Eric Clapton kicked them blues with the laid back boogie and country shuffle of this assured return to form. 'Slowhand' was produced and engineered by Glyn Johns at Olympic Studios in London with Clapton on lead vocals and guitar; Carl Radle on bass guitar; Mel Collins on saxophone; George Terry on guitar; Jamie Oldaker on drums and percussion; Dick Sims on keyboards; and Marcy Levy and Yvonne Elliman on harmony and backing vocals. Johns pushed the band and would record with them playing live in the studio.
The title was a nickname given to Clapton in his days with the Yardbirds. Clapton says: “My nickname of 'Slowhand' came from Giorgio Gomelsky. He coined it as a good pun. He kept saying I was a fast player, so he put together the slow handclap phrase into 'Slowhand' as a play on words ... On my guitar I used light-gauge guitar strings, with a very thin first string, which made it easier to bend the notes, and it was not uncommon during the most frenetic bits of playing for me to break at least one string. During the pause while I was changing my string, the frenzied audience would often break into a slow handclap, inspiring Giorgio to dream up the nickname of 'Slowhand' Clapton ... It’s got a nice affectionate ring to it… And of course The Pointer Sisters made that great record – ‘Slow Hand’ – which makes it quite clear that a man with a slow hand is someone to actually go after. So it suits me down to the ground.”
'Slowhand' went to number forty-six in Australia, forty-one in Sweden, thirty-five in Japan, thirty-two in New Zealand, twenty-three in the UK, seventeen in the Netherlands, thirteen in France, five in Norway, and spent five weeks at number two in the US. It has been certified gold in Switzerland and the UK and triple platinum in the US, making it his biggest album of the seventies.
http://www.ericclapton.com/
"Cocaine"
Clapton says: "I think - when I asked him about this, it's -- he doesn't - he's never really given me a straight answer about, J.J., about whether it's pro or -- whether it's for or against. I think his way of -- his way of writing songs, as far as I can see, which makes -- which I think is a unique thing -- is he writes just observations. That's just an observational song."
If you want to hang out,
You've gotta take her out
Cocaine
If you want to get down,
Get down on the ground
Cocaine
She don't lie,
She don't lie,
She don't lie,
Cocaine
If you got that lose,
You want to kick them blues
Cocaine
When your day is done,
And you want to ride on
Cocaine
She don't lie,
She don't lie,
She don't lie,
Cocaine
If your day is gone,
And you want to ride on
Cocaine
Don't forget this fact:
You can't get it back
Cocaine
She don't lie,
She don't lie,
She don't lie,
Cocaine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYS732zyYfU
"Wonderful Tonight" would open Clapton up to a whole new audience, charting at twenty-six in New Zealand, sixteen in the US, fifteen in Canada, and number two in the Netherlands. "Every now and then you fall in love again, albeit with the same woman, just one night for some reason - something she's said or how she's approached the situation and bang! you're in love again and it's such a strong feeling you can't do anything else but write it down."
It's late in the evening;
She's wondering what clothes to wear.
She'll put on her make-up
And brushes her long blonde hair.
And then she asks me,
"Do I look all right?"
And I say, "Yes,
You look wonderful tonight."
We go to a party
And everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady
That's walking around with me.
And then she asks me,
"Do you feel all right?"
And I say, "Yes,
I feel wonderful tonight."
I feel wonderful because I see
The love light in your eyes.
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize
How much I love you.
It's time to go home now
And I've got an aching head,
So I give her the car keys
And she helps me to bed.
And then I tell her,
As I turn out the light,
I say, "My darling,
You were wonderful tonight.
Oh my darling,
You were wonderful tonight."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mINPdUFVjSE
"Lay Down Sally" gave Clapton his biggest hit since 'I Shot the Sheriff', going to fifty-seven in Australia, thirty-nine in the UK, sixteen in New Zealand, and number three in Canada and the US. It was conceived as a tribute to J.J. Cale.
There is nothing that is wrong
In wanting you to stay here with me.
I know you've got somewhere to go,
But won't you make yourself at home and stay with me?
And don't you ever leave.
Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms.
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon.
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you.
The sun ain't nearly on the rise
And we still got the moon and stars above.
Underneath the velvet skies,
Love is all that matters. Won't you stay with me?
And don't you ever leave.
Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms.
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon.
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you.
I long to see the morning light
Coloring your face so dreamily.
So don't you go and say goodbye,
You can lay your worries down and stay with me.
And don't you ever leave.
Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms.
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon.
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you.
"The Core"
Every morning when I wake
A feeling soon begins to overtake me
Ringing in my ears resounds
through my brain; it finally surrounds me
There is fire, there is life
There is passion, fever and fury
There is love and there is hate
There is longing, anger and worry
Oh, I am a flame
Feel it touch my heart
And down at my core is the hottest part
I can run without fear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28WjGei1v24
'Slowhand'
full album:
Side one
1. "Cocaine" J.J. Cale 3:38
2. "Wonderful Tonight" Eric Clapton 3:44
3. "Lay Down Sally" Eric Clapton · George Terry · Marcy Levy 3:56
4. "Next Time You See Her" Eric Clapton 4:01
5. "We're All the Way" Don Williams 2:32
Side two
1. "The Core" Eric Clapton · Marcy Levy 8:45
2. "May You Never" John Martyn 3:01
3. "Mean Old Frisco" Arthur Crudup 4:42
4. "Peaches and Diesel" Eric Clapton · Albhy Galuten 4:46
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