Eric Clapton had risen to fame in the 1960s as one of the greatest English blues guitarist, through his work with The Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream and Blind Faith. However his solo career didn't begin until 1970. His debut album was recorded during the period he was playing with Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. He had tired of his super-star bandleader roles, and was relishing the chance to play as a sideman for the soul-rock husband-and-wife duo. The Bramletts and their friends assisted him greatly in the recording of the album, co-writing most the material with him. They encouraged him as both a singer and songwriter, and let him step out of the confinements of being seen as just a guitar hero. Most of the instrumental backing came from the Bramletts' touring band - Leon Russell (piano), Bobby Whitlock (organ), Carl Radle (bass), Jim Gordon (drums), Jim Price (trumpet), Bobby Keys (sax) and Tex Johnson (percussion). Delaney produced the album and contributed rhythm guitar, Leon Russell co-wrote "Lonesome And A Long Way From Home" and "Blues Power", and there were backing vocals from Delaney, Bonnie, Whitlock, Rita Coolidge, Sonny Curtis, Jerry Allison and Stephen Stills.It was a song called "After Midnight" that gave Clapton his first hit single, reaching #18 on the charts. The song was written by an unknown American musician called JJ Cale. Clapton's success with the song gave Cale unexpected royalties, and encouraged him to record his first album. The rest is history!
The album itself reached #14 on the UK charts. Clapton went on to form Derek & The Dominos with Whitlock, Radle and Gordon.
|> Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert (1973)
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