“461 Ocean Boulevard” by Eric Clapton - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1974Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die external-link.png

TJR says

The 29-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist was off the heroin, but still drinking heavily. He's now living with George Harrison's ex, Pattie Boyd, just about managing to keep him in line. Snapping out of his malaise, he got tight with his core touring band for “461 Ocean Boulevard”, named after the rented house in Golden Beach, Florida, where the album was rehearsed and recorded. Accompanying him were: George Terry (guitar, backing vocals), Carl Radle (bass guitar), Dick Sims (keyboards), Jamie Oldaker (drums, percussion), Marcy Levy (harmonica, backing vocals) and Yvonne Elliman (backing vocals). The groove was mellow and, thankfully, the solos were kept in check. The better tracks appear on side one, opening with a catchy interpretation of the blues standard, “Motherless Children”. Album highlight “Get Ready” was co-written by Yvonne Elliman who duets with Clapton on the vocals over a very cool funky dubbeat. This leads very nicely into the famous cover of “I Shot The Sheriff”, guitarist George Terry working hard to persuade Clapton that it should be included. The single appeared before the album and went all the way to #1 in the Billboard 100. What's he got that Marley hasn't America? Think we all know the answer to that one! Side two opens quite well with a version of “I Can't Hold Out” (Elmore James, 1960), but it's all downhill from there, just too MOR for me.

The Jukebox Rebel
13–Feb–2016

Tracklist
A1 [04:55] 5.2.png Eric Clapton - Motherless Children (Traditional) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
A2 [02:51] 3.8.png Eric Clapton - Give Me Strength (Eric Clapton) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
A3 [03:31] 4.5.png Eric Clapton - Willie And The Hand Jive (Johnny Otis) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A4 [03:50] 6.3.png Eric Clapton - Get Ready (Eric Clapton, Yvonne Elliman) Disco / Funk
A5 [04:30] 5.3.png Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff (Bob Marley) Disco / Funk
B1 [04:10] 5.0.png Eric Clapton - I Can’t Hold Out (Elmore James) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B2 [03:25] 3.7.png Eric Clapton - Please Be With Me (Charles Scott Boyer) Country
B3 [04:47] 2.7.png Eric Clapton - Let It Grow (Eric Clapton) Soft Rock / A.O.R.
B4 [03:14] 3.3.png Eric Clapton - Steady Rollin’ Man (Robert Johnson) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B5 [04:05] 3.0.png Eric Clapton - Mainline Florida (George Terry) Rock

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