Slowhand: The Music of Eric Clapton

by Mark Roberty

Book Overview

This glorious celebration of the astonishing career of the god of blues-based guitar includes color photos, concert posters, and memorabilia, as well as a complete discography, sessionagraphy, rare studio documentation, and set lists from Clapton's greatest concerts. Full-color and black-and-white photographs. From the Trade Paperback edition.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517583518
• ISBN13: 9780517583517
• Release Date: April 1991
• Publisher: Harmony
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 9.8" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

A thoroughly enjoyable book.

Marc Roberty, author of this impressive and enjoyable book, quotes actor Dan Aykroyd's summarization of Eric Clapton: "The Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith, Cream, Derek and The Dominos -- Ladies and gentlemen, who was the cohesive force behind all these powerhouse bands? He's been called a blues man, he is synonymous with the words electric guitar. Very simply, very finely -- Mr. Eric Clapton!" "Slowhand" traces Eric Clapton's life story from his first guitar, a Spanish Hoya purchased for him by his grandparents in the mid 1950's, to his spectacular "24 Nights" at the Royal Albert Hall in 1991. The narrative deftly highlights major events in Clapton's life, as well as his constantly shifting and changing musical direction. Swept up by the psycheadelic sixties, propelled into the 1970's on a wave of drugs and unrequieted love, lost to the world through two years of isolation, Clapton skipped from wave to wave following his brave musical instincts. And though he helped change the face of rock music during his years with Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos, he never strayed too far from his blues roots. During his solo years in the 1970's, he incorporated reggae and country into his style, with songs like "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Tulsa Time". Along the way, he recorded songs by blues legends such as Robert Johnson ("Crossroads Blues"), Willie Dixon ("Evil"), and Jimmy Reed ("Ain't That Lovin' You"). Roberty includes discographies from each phase of Clapton's career, as well as listing his tours and session appearances. He includes information about guitars and instruments Clapton used. And he lists major videos Clapton has appeared in. The book is also full of photographs and art reproductions. Not a single page is dull. Eric Clapton received six Grammys in 1992, for his "Unplugged" album. In 1994 he released a long awaited blues-only album. And in 1998 he continues his musical journey with a new album, appropriately titled "Pilgrim". "Slowhand: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton" traces his formulative steps toward the pinnacle he has achieved, today.