From The Cradle

Description

Some 30 years after cutting BLUESBREAKERS with John Mayall, Slowhand is backand hes plugged in, too. From the Elmore James-styled slide grunge that heralds Leroy Carrs classic Blues Before Sunrise, to his sweet, pearly tones on an agonisingly slow Third Degree, its clear that FROM THE CRADLE really is your parents Eric Clapton. Nearly every album Claptons ever done has had a suggestion of his roots. But theres more than a suggestion of blues on impassioned, unhinged solos like Five Long Years, It Hurts Me Too and Someday After A WhileClapton betrays a childlike pleasure in coming out from behind his pop persona, and the joy is infectious. Thats because FROM THE CRADLE is recorded livethat is to say, everyone at once, with no instrumental or vocal overdubs (save for the sweet dobro obbligatos on an old-timey sounding How Long Blues). The slower tempos, like a lowdown Sinners Prayer and the acoustic Driftin’ really showcase his growth as a vocalist (particularly that bullfrog groan, by way of Muddy Waters, whom he honours with an especially faithful cover of Standin Round Crying). And when Clapton leaves Earth orbit on Willie Dixons Groaning The Blues, you get the feeling Eric may never leave the blues again. More, please.