Eric Clapton - Slowhand

After the guest-star-drenched No Reason to Cry failed to make much of an impact commercially, Eric Clapton returned to using his own band for Slowhand. The difference is substantial -- where No Reason to Cry struggled hard to find the right tone, Slowhand opens with the relaxed, bluesy shuffle of J.J. Cale's "Cocaine" and sustains it throughout the course of the album. Alternating between straight blues ("Mean Old Frisco"), country ("Lay Down Sally"), mainstream rock ("Cocaine," "The Core"), and pop ("Wonderful Tonight"), Slowhand doesn't sound schizophrenic because of the band's grasp of the material. This is laid-back virtuosity -- although Clapton and his band are never flashy, their playing is masterful and assured. That assurance and the album's eclectic material make Slowhand rank with 461 Ocean Boulevard as Eric Clapton's best albums. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andy Seymour Photography Bill Levenson Producer Bob Ludwig Mastering Carl Radle Guitar (Bass), Bass Daniel Stewart Art Direction, Design David Stewart Art Direction, Design Dick Sims Keyboards Eric Clapton Editing, Vocals, Main Performer, Design, Guitar, Producer George Terry Guitar Glyn Johns Surround Sound, Producer Jamie Oldaker Drums, Percussion Joseph M. Palmaccio Digital Remastering Marcy Levy Vocals Mel Collins Horn, Saxophone Michael Etchart Producer Monique McGuffin Production Coordination Patti Clapton Editing, Design Paul Bishow Producer Watalu Asanuma Cover Photo, Photography Yvonne Elliman Vocals