Wild Sessions

Eric Clapton. Every Album, Every Song
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-78952-643-1
Verlag: Sonicbond Publishing
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, 128 Seiten

Since 1963, Eric Clapton has contributed to two hundred albums by other artists, from the very famous to the obscure and the unexpected. Those names include as varied as Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, Martha Veléz, Jonathan Kelly, Corey Hart, Stephen Bishop, Hawkwind, Ray Charles, Kate Bush, The Tony Rich Project, Toots and the Maytals and Mary J. Blige.
If you've never heard (for instance) 'Beat of the Night' by Bob Geldof, 'Sexual Revolution' by Roger Waters or 'I Wish It Would Rain Down' by Phil Collins, this book tells you about Eric's part in those recordings and many more, as well as his more notorious collaborations with the likes of all four of The Beatles, Bob Dylan - and Ed Sheeran!
Indeed, this book puts these into context across nearly sixty years of documented sessions. If you've never delved into Eric's contributions to other artist's recordings, then this is a handy guide to help the reader find their way into such a lengthy and successful second career. If his own albums are the main story, then these recordings run alongside, making an alternative history of one of rock's most prolific musicians.

Andrew Wild is an experienced writer, music collector and film buff with many books to his name, including recent publications about Queen, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits. His comprehensive study of every song recorded and performed by The Beatles between 1957 and 1970 was published by Sonicbond in 2019 and his first book on Eric Clapton - Eric Clapton Solo on track was published in 2021. He lives in Rainow, Cheshire, UK.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Wild, Andrew

Leseproben

Chapter 3

The 1970s

Clapton’s work rate continued through 1970, recording two albums of his own (Eric Clapton and Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs), and contributing heavily to George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions and Buddy Guy and Junior Wells Play The Blues. He was off the road and out of the studio for much of 1971 and all of 1972-1973.

His return to active duty in 1974 also resulted in many more sessions as the decade progressed, perhaps most notable on Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane’s Rough Mix.

King Curtis: Get Ready

Recorded January 1970 at Sunset Sound, Hollywood. Released March 1970. Did not chart. Produced by Delaney Bramlett.

‘Teasin’’ (Ousley, Bramlett)

King Curtis played memorable saxophone solos on hit singles such as ‘Respect’ by Aretha Franklin and ‘Yakety Yak’ by The Coasters. His 1970 single ‘Teasin’’ pairs his shrill saxophone with Clapton’s biting lead guitar.

‘Teasin’’ can also be heard on The History of Eric Clapton (1972) and the 2006 deluxe edition of Eric Clapton. Curtis would record with Aretha Franklin and John Lennon in 1971 before being stabbed to death in an altercation outside his home that year.

Dave Mason: Alone Together

Recorded in early 1970, Sunset Sound, Hollywood; Elektra Sound Recorders, Los Angeles. Released July 1970. Did not chart. Produced by Dave Mason and Tommy LiPuma.

‘Only You Know And I Know’ (Mason)

Dave Mason, ex-Traffic, recorded his debut solo album in Los Angeles in the early weeks of 1970 with the likes of Leon Russell, Carl Radle, Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Bonnie Bramlett and Rita Coolidge. The opening track and lead single ‘Only You Know And I Know’ was a minor hit single. The lead guitar sounds a lot like Eric’s playing and he was in the same studio in the same period, recording with King Curtis and laying down tracks for his own album with many of the same musicians.

But if it is him, he has never been formally credited.

The Crickets: Rockin’ Fifties Rock ‘N’ Roll

Recorded January 1970 at Village Recorders, Los Angeles. Released December 1970. Did not chart. Produced by Delaney Bramlett.

‘Rockin’ 50s Rock ‘N Roll’ (Allison, Curtis, Gilmore)

‘That’ll Be The Day’ (Allison, Holly, Petty)

By 1970, The Crickets comprised ex-Elvis Presley pianist Glen D. Hardin, drummer Jerry Allison and guitarist Sonny Curtis – writer of ‘Walk Right Back’ and ‘I Fought The Law’.

Allison and Curtis were hired to sing backing vocals on Eric Clapton’s first solo album, and these two songs were recorded during the same sessions with the same producer and musicians.

‘Rockin’ 50s Rock ‘N Roll’ is a generic rocker, co-written and sung by Sonny Curtis, with a fat saxophone solo and some fluid lead guitar lines from Eric.

Jerry Allison takes the lead vocal on a pointless remake of ’That’ll Be The Day’, which segues immediately from ‘Rockin’ 50s Rock ‘N Roll’. Eric shuffles away in the background to limited effect.

Ashton, Gardner and Dyke: The Worst of …

Recorded March 1970 De Lane Lea Studios, London. Released February 1971. Highest position: did not chart. Produced by George Harrison, Tony Ashton, Kim Gardner and Roy Dyke.

‘I’m Your Spiritual Breadman’ (Ashton)

The credits of Ashton, Gardner and Dyke self-effacing second album ‘The Worst Of…’ notes guitar by ‘Sir Cedric Clayton’ and ‘George O’Hara Smith’. These are thinly disguised pseudonyms for Eric Clapton and George Harrison.

Ashton and Dyke were members of the Liverpool band The Remo Four, sharing the same club and ballroom circuit with the pre-fame Beatles. They became friendly with George Harrison and some years later provided much of the backing for Harrison’s Wonderwall Music (qv). Ashton and Dyke joined forces with ex-Creation bassist Kim Gardner in 1968. Ashton, Gardner and Dyke toured as the support act on Delaney and Bonnie’s UK tour of November-December 1969. Three months later, they recorded ‘I’m Your Spiritual Breadman’ with said Sir Cedric Clayton and George O’Hara Smith. Neither is obviously audible.

Ashton, Gardner and Dyke are perhaps best remembered for ‘Resurrection Shuffle’, a transatlantic Top 40 success in 1971.

Jonathan Kelly: ‘Don’t You Believe It’

Recorded March 1970. Released June 1970. Highest position: did not chart. Produced by Colin Petersen.

‘Don’t You Believe It’ (Kelly)

Irish folk-rock singer Jonathan Kelly moved to London in 1968 and the following year, by chance, met ex-Bee Gees drummer Colin Petersen. Kelly was performing in a restaurant and when he was seen by Petersen, who immediately offered a recording and management contract.

Kelly’s second single, ‘Don’t You Believe It’ is a driving blues-rock song with backing by Ashton, Gardner and Dyke. Eric plays some powerful slide guitar.

Kelly to Marc Roberty in The Complete Recording Sessions 1963-1992:

I guess Colin Petersen asked Eric to come and play on a twelve-bar, and he just turned up, which blew my mind. He listened to the backing tracks and bang, just played it.

Petersen and Kelly would form the band Humpy Bong in 1970 with singer/ bassist Tim Staffel, formerly of Smile, the band that evolved into Queen.

Ringo Starr: ‘It Don’t Come Easy’

Recorded 18-19 February 1970 at E.M.I. Studios, Abbey Road, London. Produced by George Martin. Unreleased.

‘It Don’t Come Easy’ (Starkey)

Ringo laid down two versions of his big 1971 hit ‘It Don’t Come Easy’. The second, recorded in March 1970 and produced by George Harrison, reached number four in the UK and the US in spring 1971. Eric certainly does not play on it.

The first version, from February 1970, might have included Eric’s involvement, but this is based on a report in Melody Maker rather than concrete proof. In any event, this early version remains unreleased and unheard.

Stephen Stills: Stephen Stills

Stephen Stills: Stephen Stills 2

Recorded March 1970 at Island Studios, London. Stephen Stills released November 1970. Highest position: US: 3, UK: 8. Stephen Stills 2 released June 1971. Highest position: US: 8, UK: 22. Produced by Stephen Stills and Bill Halverson.

‘Go Back Home’ (Stills)

‘Fishes and Scorpions’ (Stills)

Stephen Stills took a long break from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young in spring 1970, between the recording and release of their classic album Déjà Vu. He moved to London for some months and played on several sessions, including Eric’s first solo album. Stills also recorded a few songs for his own self-titled debut release, holding one back for his sophomore album.

‘Go Back Home’ is an obvious derivative of ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’ with Stills’ distinctive funky wah-wah guitar and gruff vocal delivery. The song builds with a turnaround after the first two verses: you have feeling building to something big when Clapton’s astounding Stratocaster solo appears from nowhere and takes the song to a spell-binding conclusion.

According to Stills, who told Louder Sound in 2014:

I bumped into Eric one evening, and he came by and the night degenerated into an endless jam of The Champs’ ‘Tequila’. Then we did the album track [‘Go Back Home’] in the studio. His solo was one take and he got a fabulous sound.

Stephen Stills was a top ten album in both the UK and the US It was still in the charts when its follow-up was released. Stephen Stills 2 includes the dynamic ‘Fishes and Scorpions’. Again Eric adds some astounding lead guitar, mixed high and very much in his 1970 style.

Billy Preston: Encouraging Words

Recorded April 1970 at Apple Studios and Trident Studios, London. Released September 1970. Highest position: did not chart. Produced by George Harrison and Billy Preston.

‘Right Now’ (Preston)

‘Use What You Got’ (Preston)

‘Encouraging Words’ (Preston)

Billy Preston’s second and last album for Apple is a stirring blend of soul and rock. It has a list of familiar participants: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Delaney Bramlett, Carl Radle, Jim Gordon, Klaus Voormann, Ringo Starr, Bobby Keys and Jim Price. Many of these musicians would reconvene within a matter of weeks for the sessions for All Things Must Pass.

‘Right Now’ has a thick rhythm guitar that uses a riff, sound and tempo that’s very close to ‘Keep On Growing’ from the forthcoming Layla album. The song closes with a short, powerful Clapton solo. ‘Use What You Got’ has a rolling New Orleans / Dr. John vibe....