Blues Power: Songs of Eric Clapton

Various Artists - Blues - Modern/Electric, Eric Clapton (Tribute), Eric Clapton

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 1999)
• Original Release Date: June 22, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: House of Blues
• ASIN: B00000J83W
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #230,699 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Miss You - Larry McCray

2. Blues Power - Koko Taylor

3. Wonderful Tonight - Otis Clay

4. Lay Down Sally - Carl Weathersby

5. Strange Brew - Buddy Guy

6. Before You Accuse Me - Bo Diddley

7. Roll It Over - James Cotton, Joe Louis Hill, Joe Louis Walker

8. Crossroads - James Cotton, Honeyboy Edwards

9. Old Love - Otis Rush

10. Too Bad - John Hammond, Jr., Bob Margolin, Pinetop Perkins

11. Tears in Heaven - Ann Peebles

12. Layla - Eric Gales, Derek Trucks

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A tribute album that's not a tribute album--at least according to the text on the cover of this CD. In a way, that's correct, since Blues Power includes not merely artists who've been influenced by Clapton, but also artists who've influenced him. Many of these musicians' careers were positively affected by the advent of British blues and the blues revival of the 1960s--events in which Clapton played no small part. So it's fitting that Buddy Guy should appear here, and Bo Diddley, James Cotton, Honeyboy Edwards, and Pinetop Perkins. In addition, younger artists make an appearance, including Larry McCray, Carl Weathersby, Joe Louis Walker, Eric Gales, and Derek Trucks. And for the most part--as one would expect given the caliber of the performers--the material here is very strong. Standouts include Weathersby's hard-grooving take on "Lay Down Sally," Guy's version of "Strange Brew," Walker and Cotton's sexy "Roll It Over," and Perkins's wry "Too Bad." A few of the selections seem to be winks at the listener: for instance, Diddley covers his own "Before You Accuse Me," a song popularized by Creedence Clearwater Revival and more recently recorded by Clapton. The oddest of the lot, though, would have to be "Crossroads," one of the most covered blues songs ever, which Honeyboy Edwards here records in a style more reminiscent of Robert Johnson than of Clapton. It's moments like these that make this album as much a history as it is a tribute. Closing things off is, of course, "Layla," here reinterpreted by young guitar-slingers Gales and Trucks. The closing coda, while different from Clapton's original, perfectly captures its mood. While there are some weak moments--Koko Taylor tones down her characteristic roar for "Blues Power" for some reason--this is a strong album overall, exploring Clapton's strengths as a songwriter and as a bluesman through the eyes of contemporaries, predecessors, and followers. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Many of Eric's greatest tunes performed superbly., July 19, 1999

By	D. Isaacson (Weston, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love this album! Many of Eric's greatest tunes performed superbely (and mostly creatively) by other excellent artists. There's great guitar work here, even if it isn't Eric himself. My favorite Clapton tune, "Old Love", is done beautifully by Otis Rush. I was so happy to see this lovely, too often neglected, song on the album. Koko Taylor rocks on "Blues Power" and the guitar work by Chriss Johnson and Rico McFarland is fabulous. "Layla" closes the album! Eric Gales sticks very close to the original arrangement but without the fire ... until, just before the coda, Derek Trucks flies in and knocks you off your feet - I would have liked more of that. Personally, I could have done without "Lay Down Sally" and "Tears in Heaven" in favor of a killer "After Midnight". All-in-all, this is a wonderful album - excellent artists performing great songs. If you are an EC fan, buy it - you'll love it. And, it will hold you until July 27th when Eric releases a double CD Blues album.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not A Tribute, But A Celebration -- And A Very Fun One, February 15, 2001

By	J. Keenley (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As it proclaims on the cover, "This ain't no tribute," and it ain't. In fact, it's the exact opposite. Clapton purists, and blues purists, will probably reject this with disdain. If so, they're missing out on a great CD. You're basic "tribute" album has lesser known artists doing note for note, unoriginal covers of a famous artist's work. Here, Blues legends (like Koko Taylor, Otis Clay, Buddy Guy, Bo Diddley, James Cotton, Otis Rush, and Pinetop Perkins), along with up and coming blues artists, celebrate Clapton's legacy by putting their own, special stamp on his songs. Bo Diddley's take on "Before You Accuse Me" (which is, of course, a cover of a Clapton song which itself was a cover of a Bo Diddley song), alone makes this CD worth buying. Other highlights include Koko Taylor's rendition of "Blues Power," Buddy Guy's take on "Stange Brew," and Eric Gales' surpsingly good cover of "Layla" (yes, "Layla"). There are a few throw-aways, and a little too much influence of the Blues Brothers (which seems to permeate everything put out by "House of Blues"), but in general it's very much worth the price of admission. Don't miss it.

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Buy the real stuff instead, September 9, 1999

By A Customer

The comment above is right on. A mildy entertaining CD that I think Ill trade in for the much better Eric Clapton "Blues" double CD.