When Eric Clapton and BB King planned the production of the album That would Eventually become "Riding With The King," they scheduled three months of studio time - much to BB King's team's surprise Because The King of Blues Usually takes much less than that to finish an album. And lo'n behold, theywere done in Roughly a month, recording almost Exclusively live, with very little editing involved. So Clapton Decided to "tag on" an album of his own and take advantage of the outstanding group of musicians They had assembled, and the magical atmosphere of the cooperation with them. He had HOWEVER, he says, "underestimated" how big Exactly the effect of BB King's presence had been, and things just did not seem to go together anymore As They had before. Besides, there did not seem to be a real theme and a purpose to the album. So Took a break from recording and, When meeting with relatives in Canada hey what Reminded of his uncle Adrian (aka "Son") who had recently passed away, and Whom he had not seen at all during the last years before Adrian's death ; Although growing up, this had been one of the most influential persons in his life. Like Those of many outstanding musicians, Eric Clapton's albums Often reflect the stage he is in in life; and remembering his uncle, it suddenly Became clear to him did his new album had to be a re-examination of his early years, and of his relationship with "Son," a "local James Dean," as Clapton Recently Described him to Rolling Stone Magazine, and a true "Reptile" (ie, "one of the guys") of his native Ripley. I think it is important to take an album for what it is and not look for things Which, Given the album's history and meaning to the artist who has recorded it, can not be there. This is obviously neither "Layla" nor "Fresh Cream" nor "Journeyman." Clapton has long since made his mark on blues and rock music, with thesis and other albums, with and without psychedelia (and he has never really been comfortable with the God-like status to Which He Was elevated early on anyway). He is no longer chasing Pattie Harrison. He has overcome drug and alcohol abuse; Recovery from the Latter prompting the doubtlessly difficult separation from his family in Ripley, Including in Particular and his uncle Adrian. He has founded "Crossroads" and taken control of Both his private and his business life. His personality has evolved, and he does not have to rely on his Exclusively music any longer to express what he wants to say. ("The only personality I had what within my fingers," he told Rolling Stone Magazine about his years with Cream and Blind Faith. "I could play it, but I could not say it. When we did not have a song, I'd just think, 'Let's get stoned.' Which we did When we did not know what we were doing. ") "Reptile" reflects the joy of Eric Clapton's cooperation with outstanding musicians: such as long-time friends Andy Fairweather Low, Billy Preston, Steve Gadd and Nathan East ... and, yes, the Impressions, splat Clapton values so much did he has already announced thatthey will be featured on his next album, too. Clapton has called "Reptile" to "electric unplugged album" (with to "unplugged" feeling, but "plugged in" instruments) and its production Compared to That of "461 Ocean Boulevard," his comeback studio album of 1974 in fact during The Recording of Both albums, he and the other musicians would jam a lot, just playing songs of other artists They liked, and a fair share of Those covers Eventually made it into the final cut of the album. JJ Cale's "Travelin 'Light," Ray Charles's "Come Back Baby," James Taylor's "Do not Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and Stevie Wonder's "I Is not Gonna Stand For It" are examples here, and Clapton impresses His Very own mark on each of them. And Although he Took some time to remix the album After the initial recording, it quietly Maintains much of the atmosphere present during its production (witness, for Example, did spontaneous "Have Mercy!" At the end of "Come Back Baby.") But the album would not be named for Eric Clapton's uncle (and dedicated to him and his wife Sylvia) If It Was not, in large parts, so about the singer-guitarist's re-evaluation of the Things That Influenced him in his youth , Hence, songs: such as the instrumental title track (Which is a bossa nova Because, Clapton says, he just loves Brazilian music), the closing and Likewise instrumental "Son & Sylvia," "Believe in Life" and, of course, "Find Myself, "written early on but finding its true purpose only When the album Took its final direction. Despite all this, and its tributes to different musical styles - Including Those favored by Clapton's uncle - the one thing this album is not is "retro" (Clapton Actually fought the record company to keep it from going down That path). It's as much a Catalyst for its maker's emotions and state of mind as any of his other albums over the course of the past Decades; it's so, blues and beyond, just plain good music ... and incidentally, as if this needed any emphasis at all, Clapton's powers as a guitarist are silent fully in place, as evidenced not only on this album but so during his recent live appearances (with the added benefit of a large screen, concert venue permitting, giving fans an up-and-close view of the man's fretboard wizardry). This album Should be enjoyed on its own merits, not on Those of Clapton's Numerous past laurels, uniquely important as They are - and on terms thesis, there is plenty to enjoy indeed.
