Customer Reviews

From the Cradle

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Eric Clapton has built a career around the blues-from John Mayall to Cream, Derek and the Dominos to his solo career. His guitar playing has always been influenced by the blues. But he has recently turned into a pop-rock musician, ignoring his roots and influences. Here, on From the Cradle, Clapton finally does a full-tilt blues rock album with 16 legendary blues tunes. The result is that we are introduced again to the Eric Clapton we hadn't seen in a long time (and will continue to miss later)-scorching blues guitar, gritty and desperate vocals, and blues staples. The first track, "Blues Before Sunrise," is an all-out gritty rocker, and "Third Degree," is a slower paced gem. This is far from mainstream, but Clapton has a lot of fans who would rather he not be. Don't accuse him of not being original-he's not trying to be. Another great fact is that all tracks were recorded live in studio. He is simply getting back to his roots, back to the reason he went into music in the first place.

This long anticipated CD, for me, was disappointing. It should have been the next best thing to a live concert recording (live studio recording with no mixing) but, in fact, Eric is really not himself here. He plays superbly, of course. Even Eric can't ruin Eric's amazing skills; however, there are no thrills here and no surprises in the arrangements. It all seems slightly tepid and forced. His voice sounds VERY forced and almost embarrassing - he does not come across as the soulful black bluesmen he seems to be trying to emulate. I don't hate this CD, and, I don't love it either. EC did better blues before this album and definitely after this album - but - this IS an ALL BLUES offering by CLAPTON. It's great to have Chris Stainton back on keyboards and Jerry Portnoy's harmonica is stunning. If you're an EC fan (and you probably are if you're reading these reviews) then you should have this CD. It's a great comparison to before and after (he's recorded all these songs before) and your Clapton Collection would not be complete without it. DI

I have been reading some of the reviews on this album. Many think its a white and black thing. They think that Clapton becaue he is white has not paid his dues.
I dont know about you but lately (for the last 20 years at least) Clapton has been seen onstage with BB King, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, and even appeared with Freddie King on an album before his death.
Eric Clapton has been accepted by those artists who are recognized as some of the finest blues players ever.
I dont want to hear any garbage about Clapton being a white boy and now paying his dues. Ok enough said about that, lets talk about the album.
From the Cradle to the Grave is Clapton going back to his roots,
He is doing songs that influenced him.
Some of the best blues you will ever hear including, Blues before Sunrise, Third Degree, Hoochie Coochie man, by the way add Muddy Waters to the list, Clapton toured with him at one time.
Five Long Years, I'm Tore Down, Sinner's Prayer (which is the hightlight on this album to me, its Clapton at his very best).
It Hurts me Too, an acoustic version of Driftin, and Finally Groanin the Blues.
This could possibly be the best blues album that Clapton has ever recorded. This album should be in the hall of fame of blues albums, no matter what color the artist is.....I rest my case.

I have to recommend this cd to ANYONE that is interested in listening to the blues and some RAW emotion displayed through music. This cd was one of the first that I ever listened to by Mr. Clapton along with TIME PIECES and UNPLUGGED. I thrived off of them. I wanted to learn more and branched off to other genres of blues and jazz performed by artists such as BB KING and JELLY ROLL MORTON. This artist not only kept my interest alive but inspired me to LEARN about the culture of this type of music as well as enjoy it. I saw Mr. Clapton in concert tonight for the first time, and if you think this man does not know how to include SOUL, RYTHM, or BLUES into his music, you have never seen him live. From the time they unrolled his oriental rug on the stage, to the second standing ovation he received, it had to have undoubtedly be one of the best concerts I have ever seen. If you are a fan of the blues, you are a fan of Eric Clapton!

I was given this album for my birthday back in 1994, right after "UnPlugged" inspired me to learn more about the guitar, and EC in particular. This recent purchase was a replacement for the old disc, which I had essentially played to death.

In the intervening years since I first cracked the case, I moved from being a teen to a university student and now a father and school teacher. I also moved, musically, from a piano player to a guitarist and by re-acquiring this album, I remembered how important it was to my development as a blues player and a listener.

Clapton's dedication to authentically reproducing the music that inspired him as a teen, and the thoroughness and focus he put into the process is what strikes me about this album as an adult. "From The Cradle" is a tour-de-force, a broad selection of electric blues that served as a great touchstone or launching point for exploration of the form and its history by neophytes like myself, back in 1994. From this album, I learned about Muddy, Freddy, Buddy, Elmore and the rest ... it's essentially a great modern gateway to the electric blues of days gone by.

As a guitar player, too, this thing is a beast of a feast. Clapton deployed many of the vintage guitars and amplifiers in his since depleted collection to recreate the sounds of his heroes, and this fact alone makes "From the Cradle" compelling listening.

Musically, this is Slowhand at his best for me. His slide work on both "Blues Before Sunrise," and "It Hurts Me Too" is fiery, succinct and tonally perfect. His speed and dexterity on "Groaning the Blues," "Five Long Years" and "Someday Baby" bring together the passion and calculation of his Cream days, but are executed with the refinement of a master at his focused, lucid peak. I also agree with Rolling Stone magazine's assessment of the time which held Clapton's singing as the real revelation on this album. For the first time, the man sounded like he had finally grown into his voice.

Clapton's band on "From the Cradle" are tight, rolling and recorded with enough space in the studio to allow their sound to breathe. Additional horn sections sound awesome, and are at their tighest on "I'm Tore Down." From top to bottom, Clapton ensures that this album is one that will stand the test of time. It's execution, humility, attention to detail and pinpoint focus rank it as one of the best blues compilations of all time.

This is, hands down, Clapton's best guitar playing. It's all there. The phrasing is immaculate and tasteful. In terms of timing he's playing ahead of the beat, behind it, and everywhere around it. This is a development in his technique. Overall, he just sounds like he's on the blues war path. He had just quit smoking which could explain the burst of energy. Otis Rush claims this is one of the top ten all time blues guitar albums. The only thing holding this album back is that it's all covers. This is a minor criticism to an otherwise masterpiece of guitar work by "God."

From the Cradle represents some of Clapton's best work. Now he has a lot of great work (for me, mostly blues) over a very long period of time. Some people want to hear just the originals, and that's OK, but to hint at a complaint of covering the blues is to not understand the blues. I am a blues fan and a player of the blues. I love the blues. Yes, I have the originals too, and I can get into them for review. However, the blues (and I think most music) is to be interpreted, not copied. And here, as well in later works, Eric is interpreting the blues. As a player, I don't necessarily play with a bunch of guys to copy a song. We kind of change it around to fit our own styles and sound. I definitely think it is better to listen to, and a whole lot more fun to play. If we didn't have interpretation of music by your local bands, we wouldn't have many local bands, and to me quite honestly it is difficult to pay much attention to your average local band if there are too many originals, unless of course their originals are really exceptional. Which brings us right back to this album. This is a great interpretation, and Eric went on to keep releasing blues albums that keep sounding great. I find his interpretations inspiring, and make me want to pick up a guitar or bass and jam along with Eric, having a really good time. And that's what music is all about. Right?

To have this album released was a big relief for Clapton fans, after the garbage the former guitar god had been putting out for more than 10 years. It was about time the man who had got to wear Armani (Very weird for a so called blues lover) would release an all blues cd, and he sure got it right.

I must confess I have not heard all the songs by their original composers, but the versions included here are stunning. The decision of recording the songs with no overdubs was a wise one. The music sounds fresh and strong. The playing is flawless and the esence of the blues comes across in every note.

Kinda hard to point out highlights since they all are, but my personal faves would be Third Degree, How Long, Blues Leave Me Alone, Sinner's Prayer, Motherless Child and It Hurts Me Too.

3.5 stars not 3. If you want to hear Clapton play blues and be innovative listen to John Mayalls Bluesbreakers from 1965 with the Beano cover - sure it's old and Mayalls vocals suck - but THAT is the album that made Eric Clapton. Not this one! All through Blues Breakers, Cream, Blind Faith, and the Dominoes (and even evident on some of his live 70's blues) Clapton broke new ground. He played with power, finesse, style, and had a guitar vocabulary that was seemingly endless. Then something happened. These days you hear the same tired riffs over and over. He not innovative anymore. Oh he does some nice things on this disk but you start hearing patterns played in repetition. Either his guitar vocabulary is decreasing or he's simply not pushing his limits anymore and probably doesn't care. Play the Bluesbreakers disk then play this one. Play the Dominoes disk then play this one. This has intensity (like his Don't Think Twice from that live Dylan show) but it is a regurgitation of his modern day licks for the most part. Fascinating listening - but my "Thrill is Gone" concerning Clapton. Check it out.

E'C's love off the blues is obvious. And his willingness to "tribute" the originators is commendable. But these "faithful" renditions do not offer anything new aside from modern production. What is most troubling is that middle american "white" folks are treating this as though it's a work of genius. Does E.C. make blues "safe for white people?" It's a sad commentary on Clapton's audience. If you go to the source(s) you will discover that there is no substitute for the real thing. E.C. has no soul. His versions are stiff, stuffy and tight sphincter by comparison. If you must have your blues served up by a white guy. Try Robben Ford, Ronnie Earl or Paul Rishell. Or better yet, If you like the old classics go to the originals. E.C. is a bore.