Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars

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  • JDEJDE Frets: 1092
    Yeah. The sad thing is, that having every aspect of your life recorded for future scrutiny will never truly reflect an individuals capacity for change. I'm not the same bloke I was two years ago, let alone when I was in my early 20's! 

    Fwiw, and I'm obviously not condoning anything, but EC has been pretty open about his drink/drugs history, how much of a bastard he was to Pattie Boyd, the death of his kid and a whole load of other shit, which takes a fair bit of self-awareness to do. I think he has genuinely changed and probably looks back to those comments and just thinks "what the fuck was I saying?" Keith Richards has said some bizarre things in the past, and a lot regarding race, and he's just loveable old Keef? 
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  • ESBlondeESBlonde Frets: 3576
    JDE said:
    Yeah. The sad thing is, that having every aspect of your life recorded for future scrutiny will never truly reflect an individuals capacity for change. I'm not the same bloke I was two years ago, let alone when I was in my early 20's! 

    Fwiw, and I'm obviously not condoning anything, but EC has been pretty open about his drink/drugs history, how much of a bastard he was to Pattie Boyd, the death of his kid and a whole load of other shit, which takes a fair bit of self-awareness to do. I think he has genuinely changed and probably looks back to those comments and just thinks "what the fuck was I saying?" Keith Richards has said some bizarre things in the past, and a lot regarding race, and he's just loveable old Keef? 
    EC has made it a lifechallenge to found and fund a drug rehabilitation centre in Antigua, I dare say a large element of the patients are not white middle class. His deeds certainly speak far louder than some peoples words. Trying to rubbish him for a drunken outburst is dubious at best.


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  • ESBlonde said:
    JDE said:
    Yeah. The sad thing is, that having every aspect of your life recorded for future scrutiny will never truly reflect an individuals capacity for change. I'm not the same bloke I was two years ago, let alone when I was in my early 20's! 

    Fwiw, and I'm obviously not condoning anything, but EC has been pretty open about his drink/drugs history, how much of a bastard he was to Pattie Boyd, the death of his kid and a whole load of other shit, which takes a fair bit of self-awareness to do. I think he has genuinely changed and probably looks back to those comments and just thinks "what the fuck was I saying?" Keith Richards has said some bizarre things in the past, and a lot regarding race, and he's just loveable old Keef? 
    EC has made it a lifechallenge to found and fund a drug rehabilitation centre in Antigua, I dare say a large element of the patients are not white middle class. His deeds certainly speak far louder than some peoples words. Trying to rubbish him for a drunken outburst is dubious at best.


    I think this sub-thread is unfortunate.  But the very fact it gets raised here - amongst guitar players - is proof it will never go away.  I wondered once why EC has never been made a Sir.  But a quick search on the internet for the full transcript of what he is alleged to have said in 1976 probably answers the question.

    EC is a great man.  He has put his hands up to so much.  And does so much for so many.

    1976 is 41 years ago.  I believe he was quite a different chap back then.  And no doubt very influenced by those around him.  And their thoughts and beliefs.  Life can be difficult for a young man with money, talent and many hangers on.

    I believe he did his best.

    I believe he still does.

    His best gets better every year.  What else can one aspire to in life.

    Forgiveness.

    "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." Mahatma Gandhi
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  • On a personal note, regarding the OP's actual topic, I am very excited about this film.  I dearly hope it makes its way over to the UK soon. My fingers are crossed. x
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  • JDEJDE Frets: 1092
    Showtime are screening it in the US in 2018 apparently. As it's actually a British-funded production, we may even see it over here first. 
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  • His LA show is on Facebook live later today, for those who are interested. 
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  • VoxmanVoxman Frets: 4718
    edited September 2017
    Love Eric, great player, and seems like a good man...would love to meet him. Nearly did once (he was client of Ernst and Young and I was pension specialist there) but he couldnt make it and his rep came to meeting instead. 
    I started out with nothing..... but I've still got most of it left (Seasick Steve)
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  • JezWyndJezWynd Frets: 6021
    ESBlonde said:

    EC has made it a life challenge to found and fund a drug rehabilitation centre in Antigua, I dare say a large element of the patients are not white middle class. His deeds certainly speak far louder than some peoples words. Trying to rubbish him for a drunken outburst is dubious at best.

    Clapton founded Crossroads after seeing the huge problem Antigua has with crack. He has a house on the island I believe. The facility is for respite and cure of local Antiguans but is largely funded by (usually) wealthy addicts from US and Europe. The facilities and location are fantastic, I was a patient there for a while until I absconded; seemed I had further to fall.

    A old colleague of mine filmed a documentary of the train tour when Clapton was deep in drink. Stigwood organised the train apparently so that he would have less easy access to alcohol. I'm wondering if footage from Rex's movie will feature in the new film, I hope so, he's an excellent documentary maker.
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  • HootsmonHootsmon Frets: 15924
    Wots Eric's best album for guitar playin'...other than the Beano stuff?
    tae be or not tae be
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  • not_the_djnot_the_dj Frets: 7306
    edited September 2017
    hootsmon said:
    Wots Eric's best album for guitar playin'...other than the Beano stuff?
    Derek and the Dominoes Live

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Live-At-Fillmore-Derek-Dominos/dp/B000001E3V

    The Live in the 70s boxset has some great stuff on it as well. 
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  • richardhomerrichardhomer Frets: 24793
    edited September 2017
    hootsmon said:
    Wots Eric's best album for guitar playin'...other than the Beano stuff?
    From The Cradle from the mid-1990s and the Hyde Park DVD from the same period. He was on fire on both....
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  • hootsmon said:
    Wots Eric's best album for guitar playin'...other than the Beano stuff?
    Derek and the Dominoes Live

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Live-At-Fillmore-Derek-Dominos/dp/B000001E3V

    The Live in the 70s boxset has some great stuff on it as well. 
    ...and the Cream stuff as well of course.

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  • JDEJDE Frets: 1092
    Yeah, man - I think (somewhat unpopularly) that From The Cradle has much better playing on it than any of the Cream records. 

    If you ever fancy a bit less guitararing, I totally recommend the Ocean Boulevard record. It's dirt cheap on cd and it's my favourite Clapton album. It is an exercise in restraint for the most part though (he was on the spliff at the time), but it has some phenomenal moments. 
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  • hootsmon said:
    Wots Eric's best album for guitar playin'...other than the Beano stuff?
    I'm not a major fan but From the Cradle probably.
     I think it's debatable how well the Beano stuff stands up, it's importance really was in terms of how it sounded at the time and how many people it influenced. 
    Tipton is a small fishing village in the borough of Sandwell. 
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  • JDE said:
    If you ever fancy a bit less guitararing, I totally recommend the Ocean Boulevard record. It's dirt cheap on cd and it's my favourite Clapton album.
    His Dobro on 'Give Me Strength' is one of the finest things he's done. Exquisite phrasing - just a lovely piece of guitar playing.
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  • JezWyndJezWynd Frets: 6021
    JDE said:
    If you ever fancy a bit less guitararing, I totally recommend the Ocean Boulevard record. It's dirt cheap on cd and it's my favourite Clapton album.
    His Dobro on 'Give Me Strength' is one of the finest things he's done. Exquisite phrasing - just a lovely piece of guitar playing.
    Not to mention the beautiful chord progression and organ build on Let It Grow. Definitely one of my favourite albums of his. For guitar playing - Derek Ad The Dominoes Live.
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  • JDEJDE Frets: 1092
    Glad Ocean isn't shunned on a guitar forum! "Can't Hold Out" is also a standout track for me - ultimate lazy, sexy slide. It's also I think, the first recorded vocal tip-of-the-hat EC gives to Curtis Mayfield. I think that whole album is a love letter to The Dominoes, Duane, Harrison and Mayfield, much like From The Cradle is his love letter to his blues heroes.

    The Mayfield inspiration is obviously taken to its ultimate conclusion on Pilgrim. Which is also underrated and brilliant, but will be forever lost among the more virtuoso records, which is a real shame. Pilgrim and Mayfield's New World Order are not just both fantastic records, but are totally valid reference points if you look at the Neo Soul and contemporary black American music of people like D'Angelo. 
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  • JDEJDE Frets: 1092
    JDE said:
    If you ever fancy a bit less guitararing, I totally recommend the Ocean Boulevard record. It's dirt cheap on cd and it's my favourite Clapton album.
    His Dobro on 'Give Me Strength' is one of the finest things he's done. Exquisite phrasing - just a lovely piece of guitar playing.
    I agree with virtually all of your posts! You're a good man, Richard!
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  • VoxmanVoxman Frets: 4718
    I liked slowhand and backless too, 461 OB, from the cradle, and Journeyman.
    I started out with nothing..... but I've still got most of it left (Seasick Steve)
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  • HAL9000HAL9000 Frets: 9551
    Another vote for From The Cradle here. Also agree with @richardhomer re the Hyde Park DVD which is very good indeed. The live albums generally tend to show off EC's guitaring better than the studio stuff.

    IMHO the ones best avoided are Behind The Sun and August. Both produced by Phil Collins and unfortunately a partnership that really fails to bring out the best from Clapton.
    I play guitar because I enjoy it rather than because I’m any good at it
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