It was never acknowledged that Eric Clapton was the world’s most varied musician. Although he brought innovations to the rock genre that no one could have predicted with Cream, he leaned more on the blues customs of his upbringing. He was less inclined to challenge the pop stars of the day. Even though he was surrounded by Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters‘ music, Albert Lee captivated him. Clapton couldn’t stop watching him.
The blues would be the one style that best sums up Clapton’s style. Clapton found solace in figures like Johnson. It felt like hearing his musical language for the first time. Others focused on speed and skill in every song.
But by the time he picked up a guitar, “Slowhand” appeared to be emulating the bluesy troubadours who had come before him. The world may have burned after the British invasion. Who needs pop music when you have a burning desire inside of you that you can only express by banging out an intense amount of notes on your guitar?
This required emulating the aggressive ways of individuals such as Howlin’ Wolf, but Albert Lee was a somewhat different animal. He could still play the English clubs like a madman, but instead of following the blues tradition, he was more influenced by rockabilly. Often, he fused various country-tinged sounds when he performed.
Serving the song over showing off is more crucial for country musicians, and Lee was the epitome of tasteful guitar playing. Although he possessed incredible technical skills, he was a strategic player who chose his battles carefully. When a song called for a slide guitar, he would typically stick with it. Alternatively, he might try something new with his unique hybrid picking style.
“The only person I was conscious of – and in a way, it was because he was really serious – was Albert Lee,” Clapton said to Louder. For years, he claimed to be a devoted fan of Lee’s work. Chris Farlowe was playing with Albert. And because he was and still is a fan of the Everly Brothers, I found Albert to be a fascinating man.
Even though Clapton was undoubtedly aware of Lee’s abilities, he didn’t truly begin to sound like a fan of the country-rock legend. It wasn’t until the latter’s solo career that Clapton’s admiration became more apparent. The next step for “Slowhand,” who explored Americana through The Band, was to submit his rootsy rock songs. This required switching from Cream’s harsh “woman” tone to a clean Stratocaster sound.
It took him a few years, but Eric Clapton sounds like a seasoned pro. When he plays songs like “Lay Down Sally,” he effortlessly moves up and down the scales. He never worries about whether or not he is still hailed as a god. By the time he arrived at Unplugged, he had mastered it. He even managed to make bluesy songs like “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” sound like folk music. Every guitarist who is just starting has a burning passion to play that won’t fade away soon.
