Slowhand: 35th Anniversary (Super Deluxe Edition Box Set) [3 CD + DVD + LP] [Deluxe Edition, Box set, CD+DVD, DVD Audio, Original recording remastered]

Clapton had already established himself as a guitar legend by the time he released Slowhand. His heroin habit long behind him, Clapton's songwriting mastery was fully evident on the album, particularly in the stunning ballad "Wonderful Tonight". It fully actualised all of the potential hinted at in his earlier "Promises", and Clapton trusted himself enough to slow things down. Some of his most expressive guitar work can be found throughout this album, not just within "Wonderful". Ironically enough, Slowhand is probably best known for the hit "Cocaine"--built upon a simple repeated riff, the song had Clapton's trademark smooth voice with its wear around the edges, and yet another stellar guitar solo. Flashy runs and licks were never the most integral part of Clapton's catalogue, his blues background being the primary source for his sound. Slowhand, with its phrasings, both guitar and vocal, established Clapton as the possessor of one of the most extensive vocabularies in rock. --Steve Gdula

Disc 1: Slowhand Remastered & Expanded
Disc 2: Slowhand Hi-Res Stereo & 5.1 Surround Sound DVD (Audio Only)
Disc 3: Live At Hammersmith Odeon, April 27, 1977
Disc 4: Live At Hammersmith Odeon, April 27, 1977 Continued
Disc 5: Slowhand Vinyl LP

Slowhand was recorded at Olympic Studios in South West London in May 1977 and was produced by Glyn Johns. Released in November 1977, Slowhand was the most successful album of Clapton's 70s studio recordings. It reached number 2 on the Billboard chart, where it stayed for five weeks, spending a total of seventy-four weeks on the American album chart.

Slowhand features "Wonderful Tonight," "Lay Down Sally" and "Cocaine" songs that are still heard regularly on radio and at Eric Clapton's live shows. So long after it's release is a great recommendation and testimony to its place in Clapton's canon. The album includes cover versions of songs written by some of his favorite songwriters (JJ Cale, John Martyn, Don Williams, Arthur Crudup) along with original compositions by Eric Clapton.

Both the Super Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Edition feature four Slowhand session outtakes (three of them previously unreleased) "Looking At The Rain," "Alberta," "Greyhound Bus" and "Stars, Strays And Ashtrays."

A week before the Slowhand sessions commenced, the band performed at London's Hammersmith Odeon. The Super Deluxe Edition captures the complete 14 track Hammersmith Odeon, April 27, 1977 concert on two CDs, while the Deluxe Edition features 9 tracks from the Hammersmith Odeon concert. Songs featured at the Hammersmith Odeon show include "Tell The Truth," "Knocking On Heaven's Door," "Can't Find My Way Home," "Stormy Monday," "Badge," "I Shot The Sheriff" and "Layla."