Slowhand nickname comes from the 60s when playing live if he broke a string the audience would slow hand clap with the band while he changed the string. It has nothing to do with how he plays--he can play anyway you want--fast slow emotional, hard, soft, sweet. He is the full package.
Song was written by the GREAT JJ Cale , Clapton's hero ,who wrote many songs that others like Clapton(After Midnight,Cocaine) and Lynyrd Skynyrd (Call Me The Breeze,Same Old Blues Again) recorded,JJ Cale was a great performer himself and you should definitely check him out.He and Clapton recorded a great album together a few years ago before Cale's death that was tremendous! It's called The Road to Escondido. Check it out
Back in '88 or '89, I was at a Rolling Stones concert in LA. They started playing an old blues tune, Little Red Rooster. Another guitarist walked out with them. He was like a half inch tall from where we were sitting at the top of the colosseum. As soon as he started to play I told my friend, "That's Clapton." A minute later they showed him on the big screens.
The first time I saw ERIC WAS AT RED ROCKS IN CO ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE LIVE AID IN "85" ,THEN WE SAW HIM ON TV "LIVE AID!! BUT HERE'S WHAT TOTALLY BLEW ME ABOUT HIM ,THE NEXT MORNING SUNDAY THE DAY AFTER "LIVE AID " I HEARD THE RADIO THAT ERIC COMING BACK TO RED ROCKS THAT NIGHT,WE DROVE TO DENVER AT 9AM AND GOT TICKETS WHICH I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I WAS GOING TO SEE ERIC 3 DAYS LATER AND 24 HRS AFTER "LIVE AID"WELL WHEN WALKED ON TO STAGE ,I NEVER HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE GIVING HIM A STANDING OVATION FOREVER!! WHEN HE WAS FINALLY ABLE SPEAK ," HE SAID AS YOU KNOW I WAS AT "LIVE AID YESTERDAY AND I DECIDED TO COME TO RED ROCKS BECAUSE HE WAS BLOW AWAY ABOUT THE VENUE OF RED ROCKS!!!! HE WENT OFF ,IT WAS UNREAL ,WHAT I REMEMBER HE PLAY THE BLUES LIKE NO TOMORROW !!!! HE PLAYED FOR AT LEAST 2 1/2 HRS !! I SAW HIM 5 MORE TIMES ,BUT THAT 2ND SHOW AT RED ROCKS BEST EVER!!😍😍😍😍😍🐶🎸🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🔥🔥🔥🔥!!!
I saw him do this live at Budokan in Tokyo. We were pretty close. 5th row. 3rd time I saw him. He had stopped playing this song for awhile. Crowd went crazy. Thanks for the reaction.
It's worth hearing JJ Cale's original version. Clapton's cover almost sounds like a commercial for blow - Cale takes it down. Clapton has a pretty forceful delivery which works against the meaning of the song found in the lyrics. JJ Cale sounds like a guy who has been beaten down: "If you want to get down, down on the ground". "Don't forget this fact, you can't get it back". JJ Cale is a genius songwriter and guitarist; no wonder Clapton fell under his spell.
Sounds like you hear what you want to hear lol Clapton only remade this because of his addictions. It was the people of the Era that turned it into an anthem for coke. I was there in the 70s
@@robertpiekosz7470 You might note that my commentary was on Clapton's delivery, not his intentions. And apparently you agree with my analysis that Clapton's delivery sounded more like a commercial for coke than the warning that JJ Cale's version delivers. Otherwise, your comment " It was the people of the Era that turned it into an anthem for coke" would not be accurate. Clapton is great - but his power works against the actual message of this song. JJ Cale's version can be found on his album "Troubadour".
There's a great video out there of Clapton and J.J. playing together where J.J. does the vocals and Eric is basically in the background playing with a huge smile on his face the whole time.
Eric Clapton and JJ Cale were very close friends. JJ Cale was one of Eric's idols, and he loved all his songs. When JJ died, Clapton released a bona-fide tribute to his friend and former collaborator: Eric Clapton & Friends: The Breeze, An Appreciation of J.J. Cale. The album features 16 Cale songs-from “Call Me the Breeze,” “Starbound” and “Lies” to “Magnolia” “Songbird” and “Crying Eyes”-performed by Clapton and a host of guests, including Mark Knopfler, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, and Don White. Other friends include Albert Lee, Derek Trucks. Lynyrd Skynard's version of "They Call Me The Breeze" was one of their biggest hits/. Check Out JJ Cale's album "Troubadour." This album has Cocaine on it, along with 'Super Blue', 'Hey Baby", 'Traveling Light', 'You Got Something' and 'You Got Me On So Bad'. Great Music on that album.
God... as some called him.... I saw Eric at a Rodger Waters concert...I never knew why people referred to him as a guitar God...until I watched him play Pink Floyd for 2 plus hours, not missing a note , playing music he didn't write... He is amazing and after that I understood.
Yes, Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking tour, I saw it in Hartford CT, it was cool hearing him take a swing at Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun! Roger always had a crack band with him, no matter what but this was extra excitement, as if any Floyd or alumni show is a 'normal' concert.
He played on Roger waters tour. The pros and cons of hitchhiking. I saw that show at brenden burn arena at the Meadowlands. 1984 ? It was incredible. 😎
Yes, that's a classic record there. Song originally from the great J.J. Cale, master of songwriting, and laid-back shuffling boogie rhythm. Cocaine, After Midnight, They Call Me The Breeze, etc. And Clapton is Clapton 👍 Thanks for having me along, I can see that you really got that one.
J.J. Cale songwriter god !!!! His "Naturally" album was and still is a musicians dream album....showed what timing, feel and groove were all about.....dig into that album boys...you won't be disappointed.....!!!!!!
Giorgio Gomelsky, who managed the Yardbirds, tagged Clapton with the nickname "Slowhand" in early 1964. According to Yardbirds rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, whenever Clapton broke a guitar string during a concert, he would remain on stage and replace it. While English audiences waited, they would begin a slow handclap, which is called "to be given the slowhand."
JJ Cale was famous for a laid back "shuffle" style (the Tulsa shuffle) and this song is pretty representative. Clapton still found the space to drop some licks on.
JJ at the time played this in a laid back Jazz style, his manager told him fuc no speed it up a bit. He did that then his manager told him cool now go write another 9 whatever and you might have a record. Its hard to believe a man can come up with a song like this and then record a song like Magnolia or Hold on. Nice cover by Slow Hand.
Coked up, cruising down the road, hearing this come onto the radio…The ‘80s was the pinnacle of the greatness of American pop culture. This is the era where we took the counter culture from the hippies and gave it back to the artists.
"Wonderful Tonight" is my favorite EC song. It's a true story & has one of my favorite lyrics in music: "Then the wonder of it all is that you just don't realize - How much I love you"
Apparently the nickname Slowhand name came from his intense string-bending that often caused broken guitar strings. He would replace the strings on stage while the crowd slowly clapped their hands.
You are in for a treat diving in to Clapton. And while you are there don't sleep on J J Cale who's a master at song writing. You lead we will follow. As always fellas great reaction. Much appreciated 🙏 ❤
Clapton started playing this J.J.Cale song during the drug using part of his career - but later, after quitting drugs and establishing his "Crossroads" rehab center, which was later funded by his annual Crossroads Guitar Festivals, he changed the lyrics when he performed it. According to Clapton, when he played with the Yardbirds, the audience would go into "slow clapping" if Clapton had to replace a broken string during a set. So the group's manager, Giorgio Gomelsky started calling him "Slowhand.
Written by the great JJ Cale, who also wrote After Midnight and They Call Me the Breeze. Clapton didn't know him when he recorded this but they later became great friends and recorded an album together, Road to Escondido. Check out Cale performing Cocaine at the famous Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa in his later years. Cale was one of the founders of what is known as the Tulsa Sound, along with Leon Russell. th-cam.com/video/rGRjQ7WOmq8/w-d-xo.html
Yes, in 1980 a live version of this song recorded at the Tokyo Budokan, including thousands of Japanese fans singing "Cocaine!", was a radio hit. Different times indeed,
Eric Clapton loved to do covers. "Crossroads", "I Shot The Sheriff", Cocaine", just to name a few. "Cocaine" was written by J.J. Cale, but Clapton made it a real hit. He also took Bob Marley's song "I Shot The Sheriff" and did the same thing. Marley's version was popular, but Clapton took it towards the Top Ten, and "Crossroads" by the immortal Robert Johnson is an out and out classic. For a good original song by Eric try "Motherless Children" from the album "461 Ocean Blvd."
The Slow-Hand nickname is because Clapton’s guitar play is anything but slow… This song has more of a Blues sound to it. The tempo is on the slower end but Eric’s guitar play is anything but slow (hand)…
I wondered if anyone was as captivated by the ride cymbal in this song as I am-it’s a very 70s sound and I love it-Peter Frampton has a song called “Doobie Wah” which I love (tribute to Doobie Brothers) which has some tasty ride-lots of 70s songs use it, great sound
Clapton once said that this song was the greatest jam of all time. They would play it and jam for hours with each band member taking the lead at various times.
The best version of this song ever played is on Eric's "Just One Night" live album. He's accompanied by virtuoso Nashville guitarist Albert Lee, and on this song they both play incredible solos. All other versions pale in comparison. "After Midnight" from that album is also incredible, a worked up version that got lots of airplay in the early 80's. While you're at it, check out "Blues Power" and "Further On Up the Road" from that album. 🤙🤘😎
Clapton can play fast and burn a guitar up, but he's gone through phases in his career where he preferred the "less is more" approach in his guitar playing. Probably was influenced by BB King in that regard. Btw he has an entire album of him and BB. And it's a good one.
You are so right @ktwebbdevil - J.J. Cale was a very great musician and of course also songwriter/composer. I wish @AirplayBeats would feature some of his songs. Thanks for the cover song by E.C., which was his comeback from his alcohol and drug crash. Here in Germany he (unfortunately) only lasted an hour on stage and played "cocaine" twice because it just wasn't possible anymore. very embarrassing. But the opening act was one of the best performances I've ever seen live - it was, the one and only "Muddy Waters" and that was a great performance that was really worth the money - all thumbs up !!! Best wishes @all ...
Slowhand was a play in words, like calling a tall person shorty. This was in the era of seeing "Clapton is god", painted on brick walls in London during his stint with the Yardbirds.
Clapton is in the top 5 of the greatest guitar players of all time. My favorite Clapton songs are Lay Down Sally and After Midnight the original not his 1980s remake. He does have a huge selection of songs and groups he has played with Cream, Derek and the Dominos and their song Layla is a banger
JJ Cales live video version (although he was a little high) at Cains Ballroom is fantastic . He puts a completely groove twist on it. Spectacular to hear him noodle. On of my favorite uTube vids.
His best days were with Cream, they got back together around 2005, and he proved he still had it. He surely keeps getting better, technically, but that group was a force. Hopefully he will find the right people again, like Baker with Masters Of Realty, or Bruce with Robin Trower.
The cream reunion was great. But I liked the Clapton / winwood shows. Also when he had Derek trucks and doyle bramhall on his tour. Clapton is as good as it gets. 😎
The second guitarist you hear is George Terry. He recorded and toured in Eric's band from 74 to 79. This song is from the album called Slow Hand. There are different stories about how he got the name Slow Hand.
It’s impossible to understand now how prevalent cocaine was in the 80s at first everyone thought it was the perfect drug,lots of people said it wasn’t addictive 😂. The it started being ruined ,Clapton knew this first hand. Even though this was a anti drug song it was kind of a party anthem. Tremendous composition and guitar work. ☮️ Slow hand
It’s so true, my aunt who was in her 20’s during the late 70’s early 80’s , she said EVERYONE was doing coke. People would compare it to having a cup of coffee. “Tired?” Do a line!!!??? It was crazy
And also recorded a whole album of songs of the Tulsa Sound ( listen to the song Lay Down Sally from the album Backless. He also recorded a whole album with JJ Cale The Road to Escondido). I love JJ Cale and he had an influence on Clapton.
This is one of the most riveting, rousing, soul-grabbing songs I’ve heard in my lifetime of listening and loving the songbook of rock greats. Sympathy for the Devil is Stone’s satire cunningly delivered with a punch in the gut. Actually has made me cry. Go know.
A big hit and a nice song, you are right in that he was as much about songs and his vocals when he finally got out of rehab and got back to music in 1973. For me, the best Eric Clapton is 1960s when he was young, at the peak of his aggressiveness and fullness of his sound, he was using Gibson guitars for much of that era and it is easy to hear. To hear him at his rocking best, with legendary solos, try him live with Cream for Spoonful from the great Wheels of Fire album and for studio do Blind Faith's Had to Cry Today. There are amazing guitar runs galore in both and you can understand the Clapton is God era in the 60s, he and Hendrix were who everyone thought where 1 & 2 before new heroes began to emerge in the late 60s. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎸🎶
As already mentioned, J.J. Cale wrote this song. It's actually a dire warning about the lies of the seductress. Clapton has been drug free for decades and helped open a rehab in the Bahamas.
Clapton wasn't called 'Slowhand' in Cream, he was called 'God' back then..😅 together with the devil himself, drum legend Ginger Baker, they created some of the best rock of all time and also got that rock rolling along other legends obviously 🤟👹❤
Guys Clapton’s a BAD MAN…He’s better live than in studio. Very rare for a player. He’s a perfectionist, and to answer your question of Slow Hand. Has nothing to do with his playing. Before he had tech’s taking care of his rig. It took him forever to change a guitar string. I’m looking forward to taking this trip with both of you. He’s in the Top 5 greatest guitarist’s for a reason. Have a great weekend guys. 😎
The term slowhand was coined during his earliest days, and has nothing to do with the speed of his playing. When he would break a string, unlike today with extra equipment ready and waiting, he would restring onstage, and the audience would start to clap slowly until he was ready to pick it back up. Hence, a slow hand. Eric would later comment about the nickname that when the Pointer Sisters had a big hit with the song Slowhand, that it made it kind of cool to have a slow hand. Also, the album that Cocaine was recorded for was titled Slowhand.
OH I FORGOT ,ONE OF THE OTHER TIMES I SAW HIM ERIC HAD PHIL COLLINS ON DRUMS ,MY GIRLFRIEND AND I DECIDED TO GO BEHIND THE STAGE,( THE OLD MCNICOLS VENUE IN DENVER) SO WE WATCH PHIL GO OFF ,AWESOME!!😍😍🎸🐐🥁!!!
JJ's influence is everywhere. Lynyrd Skynyrd call me the breeze, and Widespread Panic has covered many. Panic doing his traveling light and ride me high is phenomenal
He played the outfield like he never missed a beat but the real reason why the name Shoeless Joe Jackson stuck is in the bottom of that inning he came up to bat still w no shoes on and hit one of the longest homeruns anyone had ever seen Good thing he didn’t foul one off his ankle 😬😅
Slowhand nickname comes from the 60s when playing live if he broke a string the audience would slow hand clap with the band while he changed the string. It has nothing to do with how he plays--he can play anyway you want--fast slow emotional, hard, soft, sweet. He is the full package.
Song was written by the GREAT JJ Cale , Clapton's hero ,who wrote many songs that others like Clapton(After Midnight,Cocaine) and Lynyrd Skynyrd (Call Me The Breeze,Same Old Blues Again) recorded,JJ Cale was a great performer himself and you should definitely check him out.He and Clapton recorded a great album together a few years ago before Cale's death that was tremendous! It's called The Road to Escondido. Check it out
Same ole Blues again 👍
Back in '88 or '89, I was at a Rolling Stones concert in LA. They started playing an old blues tune, Little Red Rooster. Another guitarist walked out with them. He was like a half inch tall from where we were sitting at the top of the colosseum. As soon as he started to play I told my friend, "That's Clapton." A minute later they showed him on the big screens.
I can name Clapton in one note, usually. He is God on the guitar! And Eric KNOWS he was blessed with a Gift! Takes it seriously!
The first time I saw ERIC WAS AT RED ROCKS IN CO ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE LIVE AID IN "85" ,THEN WE SAW HIM ON TV "LIVE AID!! BUT HERE'S WHAT TOTALLY BLEW ME ABOUT HIM ,THE NEXT MORNING SUNDAY THE DAY AFTER "LIVE AID " I HEARD THE RADIO THAT ERIC COMING BACK TO RED ROCKS THAT NIGHT,WE DROVE TO DENVER AT 9AM AND GOT TICKETS WHICH I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I WAS GOING TO SEE ERIC 3 DAYS LATER AND 24 HRS AFTER "LIVE AID"WELL WHEN WALKED ON TO STAGE ,I NEVER HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE GIVING HIM A STANDING OVATION FOREVER!! WHEN HE WAS FINALLY ABLE SPEAK ," HE SAID AS YOU KNOW I WAS AT "LIVE AID YESTERDAY AND I DECIDED TO COME TO RED ROCKS BECAUSE HE WAS BLOW AWAY ABOUT THE VENUE OF RED ROCKS!!!! HE WENT OFF ,IT WAS UNREAL ,WHAT I REMEMBER HE PLAY THE BLUES LIKE NO TOMORROW !!!! HE PLAYED FOR AT LEAST 2 1/2 HRS !! I SAW HIM 5 MORE TIMES ,BUT THAT 2ND SHOW AT RED ROCKS BEST EVER!!😍😍😍😍😍🐶🎸🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🔥🔥🔥🔥!!!
I saw him do this live at Budokan in Tokyo. We were pretty close. 5th row. 3rd time I saw him. He had stopped playing this song for awhile. Crowd went crazy.
Thanks for the reaction.
It's worth hearing JJ Cale's original version. Clapton's cover almost sounds like a commercial for blow - Cale takes it down. Clapton has a pretty forceful delivery which works against the meaning of the song found in the lyrics. JJ Cale sounds like a guy who has been beaten down: "If you want to get down, down on the ground". "Don't forget this fact, you can't get it back". JJ Cale is a genius songwriter and guitarist; no wonder Clapton fell under his spell.
Sounds like you hear what you want to hear lol Clapton only remade this because of his addictions. It was the people of the Era that turned it into an anthem for coke. I was there in the 70s
Looking forward to your reaction to the original.
That album name Was Slowhand.
@@robertpiekosz7470 You might note that my commentary was on Clapton's delivery, not his intentions. And apparently you agree with my analysis that Clapton's delivery sounded more like a commercial for coke than the warning that JJ Cale's version delivers. Otherwise, your comment " It was the people of the Era that turned it into an anthem for coke" would not be accurate. Clapton is great - but his power works against the actual message of this song.
JJ Cale's version can be found on his album "Troubadour".
There's a great video out there of Clapton and J.J. playing together where J.J. does the vocals and Eric is basically in the background playing with a huge smile on his face the whole time.
In the live version the background singers say "dirty cocaine" which I think add a little extra to it
This song was written and originally recorded by the late, great J.J. Cale (he’s worth checking out, too).
Eric Clapton and JJ Cale were very close friends. JJ Cale was one of Eric's idols, and he loved all his songs. When JJ died, Clapton
released a bona-fide tribute to his friend and former collaborator: Eric Clapton & Friends: The Breeze, An Appreciation of J.J. Cale. The album features 16 Cale songs-from “Call Me the Breeze,” “Starbound” and “Lies” to “Magnolia” “Songbird” and “Crying Eyes”-performed by Clapton and a host of guests, including Mark Knopfler, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, and Don White. Other friends include Albert Lee, Derek Trucks. Lynyrd Skynard's version of "They Call Me The Breeze" was one of their biggest hits/. Check Out JJ Cale's album "Troubadour." This
album has Cocaine on it, along with 'Super Blue', 'Hey Baby", 'Traveling Light', 'You Got Something' and 'You Got Me On So Bad'. Great
Music on that album.
God... as some called him....
I saw Eric at a Rodger Waters concert...I never knew why people referred to him as a guitar God...until I watched him play Pink Floyd for 2 plus hours, not missing a note , playing music he didn't write...
He is amazing and after that I understood.
Yes, Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking tour, I saw it in Hartford CT, it was cool hearing him take a swing at Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun! Roger always had a crack band with him, no matter what but this was extra excitement, as if any Floyd or alumni show is a 'normal' concert.
He played on Roger waters tour. The pros and cons of hitchhiking. I saw that show at brenden burn arena at the Meadowlands. 1984 ? It was incredible. 😎
Yes, that's a classic record there. Song originally from the great J.J. Cale, master of songwriting, and laid-back shuffling boogie rhythm. Cocaine, After Midnight, They Call Me The Breeze, etc. And Clapton is Clapton 👍
Thanks for having me along, I can see that you really got that one.
J.J. Cale songwriter god !!!! His "Naturally" album was and still is a musicians dream album....showed what timing, feel and groove were all about.....dig into that album boys...you won't be disappointed.....!!!!!!
Fantastic album. That and "Troubadour" are my two favorite - though there are gems all over his recorded work.
Giorgio Gomelsky, who managed the Yardbirds, tagged Clapton with the nickname "Slowhand" in early 1964. According to Yardbirds rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, whenever Clapton broke a guitar string during a concert, he would remain on stage and replace it. While English audiences waited, they would begin a slow handclap, which is called "to be given the slowhand."
JJ Cale was famous for a laid back "shuffle" style (the Tulsa shuffle) and this song is pretty representative. Clapton still found the space to drop some licks on.
He has an album called "Slowhand" (his nickname) that was released in 1977.
Eric's Unplugged Album has some incredible songs. I saw him live after "Slow Hand" was released. Great great concert!!
The album this song is on is titled "SLOWHAND"
I was in the navy 79 to 85 and they actually banded this song from being played in the on base clubs in Norfolk, Va.
JJ at the time played this in a laid back Jazz style, his manager told him fuc no speed it up a bit. He did that then his manager told him cool now go write another 9 whatever and you might have a record. Its hard to believe a man can come up with a song like this and then record a song like Magnolia or Hold on. Nice cover by Slow Hand.
Coked up, cruising down the road, hearing this come onto the radio…The ‘80s was the pinnacle of the greatness of American pop culture. This is the era where we took the counter culture from the hippies and gave it back to the artists.
"Wonderful Tonight" is my favorite EC song. It's a true story & has one of my favorite lyrics in music:
"Then the wonder of it all is that you just don't realize - How much I love you"
Great song. One of my favorites. But She's Waiting is Clapton's best song.
Eric is definitely Slow Hand. Great guitarist and singer. ❤❤❤
You can tell he's hitting the drums hard. Great driving drumming on this track!
I remember Jammin' to this tune in High school, LOVED it, and to this day ! BTY I have never or never will do Cocaine. It was and is a great JAM !!!!
"AFTER MIDNIGHT", "I GOT A ROCK N ROLL HEART", "LAY DOWN SALLY",
"IT'S IN THE WAY THAT YOU USE IT", "ALIBYS"...!
YOU WILL LOVE ALL OF THESE...!
BUMP
Apparently the nickname Slowhand name came from his intense string-bending that often caused broken guitar strings. He would replace the strings on stage while the crowd slowly clapped their hands.
You are in for a treat diving in to Clapton. And while you are there don't sleep on J J Cale who's a master at song writing. You lead we will follow. As always fellas great reaction. Much appreciated 🙏 ❤
On Point with Slow Hand !!!!! E.C. Getting Down and Dirty !!!!!!
Clapton started playing this J.J.Cale song during the drug using part of his career - but later, after quitting drugs and establishing his "Crossroads" rehab center, which was later funded by his annual Crossroads Guitar Festivals, he changed the lyrics when he performed it. According to Clapton, when he played with the Yardbirds, the audience would go into "slow clapping" if Clapton had to replace a broken string during a set. So the group's manager, Giorgio Gomelsky started calling him "Slowhand.
Along those lines I heard when he broke a string he took a long time to do the change.
Very 'right on' comment! Agree with you totally ✌🏼👍🏼
Written by the great JJ Cale, who also wrote After Midnight and They Call Me the Breeze. Clapton didn't know him when he recorded this but they later became great friends and recorded an album together, Road to Escondido. Check out Cale performing Cocaine at the famous Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa in his later years. Cale was one of the founders of what is known as the Tulsa Sound, along with Leon Russell. th-cam.com/video/rGRjQ7WOmq8/w-d-xo.html
Yes, in 1980 a live version of this song recorded at the Tokyo Budokan, including thousands of Japanese fans singing "Cocaine!", was a radio hit. Different times indeed,
Saw him ELECTRIFY the Cow Palace with that opening riff...every bindle in the place came out at once!
Also...the snare drum rolls!
Yes!!!
Eric Clapton loved to do covers. "Crossroads", "I Shot The Sheriff", Cocaine", just to name a few. "Cocaine" was written by J.J. Cale, but Clapton made it a real hit. He also took Bob Marley's song "I Shot The Sheriff" and did the same thing. Marley's version was popular, but Clapton took it towards the Top Ten, and "Crossroads" by the immortal Robert Johnson is an out and out classic. For a good original song by Eric try "Motherless Children" from the album "461 Ocean Blvd."
This is a track to groove to.
Try 70's Clapton " Mainline Florida " :)
Love how knowledgeable y'all are about music/instruments! ❤
there is some nice subtle cymbal work in this track . all my best to you and yours from Liveerpool
Love Eric Clapton. Check he and Tina Turner "Tearing Us Apart" . He's so incredibly good. I've seen him 4 times and he does not disappoint.
Jamie Oldaker was an incredible drummer!
"Got to get better in a little while" by Clapton live at the Crossroads Guitar festival rates favorably on the Groove Scale , gentlemen .
I love this channel. You guys are so refreshingly genuine and I appreciate your insights and reactions.
The Album title this song is from is "Slow Hand". Two more hits from this album, "Lay Down Sally" and "You Look Wonderful Tonight".
The Slow-Hand nickname is because Clapton’s guitar play is anything but slow…
This song has more of a Blues sound to it. The tempo is on the slower end but Eric’s guitar play is anything but slow (hand)…
I wondered if anyone was as captivated by the ride cymbal in this song as I am-it’s a very 70s sound and I love it-Peter Frampton has a song called “Doobie Wah” which I love (tribute to Doobie Brothers) which has some tasty ride-lots of 70s songs use it, great sound
Was the party song in the 80's not going to lie this song ran through my head when they said they found it in the white house 😅
Clapton once said that this song was the greatest jam of all time. They would play it and jam for hours with each band member taking the lead at various times.
There is no bad or,even not good, JJ Cale song.
The only artist where i can listen to EVERY SONG ON EVERY ALBUM and just enjoy it ❤
Boy did this song get played and I still Love it. Both versions ❤
The best version of this song ever played is on Eric's "Just One Night" live album.
He's accompanied by virtuoso Nashville guitarist Albert Lee, and on this song they both play incredible solos. All other versions pale in comparison.
"After Midnight" from that album is also incredible, a worked up version that got lots of airplay in the early 80's.
While you're at it, check out "Blues Power" and "Further On Up the Road" from that album. 🤙🤘😎
They called him Slowhand like people call really tall guys "Tiny." He was the fastest gun in the west, man.
Clapton can play fast and burn a guitar up, but he's gone through phases in his career where he preferred the "less is more" approach in his guitar playing. Probably was influenced by BB King in that regard. Btw he has an entire album of him and BB. And it's a good one.
First bassline I ever learned.
Clapton's youtube acct recently dropped several tunes from recent performances. FIREEEE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
You are so right @ktwebbdevil - J.J. Cale was a very great musician and of course also songwriter/composer. I wish @AirplayBeats would feature some of his songs. Thanks for the cover song by E.C., which was his comeback from his alcohol and drug crash. Here in Germany he (unfortunately) only lasted an hour on stage and played "cocaine" twice because it just wasn't possible anymore. very embarrassing. But the opening act was one of the best performances I've ever seen live - it was, the one and only "Muddy Waters" and that was a great performance that was really worth the money - all thumbs up !!! Best wishes @all ...
Slowhand was a play in words, like calling a tall person shorty. This was in the era of seeing "Clapton is god", painted on brick walls in London during his stint with the Yardbirds.
Clapton is in the top 5 of the greatest guitar players of all time. My favorite Clapton songs are Lay Down Sally and After Midnight the original not his 1980s remake. He does have a huge selection of songs and groups he has played with Cream, Derek and the Dominos and their song Layla is a banger
JJ Cales live video version (although he was a little high) at Cains Ballroom is fantastic . He puts a completely groove twist on it. Spectacular to hear him noodle. On of my favorite uTube vids.
His best days were with Cream, they got back together around 2005, and he proved he still had it. He surely keeps getting better, technically, but that group was a force. Hopefully he will find the right people again, like Baker with Masters Of Realty, or Bruce with Robin Trower.
The cream reunion was great. But I liked the Clapton / winwood shows. Also when he had Derek trucks and doyle bramhall on his tour. Clapton is as good as it gets. 😎
Back in the day, cocaine was called "rich man's aspirin".
The second guitarist you hear is George Terry. He recorded and toured in Eric's band from 74 to 79. This song is from the album called Slow Hand. There are different stories about how he got the name Slow Hand.
It’s impossible to understand now how prevalent cocaine was in the 80s at first everyone thought it was the perfect drug,lots of people said it wasn’t addictive 😂. The it started being ruined ,Clapton knew this first hand. Even though this was a anti drug song it was kind of a party anthem. Tremendous composition and guitar work. ☮️ Slow hand
The best coke was OP coke...
We all wonder how we survived back in the day!
The 80s? What about the 70s? It was everywhere.
It didn't start as an anti drug song. It became so after Clapton went through rehab, how he still kept it in his shows. "That dirty cocaine".
It’s so true, my aunt who was in her 20’s during the late 70’s early 80’s , she said EVERYONE was doing coke. People would compare it to having a cup of coffee. “Tired?” Do a line!!!??? It was crazy
THAT'S FYYYYRRRRRRR CLASSIC!!! 😊
And also recorded a whole album of songs of the Tulsa Sound ( listen to the song Lay Down Sally from the album Backless. He also recorded a whole album with JJ Cale The Road to Escondido). I love JJ Cale and he had an influence on Clapton.
Two classics today, Sympathy For the Devil by The Stones and Cocaine by Clapton. Great job La and Che.
Thanks my friend!!
That’s Jamie Oldaker on drums and the great Carl Radle on bass guitar. Two of Tulsa’s finest
Keep up the great variety gents.
She don’t lie ✌️
Late 80’s/Early 90’s were wild.
Plenty of Cocaine Cowboys in Miami during those Miami Vice years lol!
This was played in my Basic Training at Ft Jackson. July 1987!
This is one of the most riveting, rousing, soul-grabbing songs I’ve heard in my lifetime of listening and loving the songbook of rock greats. Sympathy for the Devil is Stone’s satire cunningly delivered with a punch in the gut. Actually has made me cry. Go know.
A big hit and a nice song, you are right in that he was as much about songs and his vocals when he finally got out of rehab and got back to music in 1973. For me, the best Eric Clapton is 1960s when he was young, at the peak of his aggressiveness and fullness of his sound, he was using Gibson guitars for much of that era and it is easy to hear. To hear him at his rocking best, with legendary solos, try him live with Cream for Spoonful from the great Wheels of Fire album and for studio do Blind Faith's Had to Cry Today. There are amazing guitar runs galore in both and you can understand the Clapton is God era in the 60s, he and Hendrix were who everyone thought where 1 & 2 before new heroes began to emerge in the late 60s. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎸🎶
You need to see a live video from Clapton. He DOES have a slow hand, no matter the tempo of the music. It's great to watch Thanks for all the joy!
JJ cale wrote this and other songs you know. Check him out!
As already mentioned, J.J. Cale wrote this song. It's actually a dire warning about the lies of the seductress. Clapton has been drug free for decades and helped open a rehab in the Bahamas.
I can't wait to see you guys listen to Eric Clapton with The Beatles playing while my guitar gently sleeps. You're going to love it.
What a groove, so cool 👍
The live version of "Cocaine" from Clapton's 1980 double album, "Just One Night", got a lot of FM rock radio airplay back when.
Clapton with Derick and the Dominoes: Layla
Lol...my brother is called slowhand...a compliment referencing Clapton.
Slowhand refers to his ability to make the guitar cry. 😎
The following live albums are "required listening" to get a full picture of Clapton:
Just One Night
24 Nights
Unplugged
I was never very impressed with this song, but have enjoyed live versions. Off this album, you should cover "The Core", it is a killer!
Clapton wasn't called 'Slowhand' in Cream, he was called 'God' back then..😅 together with the devil himself, drum legend Ginger Baker, they created some of the best rock of all time and also got that rock rolling along other legends obviously 🤟👹❤
FOREVER MAN, BAD LOVE.
I prefer his acoustic version of this song that he did years later, but the live version is good as well.
I read he got the nickname 'slowhand' from a bandmate who noticed he was always very slow when he wound up a new string he put on his guitar
Guys Clapton’s a BAD MAN…He’s better live than in studio. Very rare for a player. He’s a perfectionist, and to answer your question of Slow Hand. Has nothing to do with his playing. Before he had tech’s taking care of his rig. It took him forever to change a guitar string. I’m looking forward to taking this trip with both of you. He’s in the Top 5 greatest guitarist’s for a reason. Have a great weekend guys. 😎
This song turned me on to the great J.J. Cale's music.
The term slowhand was coined during his earliest days, and has nothing to do with the speed of his playing. When he would break a string, unlike today with extra equipment ready and waiting, he would restring onstage, and the audience would start to clap slowly until he was ready to pick it back up. Hence, a slow hand. Eric would later comment about the nickname that when the Pointer Sisters had a big hit with the song Slowhand, that it made it kind of cool to have a slow hand. Also, the album that Cocaine was recorded for was titled Slowhand.
OH I FORGOT ,ONE OF THE OTHER TIMES I SAW HIM ERIC HAD PHIL COLLINS ON DRUMS ,MY GIRLFRIEND AND I DECIDED TO GO BEHIND THE STAGE,( THE OLD MCNICOLS VENUE IN DENVER) SO WE WATCH PHIL GO OFF ,AWESOME!!😍😍🎸🐐🥁!!!
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie, cocaine.
Eric Clapton took heat for this song. He was trying to address the downside of addiction but it was taken wrong.
The drums are my favorite part of this song from a relatively unknown drummer named James Oldaker.
If you like this song, you MUST listen to the legendary live version, in Japan. Fantastic. And it features the amazing guitar work of Albert Lee.
SAME GREAT 76 ALBUM ( SLOWHAND ) YOU GUYS 😊 AND YES THE FLIPSIDE SONG IS GREAT TOO ( LAY DOWN SALLY ) 😊
He was called slowhand because he often broke strings. It took long time to changed
Cruising music. 😎
JJ's influence is everywhere. Lynyrd Skynyrd call me the breeze, and Widespread Panic has covered many. Panic doing his traveling light and ride me high is phenomenal
Clapton is GOD
He played the outfield like he never missed a beat but the real reason why the name Shoeless Joe Jackson stuck is in the bottom of that inning he came up to bat still w no shoes on and hit one of the longest homeruns anyone had ever seen
Good thing he didn’t foul one off his ankle 😬😅