Artist: Eric Clapton Album: Slowhand

Year: 1977
Duration: 39:18

A Critical Review of the Album: Slowhand by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is one of the most influential guitarists of all time. His career has spanned over five decades, and he has played with some of the greatest musicians in history. Clapton's music is vast and his dominance in the industry has been remarkable, and the album I call attention to in this post is Slowhand. Slowhand was released in 1977 and was the fifth album of Eric Clapton's solo career. It was recorded with the help of various musicians such as Yvonne Elliman, Marcy Levy and George Terry. Its ten tracks present Clapton's mastery of blues, rock and roll and country music. It is a truly captivating album worth listening to.

Slowhand is a mix of old and new styles of music. It combines blues, country, rock’n’roll, and folk music to take the listener on a soulful journey. The album opens with the upbeat Cocaine, which is arguably one of Clapton's most iconic songs. It is followed by Wonderful Tonight, a slow and romantic song with a sweet melody. The combination of these two songs alone reflect the duality of Clapton’s music, further strengthened by Lay Down Sally and Next Time You See Her, which both have a country feel to them. While being relatively disjointed in song choice, the album flows really well together thanks to Clapton’s natural songwriting abilities.

One of the most outstanding elements of Slowhand is Clapton's guitar playing. The album’s title is a nickname Clapton earned for how he plays his guitar. This truly shines through on songs like Cocaine and The Core. Both melodies are great examples of Clapton's dynamic guitar skills. In addition, there is an inclusion of some truly unique guitar work, the most unforgettable being the slide guitar solo in “Wonderful Tonight”.

There were some controversies with Slowhand that Clapton faced. One of the songs Cocaine was touted as promoting the drug culture as were a few others on other records. He has since clarified that it was not his intension to promote drug use as Cocaine spoke against the lifestyle. Additionally, the lethargic Promises and Peaches and Diesel were less than impressive and they felt like fillers.

However, despite the minor flaws in the album, Slowhand remains one of Clapton's most innovative works and remains relevant decades after it was first released. The collection's mix of blues, rock, and country music is sure to appeal to a wide audience. It has been mentioned as one of the best albums of all time and has been critical to building Clapton's impressive legacy.

In conclusion, Slowhand is a must-listen for all Eric Clapton fans. It reflects the diversity of Clapton's style and shows what he is capable of. Slowhand has stood the test of time, and it is still as relevant and impressive today as it was more than forty years ago. Despite facing criticism for promoting drug culture, Eric Clapton is a legendary artist, and Slowhand is yet another testament to his talent.