ERIC CLAPTON
''OLD SOCK''
MARCH 12 2013
53:30
1. Further On Down The Road (5:44)
2. Angel (3:54)
3. The Folks Who Live On The Hill (3:46)
4. Gotta Get Over (4:37)
5. Till Your Well Runs Dry (4:42)
6. All Of Me (3:22)
7. Born To Lose (4:03)
8. Still Got The Blues (5:54)
9. Goodnight Irene (4:23)
10. Your One And Only Man (4:30)
11. Every Little Thing (4:34)
12. Our Love Is Here To Stay (4:12)
Eric Clapton/Vocals, Guitars
Steve Gadd/Drums
Willie Weeks/Bass
Chris Stainton/Keyboards
JJ Cale/Guitar, Vocals On "Angel"
Chaka Khan/Backing Vocals On "Gotta Get Over"
Steve Winwood/Hammond B3 Organ On "Still Got the Blues"
Paul McCartney/Bass, vocals On "All of Me"
Jim Keltner/Drums On "Our Love Is Here To Stay"
REVIEW
By TE
Interesting title for Eric Clapton’s new album, his first since leaving the Warner’s stable after close to 30 years. Its origins come from Eric being so impressed with David Bowie’s recent single release, "Where Are We Now", that he sent a message, thanking Bowie for such a beautiful song. Bowie replied appreciatively, referring to Eric as “Old Sock”, whereupon Eric sought Bowie’s blessing to use that as his album title. The unorthodox album cover is apparently a self-portrait by Eric taken on his iPhone in Antigua.
The recording band for Old Sock features EC's longtime collaborators Steve Gadd (drums), Willie Weeks (bass), Chris Stainton (keyboards) Michelle John (backing vocals), Sharon White (backing vocals) along with some surprise guests. The album was produced by Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall II, Justin Stanley and Simon Climie.
With the benefit of just a few advanced listens, here’s a brief track by track summary of EC’s 21st studio album, Old Sock (Bushbranch Records):
Further On Down The Road
Forget any notion you may have had that this is Further on Up the Road in disguise. It ain’t! Lilting reggae, organ swirls, harmonica solo, classy backing vocals, Eric’s voice right up in the mix. Modest little guitar solo builds nicely with high-pitched dampened notes to wrap the song up.
Angel
JJ Cale shuffle, possibly an outtake from the Escondido sessions. Lead guitars more to the fore, with melodic fills throughout, steel guitar, rim shots, nice harmony vocals again. Catchy hook too.
The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Would not have sounded out of place on the Clapton album. Schmaltzy waltz, beautifully played, strings, brushes, Eric on nylon string guitar.
Gotta Get Over
Well known to internet users by now – i.e. the world! Its also the first single from the album having been released to radio mid-month. Strident, chugging riff leads into strong vocals, memorable hook and some fat guitar licks. I danced across the kitchen floor to this one! From the Doyle Bramhall II school of rock with Chaka Khan joining in on backing vocals! If you haven’t heard it, CLICK HERE.
Till Your Well Runs Dry
Fairly faithful reproduction of the Peter Tosh standard, with the slightly soulful intro leading to more familiar reggae territory. Atmospheric solo from Eric.
All Of Me
Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, they’ve all done this. But nobody ever played fuzz guitar on it before! Barrelhouse piano, bit of a fun pub knees up actually. Showcasing Paul McCartney (bass / vocals) no less and the lovely vocal talents of Michelle John and Sharon White.
Born To Lose
Yeehaaah! C&W soft-shoe shuffle cover of a Hank Snow original, recorded previously by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles. Eric shines on dobro.
Still Got The Blues
Yes, the Gary Moore version, much appreciated from some of Eric’s 2011 live concerts. Lovely organ from Steve Winwood and acoustic fills lead us in, subtle echo on the vocals. Strings initially rather overpower the (electric) guitar solo but it builds admirably and is still a very very classy number.
Goodnight Irene
Perhaps best remembered by EC fans from the Chas n’ Dave Christmas special on ITV from 1982. This version flows easier than that version and has everything on it – violin, banjo, mandolin, accordion, dobro.
Your One and Only Man
Reggae feel again for this Otis Redding number but with some dirty, funky, under-stated guitar. The harmonica sounds great and is reminiscent of Stevie Wonder. Unusual ending that fades out as if they’d decided enough was enough.
Every Little Thing
Co-written with Doyle Bramhall II, strong melody again leads into a reggae chorus. You sense this one could really break out into a great jam with extended guitar solos until…is that Eric’s daughters singing the chorus at the end?!
Our Love Is Here To Stay
From the film, An American in Paris, performed by Gene Kelly. Another probable Clapton album outtake, slow shuffle, piano to the fore, dreamy steel guitar solo. Jim Keltner is behind the kit for this track.
Old Sock is a natural follow-up to 2010's Clapton album and sees Eric continuing the theme of reproducing songs that have been important to him throughout his life, with reggae, soul, jazz and, of course, the blues, all featured. Eric’s playing is slightly more adventurous here and there is a relaxed, harmonious, fun feel to the album, as reflected in the album’s title and artwork. It's out 12 March in North America on EC’s Bushbranch Records and distributed by Surfdog Records. Polydor Records will distribute to the rest of the world with release dates between 22 and 27 March. It will be released on CD, vinyl and in digital formats.
BIOGRAPHY
by William Ruhlmann
By the time Eric Clapton launched his solo career with the release of his self-titled debut album in mid-1970, he was long established as one of the world's major rock stars due to his group affiliations -- the Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Blind Faith -- which had demonstrated his claim to being the best rock guitarist of his generation. That it took Clapton so long to go out on his own, however, was evidence of a degree of reticence unusual for one of his stature. And his debut album, though it spawned the Top 40 hit "After Midnight," was typical of his self-effacing approach: it was, in effect, an album by the group he had lately been featured in, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.
Not surprisingly, before his solo debut had even been released, Clapton had retreated from his solo stance, assembling from the D&B&F ranks the personnel for a group, Derek & the Dominos, with whom he played for most of 1970 and recorded the landmark album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Clapton was largely inactive in 1971 and 1972, due to heroin addiction, but he performed a comeback concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London on January 13, 1973, resulting in the album Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert (September 1973). But Clapton did not launch a sustained solo career until July 1974, when he released 461 Ocean Boulevard, which topped the charts and spawned the number one single "I Shot the Sheriff."
The persona Clapton established over the next decade was less that of guitar hero than arena rock star with a weakness for ballads. The follow-ups to 461 Ocean Boulevard, There's One in Every Crowd (March 1975), the live E.C. Was Here (August 1975), and No Reason to Cry (August 1976), were less successful. But Slowhand (November 1977), which featured both the powerful "Cocaine" (written by J.J. Cale, who had also written "After Midnight") and the hit singles "Lay Down Sally" and "Wonderful Tonight," was a million-seller. Its follow-ups, Backless (November 1978), featuring the Top Ten hit "Promises," the live Just One Night (April 1980), and Another Ticket (February 1981), featuring the Top Ten hit "I Can't Stand It," were all big sellers.
Clapton's popularity waned somewhat in the first half of the '80s, as the albums Money and Cigarettes (February 1983), Behind the Sun (March 1985), and August (November 1986) indicated a certain career stasis. But he was buoyed up by the release of the box set retrospective Crossroads (April 1988), which seemed to remind his fans of how great he was. Journeyman (November 1989) was a return to form. It would be his last new studio album for nearly five years, though in the interim he would suffer greatly and enjoy surprising triumph. On March 20, 1991, Clapton's four-year-old son was killed in a fall. While he mourned, he released a live album, 24 Nights (October 1991), culled from his annual concert series at Royal Albert Hall in London, and prepared a movie soundtrack, Rush (January 1992). The soundtrack featured a song written for his son, "Tears in Heaven," that became a massive hit single.
In March 1992, Clapton recorded a concert for MTV Unplugged that, when released on an album in August, became his biggest-selling record ever. Two years later, Clapton returned with a blues album, From the Cradle, which became one of his most successful albums, both commercially and critically. Crossroads, Vol. 2: Live in the Seventies, a box set chronicling his live work from the '70s, was released to mixed reviews. In early 1997, Clapton, billing himself by the pseudonym "X-Sample," collaborated with keyboardist/producer Simon Climie as the ambient new age and trip-hop duo T.D.F. The duo released Retail Therapy to mixed reviews in early 1997.
Clapton retained Climie as his collaborator for Pilgrim, his first album of new material since 1989's Journeyman. Pilgrim was greeted with decidedly mixed reviews upon its spring 1998 release, but the album debuted at number four and stayed in the Top Ten for several weeks on the success of the single "My Father's Eyes." In 2000, Clapton teamed up with old friend B.B. King on Riding with the King, a set of blues standards and material from contemporary singer/songwriters. Another solo outing, entitled Reptile, followed in early 2001. Three years later, Clapton issued Me and Mr. Johnson, a collection of tunes honoring the Mississippi-born bluesman Robert Johnson. Released in 2005, Back Home, Clapton's 14th album of original material, reflected his ease with fatherhood. Also in 2005, Clapton unexpectedly teamed with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker for a Cream reunion that included May concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall and shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden in October, with the former being compiled for a live release that fall.
This turned out to be the first of many reunions and looks back for Clapton. In 2006, he elevated the profile of his latter-day idol J.J. Cale by recording an album-long duet, The Road to Escondido. The following year he released his autobiography -- accompanied by a new career compilation called The Complete Clapton -- which focused more on his trials with addiction and subsequent recovery than his musical career. In 2008, Clapton began playing regular shows with his old Blind Faith partner Steve Winwood, gigs that were captured on the 2009 double-live set Live from Madison Square Garden. Winwood also appeared on Clapton’s next studio album, 2010’s Clapton, which was a collaboration-heavy affair also featuring Cale, Sheryl Crow, Allen Toussaint, and Wynton Marsalis. In 2011, Clapton returned the favor to Marsalis by collaborating on the live concert album Play the Blues: Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center.
''OLD SOCK''
MARCH 12 2013
53:30
1. Further On Down The Road (5:44)
2. Angel (3:54)
3. The Folks Who Live On The Hill (3:46)
4. Gotta Get Over (4:37)
5. Till Your Well Runs Dry (4:42)
6. All Of Me (3:22)
7. Born To Lose (4:03)
8. Still Got The Blues (5:54)
9. Goodnight Irene (4:23)
10. Your One And Only Man (4:30)
11. Every Little Thing (4:34)
12. Our Love Is Here To Stay (4:12)
Eric Clapton/Vocals, Guitars
Steve Gadd/Drums
Willie Weeks/Bass
Chris Stainton/Keyboards
JJ Cale/Guitar, Vocals On "Angel"
Chaka Khan/Backing Vocals On "Gotta Get Over"
Steve Winwood/Hammond B3 Organ On "Still Got the Blues"
Paul McCartney/Bass, vocals On "All of Me"
Jim Keltner/Drums On "Our Love Is Here To Stay"
REVIEW
By TE
Interesting title for Eric Clapton’s new album, his first since leaving the Warner’s stable after close to 30 years. Its origins come from Eric being so impressed with David Bowie’s recent single release, "Where Are We Now", that he sent a message, thanking Bowie for such a beautiful song. Bowie replied appreciatively, referring to Eric as “Old Sock”, whereupon Eric sought Bowie’s blessing to use that as his album title. The unorthodox album cover is apparently a self-portrait by Eric taken on his iPhone in Antigua.
The recording band for Old Sock features EC's longtime collaborators Steve Gadd (drums), Willie Weeks (bass), Chris Stainton (keyboards) Michelle John (backing vocals), Sharon White (backing vocals) along with some surprise guests. The album was produced by Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall II, Justin Stanley and Simon Climie.
With the benefit of just a few advanced listens, here’s a brief track by track summary of EC’s 21st studio album, Old Sock (Bushbranch Records):
Further On Down The Road
Forget any notion you may have had that this is Further on Up the Road in disguise. It ain’t! Lilting reggae, organ swirls, harmonica solo, classy backing vocals, Eric’s voice right up in the mix. Modest little guitar solo builds nicely with high-pitched dampened notes to wrap the song up.
Angel
JJ Cale shuffle, possibly an outtake from the Escondido sessions. Lead guitars more to the fore, with melodic fills throughout, steel guitar, rim shots, nice harmony vocals again. Catchy hook too.
The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Would not have sounded out of place on the Clapton album. Schmaltzy waltz, beautifully played, strings, brushes, Eric on nylon string guitar.
Gotta Get Over
Well known to internet users by now – i.e. the world! Its also the first single from the album having been released to radio mid-month. Strident, chugging riff leads into strong vocals, memorable hook and some fat guitar licks. I danced across the kitchen floor to this one! From the Doyle Bramhall II school of rock with Chaka Khan joining in on backing vocals! If you haven’t heard it, CLICK HERE.
Till Your Well Runs Dry
Fairly faithful reproduction of the Peter Tosh standard, with the slightly soulful intro leading to more familiar reggae territory. Atmospheric solo from Eric.
All Of Me
Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, they’ve all done this. But nobody ever played fuzz guitar on it before! Barrelhouse piano, bit of a fun pub knees up actually. Showcasing Paul McCartney (bass / vocals) no less and the lovely vocal talents of Michelle John and Sharon White.
Born To Lose
Yeehaaah! C&W soft-shoe shuffle cover of a Hank Snow original, recorded previously by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles. Eric shines on dobro.
Still Got The Blues
Yes, the Gary Moore version, much appreciated from some of Eric’s 2011 live concerts. Lovely organ from Steve Winwood and acoustic fills lead us in, subtle echo on the vocals. Strings initially rather overpower the (electric) guitar solo but it builds admirably and is still a very very classy number.
Goodnight Irene
Perhaps best remembered by EC fans from the Chas n’ Dave Christmas special on ITV from 1982. This version flows easier than that version and has everything on it – violin, banjo, mandolin, accordion, dobro.
Your One and Only Man
Reggae feel again for this Otis Redding number but with some dirty, funky, under-stated guitar. The harmonica sounds great and is reminiscent of Stevie Wonder. Unusual ending that fades out as if they’d decided enough was enough.
Every Little Thing
Co-written with Doyle Bramhall II, strong melody again leads into a reggae chorus. You sense this one could really break out into a great jam with extended guitar solos until…is that Eric’s daughters singing the chorus at the end?!
Our Love Is Here To Stay
From the film, An American in Paris, performed by Gene Kelly. Another probable Clapton album outtake, slow shuffle, piano to the fore, dreamy steel guitar solo. Jim Keltner is behind the kit for this track.
Old Sock is a natural follow-up to 2010's Clapton album and sees Eric continuing the theme of reproducing songs that have been important to him throughout his life, with reggae, soul, jazz and, of course, the blues, all featured. Eric’s playing is slightly more adventurous here and there is a relaxed, harmonious, fun feel to the album, as reflected in the album’s title and artwork. It's out 12 March in North America on EC’s Bushbranch Records and distributed by Surfdog Records. Polydor Records will distribute to the rest of the world with release dates between 22 and 27 March. It will be released on CD, vinyl and in digital formats.
BIOGRAPHY
by William Ruhlmann
By the time Eric Clapton launched his solo career with the release of his self-titled debut album in mid-1970, he was long established as one of the world's major rock stars due to his group affiliations -- the Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Blind Faith -- which had demonstrated his claim to being the best rock guitarist of his generation. That it took Clapton so long to go out on his own, however, was evidence of a degree of reticence unusual for one of his stature. And his debut album, though it spawned the Top 40 hit "After Midnight," was typical of his self-effacing approach: it was, in effect, an album by the group he had lately been featured in, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.
Not surprisingly, before his solo debut had even been released, Clapton had retreated from his solo stance, assembling from the D&B&F ranks the personnel for a group, Derek & the Dominos, with whom he played for most of 1970 and recorded the landmark album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Clapton was largely inactive in 1971 and 1972, due to heroin addiction, but he performed a comeback concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London on January 13, 1973, resulting in the album Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert (September 1973). But Clapton did not launch a sustained solo career until July 1974, when he released 461 Ocean Boulevard, which topped the charts and spawned the number one single "I Shot the Sheriff."
The persona Clapton established over the next decade was less that of guitar hero than arena rock star with a weakness for ballads. The follow-ups to 461 Ocean Boulevard, There's One in Every Crowd (March 1975), the live E.C. Was Here (August 1975), and No Reason to Cry (August 1976), were less successful. But Slowhand (November 1977), which featured both the powerful "Cocaine" (written by J.J. Cale, who had also written "After Midnight") and the hit singles "Lay Down Sally" and "Wonderful Tonight," was a million-seller. Its follow-ups, Backless (November 1978), featuring the Top Ten hit "Promises," the live Just One Night (April 1980), and Another Ticket (February 1981), featuring the Top Ten hit "I Can't Stand It," were all big sellers.
Clapton's popularity waned somewhat in the first half of the '80s, as the albums Money and Cigarettes (February 1983), Behind the Sun (March 1985), and August (November 1986) indicated a certain career stasis. But he was buoyed up by the release of the box set retrospective Crossroads (April 1988), which seemed to remind his fans of how great he was. Journeyman (November 1989) was a return to form. It would be his last new studio album for nearly five years, though in the interim he would suffer greatly and enjoy surprising triumph. On March 20, 1991, Clapton's four-year-old son was killed in a fall. While he mourned, he released a live album, 24 Nights (October 1991), culled from his annual concert series at Royal Albert Hall in London, and prepared a movie soundtrack, Rush (January 1992). The soundtrack featured a song written for his son, "Tears in Heaven," that became a massive hit single.
In March 1992, Clapton recorded a concert for MTV Unplugged that, when released on an album in August, became his biggest-selling record ever. Two years later, Clapton returned with a blues album, From the Cradle, which became one of his most successful albums, both commercially and critically. Crossroads, Vol. 2: Live in the Seventies, a box set chronicling his live work from the '70s, was released to mixed reviews. In early 1997, Clapton, billing himself by the pseudonym "X-Sample," collaborated with keyboardist/producer Simon Climie as the ambient new age and trip-hop duo T.D.F. The duo released Retail Therapy to mixed reviews in early 1997.
Clapton retained Climie as his collaborator for Pilgrim, his first album of new material since 1989's Journeyman. Pilgrim was greeted with decidedly mixed reviews upon its spring 1998 release, but the album debuted at number four and stayed in the Top Ten for several weeks on the success of the single "My Father's Eyes." In 2000, Clapton teamed up with old friend B.B. King on Riding with the King, a set of blues standards and material from contemporary singer/songwriters. Another solo outing, entitled Reptile, followed in early 2001. Three years later, Clapton issued Me and Mr. Johnson, a collection of tunes honoring the Mississippi-born bluesman Robert Johnson. Released in 2005, Back Home, Clapton's 14th album of original material, reflected his ease with fatherhood. Also in 2005, Clapton unexpectedly teamed with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker for a Cream reunion that included May concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall and shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden in October, with the former being compiled for a live release that fall.
This turned out to be the first of many reunions and looks back for Clapton. In 2006, he elevated the profile of his latter-day idol J.J. Cale by recording an album-long duet, The Road to Escondido. The following year he released his autobiography -- accompanied by a new career compilation called The Complete Clapton -- which focused more on his trials with addiction and subsequent recovery than his musical career. In 2008, Clapton began playing regular shows with his old Blind Faith partner Steve Winwood, gigs that were captured on the 2009 double-live set Live from Madison Square Garden. Winwood also appeared on Clapton’s next studio album, 2010’s Clapton, which was a collaboration-heavy affair also featuring Cale, Sheryl Crow, Allen Toussaint, and Wynton Marsalis. In 2011, Clapton returned the favor to Marsalis by collaborating on the live concert album Play the Blues: Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center.
