Pretty Blue Eyes, with its lilting acoustic guitar solo, High, and the gospel-like We've Been Told. But the outstanding track is the highly soulful and moody Better Make It Through Today. This shows a side of Clapton that he failed to capitalize on later albums. TOIEC is just so different in style to what Clapton had been doing and was famous for, only a few years earlier. It's hard to believe this is the same guy. However he was to continue in this vein for years to come and on some considerably worse albums than this one.
To sum up if you like the unplugged side of Clapton without his bluesy guitar, you may well get to enjoy this album, as most of the songs are up to standard and grow on you after a few plays. Otherwise, if you haven't the patience or time, best stay away.
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