One of Clapton's Best
461 Ocean Boulevard is easily one of Clapton's best albums,possibly his best. This album combines Clapton's guitar hero statuswith some of his best lyrics. One thing I like about Clapton is that he is possibly the greatest guitar player of all time, however, he doesn't focus his songs just on the guitar. He concentrates on the othe instruments, the vocals and the lyrics. That is what makes this album great. Some of the songs on this album are Clapton's best. Motherless Children is a great guitar song with a good edge. Willie and the Hand Jive is a great reggae-like song, along with his great cover of I Shot The Sheriff. Let it Grow is one of his best ballads. And like on many of Claptons albums, he has a cover of a Robert Johnson song. In this case it is Steady Rollin' Man, which Clapton does an awesome job on. This is truly an essential Clapton album. Buy It.
EC Hits His Solo Stride
Choosing between this album and Clapton's previous studio masterwork, LAYLA, makes for an interesting debate. 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD lacks Layla's smoldering extended jamming, striking a more upbeat, restrained, and radio-friendly tone instead. The rockers "Motherless Children" and "Mainline Florida" open and close the album. In between we have tender ballads such as "Please Be with Me" and the achingly beautiful "Let It Grow," which shows what an underappreciated songwriter EC is. As always, there are great covers that he imbues with his own distinct flavor -- "Willie and the Hand Jive," Elmore James's "I Can't Hold Out" and Robert Johnson's "Steady Rollin' Man." Years before the Police came along, Eric brought reggae to the mainstream with the #1 hit "I Shot the Sheriff." Each one is a standout.That said, this CD release has one serious deficiency. When first released on vinyl in 1974, the album's second song was a Clapton original called "Better Make It through Today." When remastered for CD, it was replaced by "Give Me Strength." I always believed that "Better Make It through Today" was integral to this album's success, and its absence is awfully conspicuous. The back cover of the vinyl version of 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD contains a notation saying that "Better Make It through Today" was recorded at Dynamic Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, whereas the rest of the album was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami. Clapton's 1975 follow-up, THERE'S ONE IN EVERY CROWD, was also recorded at that studio in Jamaica, and sure enough "Better Make It through Today" now appears on the CD version of that album. Perhaps it was never supposed to appear on 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD, but people are right to complain about the change. So this album gets two ratings. The old vinyl release gets 5 stars while this CD release is downgraded slightly to 4.5 stars, which is still pretty damn good.
Fans
call this one "Classic Bodge" because it defines the sound of Bodge.
Now you know...
Clapton's Grand Return!
After an absence due to personal problems, Clapton settled into the 461 Ocean Boulevard Florida estate to restart his career. It was a major turning point. His heady rock attitude was adapting to a mellower R & B with a tad more funkiness. "Motherless Children", ""Willie And The Hand Jive" and "Mainline Florida" brought out the best gut bouncing rhythm and blues yet. Jump-started with the Bob Marley single, "I Shot The Sheriff", Clapton gained back his old audience while bringing in new fans to the new blue-eyed soul in the USA. He included some nearly spiritual numbers as well. ""Please Be With Me" is a begging love ballad and "Let It Grow" culminates with the frenzy of a soaring synthesizer. Yvonne Elliman does a fantastic back-up job with her own sultry vocals and accentuates Clapton's soulful voice. Still considered one of Clapton's best, you can't miss with this one, especially in DTS Surround Sound.
A remarkable "comeback" album
I actually remember the day this album was released - it was two days after I saw Clapton and his band at the Capital Centre in D.C.. He played much of it at the show, and I was anxious to hear the songs again.
This album didn't disappoint that day, and it doesn't disappoint today. Contrary to another review, it ages quite well. The rock covers ("Willie and the Hand Jive," "I Shot The Sheriff"hold their own with the originals, and the blues songs are timeless. "I Can't Hold Out" and "Steady Rolling Man" kick major blues butt! The originals are excellent as well, particularly "Mainline Florida."
Any record collecion that includes Eric Clapton is incomplete without this record. It was his comeback effort following several years of laying low with a heroin problem. It is clearly a career milestone, and his first recording with a band that he would work with for the remainder of the decade. Don't overlook the band - with the exception of Duane Allman, George Terry may be the best guitarist Clapton worked with - he compliments Clapton and drives him at the same time.
The 1974 album on which Clapton's solo career truly caught fire, 461 Ocean Boulevard is best remembered for its hit version of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff"--perhaps the first time many in America ever heard the rhythms of reggae music. But it's also an album on which emotions run high, especially on two Clapton originals, the prayerful "Give Me Strength" and the pleading "Let It Grow." Clapton maintains his grounding in the blues with versions of Robert Johnson's "Steady Rollin' Man" and Elmore James's "I Can't Hold Out"; revisits a rock & roll classic in Johnny Otis's "Willie and the Hand Jive"; and turns the standard "Motherless Children" into a showcase of snarling guitars. Following a period of dark reclusiveness, 461 Ocean Boulevard was a powerful comeback for Clapton. --Daniel Durchholz
This was Clapton's comeback record after a long bout with heroin addiction. Up through 1970 or so, he had been a restless musical seeker, opening rock up with his guitar experimentation, trying to get to the bottom of the blues. There is none of this on 461. He seems relieved just to be alive. It's a low-key affair, and that suits him. Some of his best songs are here, as well as his cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff." Torn and frayed from the melee inside him, this album may be the most personal blues he ever made. --Steve Tignor
