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Isn't it interesting how
the recording industry is still profiting from the efforts of recording
artists and over 30 years of recordings. Music from the 60's and
70's are prominently displayed, often coupled with songs from the 80'
and 90's in "greatest hits" compilations. Such is the case
of the Clapton Chronicles.
Eric Clapton has been such a dynamic musician for so many years
starting with the Yardbirds in 1963 through 1965 (apparently he didn't
like the Yardbird's hit "For Your Love"). As he progressed
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into
the star performer he is today he spent time with John Mayall's
Bluesbreakers and then formed Cream and Blind Faith before going solo.
Cream was a 1960s British rock
band comprising guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce and drummer
Ginger Baker. They were celebrated as the first great power trio and
supergroup of rock. Their sound was characterized by a hybrid of blues,
pop and psychedelic rock. Cream combined
Clapton's blues guitar playing
with the powerful voice and intense basslines of Jack Bruce and the
jazz-influenced drumming of Ginger Baker. They have sold over 35
million albums worldwide. Wheels of Fire
was the world's first
platinum-selling album.
Blind
Faith only released one album in 1969 simply entitled Blind
Faith. The group was made up of Eric Clapton (The
Yardbirds,
Cream), Ginger Baker (Graham Bond Organization,
Cream), Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group
(, Traffic) and Ric GrechFamily). but enough biography, let's get
back to the Clapton
Chronicles.
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The CD is anchored by Layla, first
released in December 1970
under the
group name Derek and the
Dominoes. The band featured Eric clapton along with
an appearance by Duane Allman and members
of Delaney and
Bonnie's band. The version featured on Chronicles is
not the original
recording, but was recorded live as a
part of MTV's Unplugged
series and released as a single in 1992.
As background for the song, the title, "Layla", was
inspired by the Middle Eastern love story, The
Story of Layla / Layla and Majnun, by the Persian
classical poet Nezami.
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Nezami's tale, about a moon-princess who
was married off by her father
to someone other than the man who was desperately in love with her,
resulting in his madness.
This struck a chord with Clapton who
was in love with the wife of former Beatle George Harrison, Patti
Boyd. Harrison finally divorced Boyd after Clapton's illicit
affair became known. Clapton later married Boyd for a few years
and then moved
on to someone else.
| Other songs of note on the
Chronicles
CD is the 1991 song "Tears In Heaven." The song written by
Eric Clapton and Will Jennings
and is a
ballad about the pain Clapton felt following the 1991 death of his
four-year-old son, Conor, who fell from a 53rd-story window in his
mother's New York City condominium. By all accounts, the death was
simply a tragic accident, and Clapton was distraught for months
afterwards. This song is
one of Clapton's most |
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successful and heart felt, reaching #2 on the singles chart in the U.S.
Clapton wrote the song with Will Jennings, who was
reluctant at first to help him with such a personal song. The song was
initially featured on the soundtrack to the film Rush, and it won three Grammy awards for Song of the Year, Record
of the Year and Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1993. It was also
included on Clapton's Grammy award-winning album, Unplugged.
Also fhound on Clapton
Chronicles is Clapton's "Change the World."
The ballad was featured in the movie Phenomenon starring John Travolta.
Other songs include "My Father's Eyes,"
"Blue Eyes Blue," "River Of Tears," "Forever Man" among others. Each has a story and each are
moving as you listen.
Over all, the CD is a good compilation of Clapton's music.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about the CD is that "Layla" has such a
current sound and fits into the music scene as much now as it did when
released
as an acoustic ballad in 1992 and the rock version first released in
1970.
If you are a Clapton enthusiast, you will will this CD.
Make it a great day!
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