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Eric Clapton, al secolo Eric Patrick Clapp, nasce a Ripley, nel Surrey, il 30 marzo del 1945. L'estrema passione e l'innata sensibilità nei confronti della musica blues lo avvicinano in giovanissima età, in termine di ascolti e tentativi di imitazione con la prima chitarra elettrica ricevuta in dono dai nonni, ad artisti del calibro di Bo Diddley, Robert Johnson e Muddy Waters. Poliedrico musicista arriva alla notorietà grazie alle preziose collaborazioni con gli Yardbirds prima, in cui si guadagna l’appellativo di “SlowHand”, e, successivamente, con i Cream della premiata ditta Baker&Bruce, dove il suo talento ed estro creativo trovano largo spazio e stimolo.
A metà degli anni '60 le strade di Londra vengono letteralmente tappezzate di scritte sui muri: "Clapton is God", che inneggiano al talentuoso seicordista elettrico allora al massimo del suo espressionismo creativo e musicale. Ma se il lavoro con i Cream rappresenta l'apice del lunghissimo percorso musicale di Clapton, la carriera da solista non rende omaggio a quel "God" di cui tanto i fans sono stati “fedeli ed assidui credenti”. È un continuo declino verso il nulla, verso il "vuoto" di idee e sperimentazioni che, nella prima fase della carriera, tanto lo avevano caratterizzato. Troppo spesso, oramai, si avvicina a rassicuranti melodie di manieristico Rock/Blues e POP di dubbio valore. In questi tempi Hendrix ha già spodestato il "God". In questi tempi Clapton ha già conosciuto un altro “God”. Che gli porta via anche le chitarre. Un breve parentesi di rinascita di tipo qualitativo ma (purtroppo) non innovativo di Mr. SlowHand si ha a partire dalla metà degli anni ’90. Basti ricordare lo stupendo album “From The Cradle”, di pura matrice blues, ed una serie di eccezionali live, fra i quali citiamo in particolar modo l’unplugged del ’92, andato in onda sugli schermi di MTV, in cui il nostro si esprime al massimo le sue qualità di esecuzione. Come sempre. Clapton dal vivo trasmette qualcosa che in studio resta statico. Quasi immobile. Registrato negli Stati Uniti l’Unplugged resta come una perla di pregevole fattura nella discografia del Clapton. Raccoglie alcuni fra i più importanti classici Blues e, fra le tante, una struggente composizione autobiografica “Tears In Heaven” in cui riversa tutto il dolore per la perdita di suo figlio Conor, nato dalla relazione con la nostrana isolana Lory Del Santo, morto in un incidente all’età di quattro anni.
La qualità complessiva del Live risulta altissima per una moltitudine di motivi: riarrangiamenti in chiave acustica pressoché perfetti, band di supporto d’eccezione, un Clapton finalmente ritrovato e proposte musicali indovinate. “Before You Accuse Me”, “Rollin’ & Tumblin’ ” o ancora la “Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out” sono solo alcune fra le ottime sedici tracce qui riproposte. Qui “Dio” è presente, ancora una volta. Solo ascoltandolo si può avere chiara la sua grandezza.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
02 Before You Accuse Me (03:44)
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
You say I've been spending my money on other women
You've been taking money from someone else
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
Well your mother said "Son"
"Don't call my daughter no more"
First Verse
Come back home baby, try my love one more time
Come back home baby, try my love one more time
If I don't go on and quit you
I'm gonna lose my mind
First Verse
03 Hey Hey (03:16)
Eric Clapton "Unplugged" Album
Hey Hey
(by Big Bill Broonzy)
Hey hey. Hey hey, baby, hey.
Hey hey. Hey hey, baby, hey.
I love you baby,
Sure ain't gonna be your dog.
Hey hey. Hey hey, baby, hey.
Hey hey. Hey hey, baby, hey.
My arms around you baby,
All I can say is hey.
First Verse
Hey hey. You lost your good thing now.
Hey hey. You lost your good thing now.
You had me fooled,
I found it out somehow.
04 Tears in Heaven (04:36)
Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven
Would you hold my hand if I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand if I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven
Time can bring you down; time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please, begging please
Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven
Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven
'Cause I know I don't belong, here in heaven
05 Lonely Stranger (05:27)
Eric Clapton "Unplugged" Album
LONELY STRANGER
by Eric Clapton
I must be invisible;
No one knows me.
I have crawled down dead-end streets
On my hands and knees.
I was born with a ragin' thirst,
A hunger to be free,
But I've learned through the years.
Don't encourage me.
'Cause I'm a lonely stranger here,
Well beyond my day.
And I don't know what's goin' on,
So I'll be on my way.
When I walk, stay behind;
Don't get close to me,
'Cause it's sure to end in tears,
So just let me be.
Some will say that I'm no good;
Baby, I agree.
Take a look then walk away.
That's all right with me.
Chorus
07 Layla (04:46)
What will you do when you get lonely
And nobody's waiting by your side?
You've been running and hiding much too long;
You know, it's just your foolish pride.
Layla, you got me on my knees. Layla,
I'm begging darling please. Layla,
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
I tried to give you consolation;
When your old man had let you down.
Like a fool, I fell in love with you;
You turned my whole world upside down.
Layla, you got me on my knees. Layla,
I'm begging darling please. Layla,
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
Let's make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane.
Please don't say we'll never find a way
And tell me all my love's in vain.
Layla, you got me on my knees. Layla,
I'm begging darling please. Layla,
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
Layla, you got me on my knees. Layla,
I'm begging darling please. Layla,
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
08 Running on Faith (06:30)
Lately I've been running on faith
what else can a poor boy do
but my world would be right
if love comes over me
Lately I've been talking in my sleep
Can imagine what I'd have to say
said my world would be right
if love comes back your way
I've always been
one to take each and every day
seems like by now
I'd find a love who'd care
care just for me
And we go running on faith
all of our dreams would come true
And our world would be right
if love comes over me...and you
But I've always been
one to take each and every day
seems like by now
I'd find a love who'd care
care just for me
And we go running on faith
all of our dreams would come true
And our world would be right
if love comes over me...and you
yes it would
Love comes all over you
Love comes all over you
Love comes all over you
All of our dreams will come true
I said love, love comes all over you
All of our dreams will come true..
10 Alberta (03:42)
Eric Clapton "Unplugged" Album
ALBERTA
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Ain't had no loving
Since you've been gone.
Alberta, Alberta,
Where'd you stay last night?
Alberta, Alberta
Where'd you stay last night?
Come home this morning,
Clothes don't fit you right
Alberta, Alberta,
Girl, you're on my mind.
Alberta, Alberta,
Girl, you're on my mind.
Ain't had no loving
Such a great long time.
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Ain't had no loving
Since you've been gone.
12 Malted Milk (03:36)
Eric Clapton "Unplugged" Album
Malted Milk
(by Robert Johnson)
I keep drinking malted milk, trying to drive my blues away.
I keep drinking malted milk, trying to drive my blues away.
Baby, you're just as welcome to my loving as the flowers is in May.
Malted milk, malted milk, keep rushing to my head.
Malted milk, malted milk, keep rushing to my head.
And I have a funny, funny feeling and I'm talking all out my head.
Baby, fix me one more drink and hug your daddy one more time.
Baby, fix me one more drink and hug your daddy one more time.
Keep on stirring my malted milk, mama, until I change my mind.
My doorknob keeps on turning, there must be spooks around my bed.
My doorknob keeps on turning, there must be spooks around my bed.
And I have a funny, funny feeling and the hair's rising on my head.
13 Old Love (07:52)
I can feel your body
When I'm lying in bed
There's too much confusion
Going around through my head
And it makes me so angry
To know that the flame still burns
Why can't I get over?
When will I ever learn?
Old love, leave me alone
Old love, go on home
I can see your face
But I know that it's not real
It's just an illusion
Caused by how I used to feel
And it makes me so angry
To know that the flame will always burn
I'll never get over
I know now that I'll never learn
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