Of all of the 'classic' British rockers who came to prominence in the
1960s, only a very few have achieved significant, sustained success
through to the present day. A list that comprises Paul McCartney and The
Rolling Stones should also include Eric Clapton. His critical and
commercial accomplishments with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream,
Blind Faith and his first solo album between 1965 and 1970 was followed
the inexplicable failure of the Layla album, released under the
semi-pseudonym of Derek & The Dominos. Clapton withdrew into heroin
addiction for several years. In 1974, his 'comeback' album, 461 Ocean
Boulevard, returned him to the top three in both the UK and America.
Always a strong concert draw, Clapton has released another sixteen top
twenty albums since. Even 'Layla' returned to the charts in 1982. Eric
Clapton Solo reviews and analyses all of Clapton's studio albums since
1974, as well as successful collaborations with BB King and JJ Cale.
It's been a long, varied journey: the laid-back rocker of the 1970s; the
commercial sheen of the 1980s; the polished, acoustic yuppie music and
hard blues of the 1990s; the slick R & B stylings of the 2000s and the
roots homages of the 2010s. All of this was underpinned by the skill and
talent of Britain's greatest blues guitarist and a hugely underrated
vocalist.
