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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Predictably, given the drug problems which preceded its release, Clapton's second solo album proper seems to come and go in an opium haze of its own making. Oddly though, it suits him. As the history of rock attests, if you're going to get into one hard drug then you may as well make it heroin. Whereas cocaine feeds the ego and destroys judgement, heroin sublimates it and allows the artist to regress into his music. Which pretty much describes where 461 Ocean Boulevard is at. Because tracks like "Steady Rollin' Man" and US chart topper "I Shot The Sheriff" sound like they have all the time in the world, they make light work of putting the listener in a similar frame of mind. Best of all though is "Let It Grow", for many the kind of tender, foetal balladry which finds Clapton at his most quintessential. Inevitably, he cleaned up his act and sporadically attained similar heights. But for sheer mood and sense of moment, 461 Ocean Boulevard remains his masterpiece. --Peter Paphides
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of EC's best solo efforts,
By
This review is from: 461 Ocean Boulevard (Audio CD)
"461 Ocean Boulevard", Eric Clapton's second solo album from 1974, is an appealing amalgam of several different styles (rock, pop, R&B, country, blues and even reggae). It may not have the flashy guitar work of his earlier recordings, nor is it as gritty as fans of Eric Clapton the blues player (rather than Eric Clapton the pop singer) might have preferred. But it is a pleasant, low-key affair with several excellent songs, including a charming, laid-back rendition of Johnny Otis' "Willie And The Hand Jive" and the lovely, folkish ballad "Please Be With Me", originally recorded by Southern rockers Cowboy. Clapton should stay away from covering Elmore James, though. He obviously knows that he can't match the intensity of James' vocals, so he delivers "I Can't Hold Out" in a very subdued style which doesn't suit the song. His version of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff", although somewhat watered-down, works really well, though, as does the mournful, almost spiritual blues "Give Me Strength" and the melodious "Let It Grow", both of them Eric Clapton originals. But all in all, "461 Ocean Boulevard" is a really fine album, and one that Eric Clapton tried again and again to replicate over the next ten years. It's not perfect, but it is as good as the man from Surrey ever got during his solo years.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eric's best album,
By Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews (No. 1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: 461 Ocean Boulevard (Audio CD)
Eric was in various blues-rock groups, notably the Yardbirds and Cream, before embarking on a solo career, during which he recorded many excellent albums. This is one of the best, if not the best of the lot. It includes I shot the sheriff, a British top ten hit that topped the American charts, as well as many other outstanding songs.The album features Yvonne Elliman (best known for her Saturday night fever hit, If I can't have you) on backing vocals. She provides great support for Eric on this album, especially on Let it grow, my favorite song here after I shot the sheriff (on which Yvonne also sings). Eric and Yvonne co-wrote Get ready and sing it as a duet. The album opens with a traditional song, Motherless children, and closes with a song that Eric wrote about himself, Give me strength. Both of them are great songs, as are all the songs in between. The musicians are in top form throughout on this classic blues-rock album. If you are a fan of classic rock music and haven't already got this album, what are you waiting for?
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laid Back and Beautiful,
By Joe (Portsmouth) - See all my reviews
This review is from: 461 Ocean Boulevard (Audio CD)
This is a perfect sunny Sunday morning record. It's also Eric's most underrated work. He'd spent years ... turning his guitar up to 11 blowing us away with his playing, but here (his 'comeback' album) he shows us what a great singer and songwriter he can also be when he puts his mind to it. I Shot the Sherrif is a well-thumbed back page, but his originals like Let It Grow and Motherless Children deserve just as much attention. The album has the laid back easy acoustic blues feel similar to Unplugged, and if you liked that, you'll love this. The touching songs such as Give Me Strength and Please Be With Me show Eric was still finding his feet as an individual, but as a musician with this album he was on very solid ground. Do yourself a very low-key but lovely favour and check it out.
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