Eric Clapton - From the Cradle

Rating

Album: Eric Clapton - From the Cradle (CD)
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Blues Before Sunrise	More Info...	0:03
2)	Third Degree	More Info...	0:05
3)	Reconsider Baby	More Info...	0:03
4)	Hoochie Coochie Man	More Info...	0:03
5)	Five Long Years	More Info...	0:04
6)	I'm Tore Down	More Info...	0:03
7)	How Long Blues	More Info...	0:03
8)	Goin' Away Baby	More Info...	0:04
9)	Blues Leave Me Alone	More Info...	0:03
10)	Sinner's Prayer	More Info...	0:03
11)	Motherless Child	More Info...	0:03
12)	It Hurts Me Too	More Info...	0:03
13)	Someday After a While	More Info...	0:04
14)	Standin' Round Crying	More Info...	0:03
15)	Driftin'	More Info...	0:03
16)	Groaning the Blues	More Info...	0:06

Tracks

1. Blues Before Sunrise

2. Third Degree

3. Reconsider Baby

4. Hoochie Coochie Man

5. Five Long Years

6. I'm Tore Down

7. How Long Blues

8. Goin' Away Baby

9. Blues Leave Me Alone

10. Sinner's Prayer

11. Motherless Child

12. It Hurts Me Too

13. Someday After A While

14. Standin' Round Crying

15. Driftin'

16. Groaning The Blues

Performer Notes

Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Andy Fairweather-Low (guitar); Jerry Portnoy (harmonica); Tim Sanders (tenor saxophone); Simon Clarke (baritone saxophone); Roddy Lorimer (trumpet); Chris Stainton (keyboards); Dave Bronze (bass); Jim Keltner (drums); Richie Hayward (percussion).
Recorded at Olympic Studios Barnes, London, England.
FROM THE CRADLE won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album. It was also nominated for Album Of The Year.
Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Andy Fairweather Low (guitar, acoustic guitar); Jerry Portnoy (harmonica); Tim Sanders (tenor saxophone, horns); Simon Clarke (baritone saxophone, horns); Roddy Lorimer (trumpet, horns); The Kick Horns (horns); Chris Stainton (piano, keyboards); Dave Bronze (bass guitar); Jim Keltner (drums); Richie Hayward (percussion).
Audio Mixers: Alan Douglas ; Russ Titelman.
Recording information: Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, England.
Photographers: Eric Clapton; Jack English.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Lee Dickson; Ravi Sharman.
Arranger: The Kick Horns.
Some 30 years after cutting BLUESBREAKERS with John Mayall, Slowhand is back--and he's plugged in, too. From the Elmore James-styled slide grunge that heralds Leroy Carr's classic "Blues Before Sunrise," to his sweet, pearly tones on an agonizingly slow "Third Degree," it's clear that FROM THE CRADLE really is your parents' Eric Clapton.
Nearly every album Clapton's ever done has had a suggestion of his roots. But there's more than a suggestion of blues on impassioned, unhinged solos like "Five Long Years," "It Hurts Me Too" and "Someday After A While"--Clapton betrays a childlike pleasure in coming out from behind his pop persona, and the joy is infectious.
That's because FROM THE CRADLE is recorded live...that is to say, everyone at once, with no instrumental or vocal overdubs (save for the sweet dobro obbligatos on an old-timey sounding "How Long Blues"). The slower tempos, like a lowdown "Sinner's Prayer" and the acoustic "Driftin'" really showcase his growth as a vocalist (particularly that bullfrog groan, by way of Muddy Waters, whom he honors with an especially faithful cover of "Standin' Round Crying"). And when Clapton leaves Earth orbit on Willie Dixon's "Groaning The Blues," you get the feeling Eric may never leave the blues again. More, please.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.61) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's."

Rolling Stone (10/20/94, p.141) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...This is the plugged-in, all-blues album that old school Clapton freaks have been moaning and groaning for ever since the guitarist gave his two weeks' notice to John Mayall in July 1966..."

Q (10/94, p.107) - 3 Stars - Good - "...The playing is impeccable and Clapton's voice...remains a thing of affecting simplicity..."

Down Beat (12/94, pp.48-49) - 4.5 Stars - Very Good Plus - "...His passion seems authentic, unrehearsed, and there's a sort of moral earnestness to his plea for romantic reconciliation...his struggle with loneliness...and his soul-wrenching rejection of sadness....Clapton's slide guitar explodes ...like the Second Coming of Elmore James..."