The MJ Show #56 (Eric Clapton - The Solo Years)

So we had the awesome early days of Slow-hand last time around. This time, we've got the solo years coming up!
Are you ready?! :)

1970 - Eric Clapton
1st Song - Eric Clapton - After Midnight


2nd Song - Eric Clapton - Blues Power


3rd Song - Eric Clapton - Let It Rain


1974 - 461 Ocean Boulevard
4th Song - Eric Clapton - Let It Grow


5th Song - Eric Clapton - Motherless Children


6th Song - Eric Clapton - Willie And The Hand Jive


7th Song - Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff


8th Song - Eric Clapton - Steady Rollin' Man
One of the first Robert Johnson songs in his solo career.


1975 - There's One in Every Crowd
9th Song - Eric Clapton - The Sky Is Crying


10th Song - Eric Clapton - Better Make It Through Today


11th Song - Eric Clapton - Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is a Negro spiritual. The first recording was by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1909. In 2002, the US Library of Congress honored the song as one of 50 recordings chosen that year to be added to the National Recording Registry. It was also included in the list of Songs of the Century, by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.



1976 - No Reason to Cry
12th Song - Eric Clapton - Sign Language
The album had a duet with Bob Dylan on Bob's otherwise unreleased song "Sign Language".


13th Song - Eric Clapton - Hello Old Friend


1977 - Slowhand
14th Song - Eric Clapton - Cocaine
I had to give you this version. It's got Mark Knopfler playing along! Enjoy!!


15th Song - Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
This is a STUNNING version of this classic. Again with the help of a friend...the incredible Mark Knopfler!


16th Song - Eric Clapton - Lay Down Sally
Are you complaining that I have Knopfler playing along on a few songs? No? Good. Because, here's another!


1978 - Backless
17th Song - Eric Clapton - Promises


18th Song - Watch Out For Lucy


19th Song - Tulsa Time
This time he's got some other friends jamming along. Check out Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck with Clapton! Holy Momma! What a jam!! :)


20th Song - Eric Clapton - Walk Out In The Rain
Another one of Bob Dylan's songs that Clapton covered.


21st Song - Eric Clapton - I'll Make Love To You Anytime
This is a J.J.Cale song that Clapton takes on.


1981 - Another Ticket
22nd Song - Eric Clapton - Blow Wind Blow
This was a Muddy Waters song!


23rd Song - Eric Clapton - Another Ticket


24th Song - Eric Clapton - Catch Me If You Can


Bonus Song from the era - Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck - Futher On Up The Road


1983 - Money And Cigarettes
25th Song - Eric Clapton - I've Got A Rock 'N' Roll Heart


1985 Behind The Sun
26th Song - Eric Clapton - Forever Man


27th Song - Eric Clapton - She's Waiting


1986 - August
28th Song - Eric Clapton - It's in the Way That You Use It


29th Song - Eric Clapton - Tearing Us Apart
Phil Collins sits on the drums in the next few videos :)


30th Song - Eric Clapton - Miss You


31st Song - Eric Clapton - Run


1989 - Journeyman
32nd Song - Eric Clapton - Pretending


33rd Song - Eric Clapton - Bad Love


34th Song - Eric Clapton - Before You Accuse Me


35th Song - Eric Clapton - No Alibis


36th Song - Eric Clapton - Hard Times
An old Ray Charles song gets the Clapton treatment!


37th Song - Eric Clapton - Old Love
This is possibly my #1 Eric Clapton song!! If you've not heard it before...please do so now!
It was written by Clapton and Robert Cray!


Bonus Song - Robert Cray & Eric Clapton - Old Love


Bonus Song from the era - Eric Clapton and Phil Collins - Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Here's their take on the Bob Dylan classic!


1994 - From the Cradle
This was an album of blues classics. Brilliant album!

38th Song - Eric Clapton - I'm Tore Down


39th Song - Eric Clapton - Hoochie Coochie Man
Here's Clapton doing this classic with the great...the incredible Buddy Guy!!


40th Song - Eric Clapton - How Long Blues


41st Song - Eric Clapton - Motherless Child


1998 - Pilgrim
42nd Song - Eric Clapton - My Father's Eyes


43rd Song - Eric Clapton - River of Tears
My #2 song by Clapton right after Old Love. Brilliant song this.


44th Song - Eric Clapton - She's Gone


45th Song - Eric Clapton - Pilgrim
The song "Pilgrim" also appeared on the Lethal Weapon 4 soundtrack.


46th Song - Eric Clapton - Circus
He had already written two songs when his son, Conor, died in March 1991. The songs ended up being "My Father's Eyes" and "Circus", originally named "Circus Left Town". "Circus" was about the last time he saw his son, when he took him to the circus. Conor died the next day.



Bonus Track - Eric Clapton - Tears In Heaven



2000 - Riding with the King (with B.B.King)
47th Song - Eric Clapton and B.B.Kin - Riding With the King


48th Song - Eric Clapton - Key To The Highway
Here's Clapton doing the song with another blues legend - Buddy Guy!


49th Song -Eric Clapton & B.B. King - Three O'Clock Blues


50th Song - Eric Clapton & B.B. King - Hold On I'm coming


2001 - Reptile
51st Song - Eric Clapton - Got You On My Mind


52nd Song - Eric Clapton - Travellin' Light
Another J.J.Cale song!


2004 - Me and Mr. Johnson
The album is a tribute to the legendary Robert Johnson. According to Clapton's autobiography, the recordings weren't intended to become an album. The band had rented the studio, but Clapton didn't have any songs written, so he suggested they record Robert Johnson songs. They recorded enough songs for an album and it was decided to release them as such.

53rd Song - Eric Clapton - They're Red Hot
This was a Robert Johnson track that was even covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers...but I LOVE this version!


54th Song - Eric Clapton - Love In Vain


Bonus Track - Clapton talks about Robert Johnson
You'll see just why Clapton thinks that Robert Johnson was THE MAN!


2005 - Back Home
55th Song - Eric Clapton - Love Comes To Everyone


56th Song - Eric Clapton - Back Home


2006  - The Road to Escondido (with JJ Cale)
A number of high profile musicians also agreed to work on the album, including Billy Preston, Derek Trucks, Taj Mahal, Pino Palladino, John Mayer, Steve Jordan and Doyle Bramhall II. In a coup, whether intended or not, the entire John Mayer Trio participated on this album in one capacity or another.

57th Song - Eric Clapton & J.J. Cale - Hard To Thrill
This was a song that was co-written by John Mayer and Clapton


58th Song - Eric Clapton & J.J. Cale - Danger


59th Song - Eric Clapton & J.J. Cale - It's Easy


And that brings to an end my special on the man's solo career...but there were SO MANY more great songs. Hell here's one more!
This one's just a big old fashioned jam on which he plays with some people you may have heard of :)
60th Song - All Star Jam on Beatles Songs!

and


How about that!!
Happy Birthday Eric Clapton!
Thank you for the music! Your music will live for years and years!
Rock n Roll! \m/

Holy shit! That's like 100 songs I've put up for you guys in one day! Hope you loved em all!! :)

Right then...It's now time for me to say...take care...and good night! :)
This is your Musicman Mihir...signing off!

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The MJ Show #55 (Eric Clapton - The Early Days)

Before Eric Clapton began his stunning career, he first showed the world his genius as a part of many brilliant bands. Bands like The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek And The Dominos and a few other projects that he played guitar on.

Tonight, I'm going to try to take you through some of the greatest songs from this early era of this great man, this "God's" career!
You may not have heard a lot of these songs but this...this is where it all began!

with The Yardbirds (1963-1965)
The group is notable for having started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page, all of whom were in the top fifteen of Rolling Stone's 100 Top Guitarists list (Clapton as #4, Page as #9, and Beck as #14).
The band's disintegration led to the formation of the rock band Led Zeppelin, by Jimmy Page in 1968.
Here are three of their biggest hits.

1st Song - The Yardbirds - For Your Love


2nd Song - The Yardbirds - I Ain't Got You


3rd Song - The Yardbirds - Boom Boom
Here's the band taking on a John Lee Hooker song! Boom Boom Boom Boom!!



4th Song - The Yardbirds - I Wish You Would


with The Immediate All-Stars (1965)
5th Song - Eric Clapton & Jimmy Page - Freight Loader / Draggin' My Tail / Miles Road


with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers (1965-1966)
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are a pioneering English blues band, led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall, OBE.
The Bluesbreakers have included luminaries such as:

• Eric Clapton (April–August 1965, November 1965–July 1966) and Jack Bruce, who both left to form Cream,
• Peter Green, who had replaced Clapton, played until August 1967, when he departed with Mick Fleetwood and then also enticed Bluesbreaker John McVie a few weeks later to form Fleetwood Mac,
• Mick Taylor (August 1967–July 1969) who later joined The Rolling Stones, and reunion tours in 1982–83 and 2004,
• Harvey Mandel, Walter Trout, Larry Taylor (later in Canned Heat),
• Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Randy Resnick, Aynsley Dunbar, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Andy Fraser (Free), Chris Mercer, Henry Lowther, Johnny Almond and Jon Mark (later of Mark-Almond).

6th Song - John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton - Hideaway


7th Song - John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton - Have You Ever Loved A Woman


8th Song - John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton - Ramblin´on my Mind


9th Song - John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton - All Your Love


with Powerhouse (1966)
The band starred Eric Clapton (guitar), and featured Paul Jones (harmonica) and Jack Bruce (bass) from Manfred Mann, Steve Winwood (vocals) and Pete York (drums) from the Spencer Davis Group, and Ben Palmer (piano) who had previously played with Clapton. Originally, Ginger Baker was intended to fill the drummer's position, but he was unavailable at the time.

10th Song - Eric Clapton and Powerhouse - Steppin' Out


with Cream (1966-1968, reunion 2005)
Cream were a 1960s British blues-rock band, possibly one of the first supergroups in the world, consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer/vocalist Ginger Baker.

11th Song - Cream - Crossroads


12th Song - Cream - Spoonful


13th Song - Cream - Born Under A Bad Sign


14th Song - Cream - Strange Brew


15th Song - Cream - Tales of Brave Ulysses


16th Song - Cream - Toad


17th Song - Cream - I Feel Free


18th Song - Cream - Sunshine Of Your Love


19th Song - Cream - White Room


20th Song - Cream - Badge
Here's something special. This is my favourite Cream track. Found a video in which two of my favourite guitarists play this song. HAD to give you this! :)
Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton baby! :)



with Blind Faith (1968-1969)
Blind Faith were an English blues-rock band that consisted of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech.
21st Song - Blind Faith - In the Presence of the Lord


Bonus Song - Here's Clapton doing the song with Steve Winwood at the Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007, with Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall!


22nd Song - Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home


23rd Song - Blind Faith - Sleeping In The Ground


with John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band (1969)
Eric Clapton was present on one album with John Lennon. An album called "Live Peace in Toronto 1969". This was a 1969 live album recorded by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, as the Plastic Ono Band, at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival. Lennon after being asked by local promoter John Brower if he and Yoko would accept an invitation to emcee the show on short notice instead decided to make his post Beatles debut at this festival. Featuring Eric Clapton on guitar (fresh from the breakup of Blind Faith), Klaus Voormann on bass and future Yes drummer Alan White (who a few months later would provide the drums on the percussion-driven Plastic Ono Band single, "Instant Karma!") on drums, the line-up is filled out by Lennon on lead vocals and rhythm guitar and Ono on vocals. The album was credited to The Plastic Ono Band, a conceptual grouping that included Lennon and Ono and whoever happened to be backing them up at that particular moment.

24th Song - John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band with Eric Clapton - Cold Turkey


Another song that they played on this album was a Beatles song called "Yer Blues"
I can resist giving you a version of this song was done by another supergroup called Dirty Mac which featued John Lennon, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Mitch Mitchell. This was a band that was formed for The Rolling Stones' TV special called "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus".

25th Song - John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band with Eric Clapton - Yer Blues


with Delaney & Bonnie & Friends (1969-1970)
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends) was a rock/soul band fronted by husband-and-wife singer/songwriters Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett.
Eric Clapton took Delaney & Bonnie and Friends on the road in mid-1969 as the opening act for his band Blind Faith. Clapton became fast friends with Delaney, Bonnie and their band, preferring their music to Blind Faith's; he would often appear on stage with Delaney & Bonnie and Friends during this period, and continued to record and tour with them following Blind Faith's August 1969 breakup.

26th Song - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends with Eric Clapton - Comin' Home


27th Song - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends with Eric Clapton - Poor Elijah - Tribute to Johnson Medley



with Derek and the Dominos (1970)
Derek and the Dominos were a blues-rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by guitarist and singer Eric Clapton with keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon, who had all played with Clapton in Delaney, Bonnie & Friends.
The band released only one studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which featured prominent contributions from guest guitarist Duane Allman from the Allman Brothers Band.

28th Song - Derek and the Dominos - It's Too Late


29th Song - Derek and the Dominos - I Looked Away


30th Song - Derek and the Dominos - Bell Bottom Blues
Here are Bobby Whitlock and Eric Clapton doing the song years later.


31st Song - Derek and the Dominos - Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out


32nd Song - Derek and the Dominos - Key To The Highway


33rd Song - Derek and the Dominos - Tell The Truth


34th Song - Derek and the Dominos - Roll It Over


35th Song - Derek and the Dominos - Little Wing


36th Song - Derek and the Dominos - Have You Ever Loved A Woman


37th Song - Derek and the Dominos - Layla


Here's Clapton doing the song live many many years after the original.


And here's a version with Mark Knopfler to end off the show :)


I'm a HUGe Clapton fan and this here, has been an absolute delight for me to put up. I'll give you a Clapton - Solo Years special very soon! That's a "Musicman" promise :)
Incidentally, today, 30th March is his Birthday!!
So hey...here's a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you Mr.Clapton from me and all your fans and all the regulars of The MJ Show.
Thank you for the music! Now do come to India soon!

Right then...It's now time for me to say...take care...and good night! :)
This is your Musicman Mihir...signing off!

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