Eric Clapton - ERIC CLAPTON***

Slunky/Bad Boy/Lonesome & A Long Way From Home/After Midnight/Easy Now/Blues Power/Bottle Of Red Wine/Lovin' You Lovin' Me/I've Told You For The Last Time/I Don't Know Why/Let It Rain

The long awaited self titled debut album from Eric Clapton after doing time with The Yardbirds, John Mayall, Cream and Blind Faith. It is a curious fact that none of his many solo albums are anywhere near as inspired as his group efforts, particularly with Cream. Includes the US No. 18 hit single After Midnight. (US:13 UK: 17)

"There's no sting to any of the songs. There's no rawness, there's no flourishes, there's no determination to make something that stands out. This is music by numbers. There are emotions, but they are not convincingly expressed. There are ideas but they are not developed, they're just hidden in mostly forgettable pleasant 70s pop. There's no fire here."

"Nothing tremendously outstanding song-wise here, although I've always liked the sweet melody of the acoustic Easy Now and the pretty country/soul of Lovin' You Lovin' Me. Of course his cover of After Midnight is the best known track, but overall this record feels like an attempt at crossover."

"By the time Clapton recorded his debut solo effort he was only a shadow of the musician who had recorded with John Mayall's Blues Breakers. The album is hit and miss, dull, lacking a decisive tone, while the atmosphere is unconvincing."

"What you've got here is a contemporary blues record with pop music thrown in for good measure. But its still EC, so there is some quality there. Whether its on the level of his earlier (and best stuff) is debateable (I would think not), but its an enjoyable listen. The songs are well put together and the backing band is not bad."

"Eric Clapton's debut solo album is fun, enjoyable but lightweight, while the compositions have none of the depth of his best work. The performances are solid, Clapton's vocals are strong, but his guitar isn't showcased quite as much as one would hope. The backing band keeps in line but the arrangements give too much space to the band instead of Clapton's expert playing."

"EC broadened his horizons by incorporating pop, country and even gospel elements into his sound. Maybe he wanted to prove that there was more to him than the blues rock that defined him in the 1960s. On the other hand, there are times on this album when a sizzling guitar solo would have been exactly what the doctor ordered."