I totally agree with your comments about EC. I didn't discover Derek & the Dominos Live LPs until 1974 and still play it regularly. My other favourite live track is Sitting on Top of the World from Cream's Goodbye album. 5 minutes of class!
John Mayala and The Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton from 1966 was the spark that lit the fire in me. I HAD to learn how he got those sounds and with no teacher it was slow going. Then I met Scott Burroughs and it all changed. He took lessons from Johnny Progris and he had a sexy brand new Gibson SG...I learned so much! He'd come over to my house after his lessons and show me what he was learning...we used this album as a template...It took a few years, but non-stop 7 days a week playing together for hours had to do something and it did....not that we ever reached his level of perfection, far from it but we learned dynamics, chord structure, how to speed pick, Hammer ons, pull offs, string bends, how to speed up the destruction of our hearing...there was a steady supply of Clapton albums to learn from in those years, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos... a virtual treasure of inspiration. I thank him for those days and I agree John, the songs now take me back to a very good place. This John Mayall album still just blows me away: Clapton and his 50's Les Paul invented this world changing sound and it will light me up forever!
Great comment, Gary. Pembie!! I heard a lot of Pembie riffing, particularly on the Allman Brothers Live At The Fillmore East. Clapton was such a virtuoso but never in a flash Eddie Van Halen way (which has its place, too.) I love the “Key To The Highway” duel with Duane on the “Layla” album, sort of like - “Here’s two ways to play lead” a tour-de-force performance. I got to see him five or six times.
Loved your story! Your timing is priceless .... just read an article on him this morning related to the very recent passing of John Mayall, another fabulous musician. Clapton gave a heartfelt "Thanks to Mayall" for helping to save his life and turn it around at one point. So much talent and so many struggles which sadly seems to be the norm for many musicians and artists. Not to mention as you did, his loss of a child. I particularly liked his stance of NOT playing venues that required proof of the Covid vax over these most recent years. He teamed up with Van Morrison and promoted their anti-vax tour in the wake of his own "shot" nightmares due to severe ramifications. An Independent musician and thinker. "Layla" was one of the best songs ever recorded by Derek & the Dominoes in my opinion so I couldn't agree with you more! When that song comes on the radio, I refuse to get out of the car until it ends! haha You're right, he's still one of the most talented artists alive.
That is SO amazing about not getting out of the car! Me, too!! I bought that Mayall album early on and he was really playing spectacularly. I remember his “There’s One In Every Crowd” album that came out when I was in college and I played that album to death. One of my all-time favorites. Nice comment.
I totally agree with your comments about EC. I didn't discover Derek & the Dominos Live LPs until 1974 and still play it regularly. My other favourite live track is Sitting on Top of the World from Cream's Goodbye album. 5 minutes of class!
John Mayala and The Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton from 1966 was the spark that lit the fire in me. I HAD to learn how he got those sounds and with no teacher it was slow going. Then I met Scott Burroughs and it all changed. He took lessons from Johnny Progris and he had a sexy brand new Gibson SG...I learned so much! He'd come over to my house after his lessons and show me what he was learning...we used this album as a template...It took a few years, but non-stop 7 days a week playing together for hours had to do something and it did....not that we ever reached his level of perfection, far from it but we learned dynamics, chord structure, how to speed pick, Hammer ons, pull offs, string bends, how to speed up the destruction of our hearing...there was a steady supply of Clapton albums to learn from in those years, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos... a virtual treasure of inspiration. I thank him for those days and I agree John, the songs now take me back to a very good place. This John Mayall album still just blows me away: Clapton and his 50's Les Paul invented this world changing sound and it will light me up forever!
Great comment, Gary. Pembie!! I heard a lot of Pembie riffing, particularly on the Allman Brothers Live At The Fillmore East. Clapton was such a virtuoso but never in a flash Eddie Van Halen way (which has its place, too.) I love the “Key To The Highway” duel with Duane on the “Layla” album, sort of like - “Here’s two ways to play lead” a tour-de-force performance. I got to see him five or six times.
Loved your story! Your timing is priceless .... just read an article on him this morning related to the very recent passing of John Mayall, another fabulous musician. Clapton gave a heartfelt "Thanks to Mayall" for helping to save his life and turn it around at one point. So much talent and so many struggles which sadly seems to be the norm for many musicians and artists. Not to mention as you did, his loss of a child. I particularly liked his stance of NOT playing venues that required proof of the Covid vax over these most recent years. He teamed up with Van Morrison and promoted their anti-vax tour in the wake of his own "shot" nightmares due to severe ramifications. An Independent musician and thinker. "Layla" was one of the best songs ever recorded by Derek & the Dominoes in my opinion so I couldn't agree with you more! When that song comes on the radio, I refuse to get out of the car until it ends! haha You're right, he's still one of the most talented artists alive.
That is SO amazing about not getting out of the car! Me, too!! I bought that Mayall album early on and he was really playing spectacularly. I remember his “There’s One In Every Crowd” album that came out when I was in college and I played that album to death. One of my all-time favorites. Nice comment.