Clapton’s 19th solo album is an entertaining mix of songs old, songs new, songs borrowed, and songs blue. That is, blues as only "Old Slowhand" can sing and play them. He is joined by name-brand guests J.J. Cale, Steve Winwood, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, and Allen Toussaint.
With "Travellin' Alone" and "Rockin' Chair," Clapton offers laid-back shuffling blues, Muddy Water's–style country blues on "Can't Hold Out Much Longer" and "Judgment Days," and rocking pop-style blues with "Runback to Your Side" and "That's No Way to Get Along."
Clapton breaks from the blues with a couple interesting tunes, including his take on Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is the Ocean" and a new ragtime number, "My Very Good Friend the Milkman," that recalls McCartney's "When I'm 64." Though peppered with a couple of unlistenable strays, especially the closer, a torturous take on standard “Autumn Leaves,” this collection could be considered one of Clapton’s best in the genre.
Clapton’s 19th solo album is an entertaining mix of songs old, songs new, songs borrowed, and songs blue. That is, blues as only "Old Slowhand" can sing and play them. He is joined by name-brand guests J.J. Cale, Steve Winwood, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, and Allen Toussaint.
With "Travellin' Alone" and "Rockin' Chair," Clapton offers laid-back shuffling blues, Muddy Water's–style country blues on "Can't Hold Out Much Longer" and "Judgment Days," and rocking pop-style blues with "Runback to Your Side" and "That's No Way to Get Along."
Clapton breaks from the blues with a couple interesting tunes, including his take on Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is the Ocean" and a new ragtime number, "My Very Good Friend the Milkman," that recalls McCartney's "When I'm 64." Though peppered with a couple of unlistenable strays, especially the closer, a torturous take on standard “Autumn Leaves,” this collection could be considered one of Clapton’s best in the genre.