The 29-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist was off the heroin, but still drinking heavily. He's now living with George Harrison's ex, Pattie Boyd, just about managing to keep him in line. Snapping out of his malaise, he got tight with his core touring band for “461 Ocean Boulevard”, named after the rented house in Golden Beach, Florida, where the album was rehearsed and recorded. Accompanying him were: George Terry (guitar, backing vocals), Carl Radle (bass guitar), Dick Sims (keyboards), Jamie Oldaker (drums, percussion), Marcy Levy (harmonica, backing vocals) and Yvonne Elliman (backing vocals). The groove was mellow and, thankfully, the solos were kept in check. The better tracks appear on side one, opening with a catchy interpretation of the blues standard, “Motherless Children”. Album highlight “Get Ready” was co-written by Yvonne Elliman who duets with Clapton on the vocals over a very cool funky dubbeat. This leads very nicely into the famous cover of “I Shot The Sheriff”, guitarist George Terry working hard to persuade Clapton that it should be included. The single appeared before the album and went all the way to #1 in the Billboard 100. What's he got that Marley hasn't America? Think we all know the answer to that one! Side two opens quite well with a version of “I Can't Hold Out” (Elmore James, 1960), but it's all downhill from there, just too MOR for me.
The Jukebox Rebel
13-Feb-2016
| A1 | [04:55]  Eric Clapton - Motherless Children (Traditional) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| A2 | [02:51]  Eric Clapton - Give Me Strength (Eric Clapton) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| A3 | [03:31]  Eric Clapton - Willie And The Hand Jive (Johnny Otis) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| A4 | [03:50]  Eric Clapton - Get Ready (Eric Clapton, Yvonne Elliman) Disco / Funk |
| A5 | [04:30]  Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff (Bob Marley) Disco / Funk |
| B1 | [04:10]  Eric Clapton - I Can’t Hold Out (Elmore James) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| B2 | [03:25]  Eric Clapton - Please Be With Me (Charles Scott Boyer) Country |
| B3 | [04:47]  Eric Clapton - Let It Grow (Eric Clapton) Soft Rock / A.O.R. |
| B4 | [03:14]  Eric Clapton - Steady Rollin’ Man (Robert Johnson) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| B5 | [04:05]  Eric Clapton - Mainline Florida (George Terry) Rock |
