1987 BBC Documentary on Eric Clapton Argueably the best doco ever made about one of the best guitarists of all time. I do not own the rights to any of the content herein, just thought a decent copy should be up here for all to enjoy
It's always sad to read the negative crap on these pages about how Clapton and other blues artists ripped off the old black guys. Truth is the new guys actually resurected the careers of the old guys and allowed them to be respected in the country that mostly ignored them.
+Tony Wilkes + ALL the Black Guitar Kings Including BB King are WELL Respecting Claptons Music and all those dumb People who discredit him Have NO Idea about it . I sAY Clapton is a Phantastic Musician ,Who was inspired by all these Blues Masters , Now He is one of Them ! I Also love his more Simple Songs when im driving with my Wife , because his Singing is also very cool in a special way . Eric Clapton , ThankYou for The Music !!
+Tony Wilkes I agree with you. I only discovered Robert Johnson after listening to fresh cream. Also, saw and interview with BB King about when he was watching TV and Clapton told an interviewer that the muswician that he would most like to perform with was BB. BB said he was floored. This led to their Riding with the King project--one of my favorite albums!
This absolutely true and well stated. Clapton frequently honored his heroes such as when he helped to record and play on the record "Howling Wolf, The London Sessions."
It is, in fact, extremely racist to presume that only someone of a certain skin color can legitimately play ANY type of music. LOTS of times these days the most racist people are those calling everyone else racist.
I forgot to add thank you for sharing my first experience was Cream went backwards to John Mayhall and the Blues Breakers. I started at 8 years old and so glad my older brother turned me on to REAL music.
Eric's life is filled with great lessons to learn and get inspirations from. So glad that I found his music early on and connected with it. Sure is my god!
I wish I could meet Eric Clapton - I'd tell him about the conversation with Charlie Daniels - we were in complete agreement - Mr Clapton is our favorite musician/singer/songwriter - I told Charlie - "He makes it look so easy " Charlie says "That's because it is - to him ! " We both had a good laugh and a strong bond - because of horses and Eric Clapton -
This is The South Bank Show, not BBC but was from ITV. I remember watching it when broadcast back in 1987 while I was in university. Recorded it on my Betamax video and watched it over and over!
I don't know if it's the best Clapton documentary ever made or not, but it's the best one I've seen! And I'm glad that it was made in 1987, since I happen to think that Eric's playing was at its peak between 1985-92. I mean, his best songs came earlier, but his best solo-playing was done during that, later period.
teppolundgren My Personal opinion is that Journeyman was where Clapton finally got truly sober. It is his best (save for Layla, which was love and Duane Allman inspired) album of his career. Lately I'm running on Faith, AA stuff all the way. So if that fits into your time period I am really sure that is the knife's blade of decision for him.
kirk johnwiggle I suppose you're right. He got sober during those years, yet, he also had years of drug and alcohol abuse behind him, so he had plenty of experience to draw on. Journeyman is probably his best 80's album, I agree, and that's why I love his 24 Nights live album, since that was sort of part of the tour he did for that album. I was at one of the Royal Albert Hall shows, by the way. And that's the best he's ever played, in my opinion.
That tone Clapton had in the 80's : slight buzz, just enough clarity to hear the middle pick ups....I like it better than the Fender tone he uses now....but in the end , it's all in his hands
i love this video..especially when they are playing the chorus of Take A Chance ....clapton always sheds his emotion and thoughts through all his obscure songs the most i think.
This video taught me much more about my favorite singer-musician-performer. I like his term "Musicologist" for the length or spans of time where he states he was absorbing ideas from other musicians around him. I think these times must have also helped him to hone in on his voice....it just gets better and better. Thank you for sharing this precious videos with the public....Eric is really a humble man and somewhat of a loner but in a healthy way......I feel free too. It may be an Aries thing? Peace.
A few vicious comments below knock Mr. Clapton for 'ripping off' the bluesmen and for somehow being unworthy of his stature. Despite my first album (in '65) being 'Five Live Yardbirds' and loving much of what he has done (notably Mayall, Cream, Delaney & Bonnie...) I'm no fan of Eric's playing. Still, as a musician his integrity is undeniable. And unlike, say, Led Zeppelin, Clapton always gave credit where it was due. I recall reading how royalties from Cream's version of 'I'm So Glad' were paying to keep composer Skip James's alive in hospital. Indeed, he has done so, so much to bring the blues to the fore and ensure its originators were recognised and rewarded. When Clapton does well, so do those who wrote and published the original versions of those blues tunes. Meanwhile, long after making Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and many others household names and even powering the concept of all the blues festivals that have arisen around the world - not to mention inspiring the likes of Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Mayer... - Eric Clapton still represents the blues a a musical art form worthy of the world's attention and respect. True, his own personal indulgences have distracted from and even overshadowed the reality. But as history has already confirmed, anyone who dares to criticise Eric Clapton on the basis of their own subjective perspective has obviously missed much of the story that has made him possibly the single most important player in the survival of the blues.
+Brett Morgan - I would agree, Brett. Though the Clapton-era Yardbirds were essentially a blues covers band, it wasn't until the 'John Mayall - Eric Clapton: Blues Breakers' album that Clapton really had the opportunity to bring the blues to the fore with such effectiveness that today, 50 years later, that album is still cited a one of the most influential of all. And though there are no Muddy Waters tunes on it (Freddy King scored there), it brought the blues to the forefront, setting up a scenario where not only Mayall, but Cream (2 ex-Mayall members), Fleetwood Mac (3 ex-Mayall members, Colosseum (3 ex-Mayall members) and others could base their careers on American blues. I suppose that in real terms the Stones, who name and several cover tunes came from Muddy Waters, did the most to ensure the man rise in popularity. Johnny Winter was also a big promoter of Muddy's (real name: McKinley Morganfield), producing his comeback albums in the 80s.
being there when Clapton was there goes a long way to understanding the influence he had on us, the change of direction he made to me it was all part of growing, without which there is stagnance
thanks for sharing this, watched this at the time it aired in the 80's in my very early teens, he's still the best for me hendrix, Richards, Page & other guitarists may have reached cult status in pop culture but no one plays like him
teppolundgren Maybe I shouldn't have used the word "emulate" :) Both players were world-class. Eric's playing was a tremendous influence on Gary, probably why Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker got him to play on their album. It's a pity that Gary wasn't alive to hear Eric cover his "Still got the blues" at the Albert Hall.
mojogoat Well, there's a subtle difference between "emulate" and "imitate". But who cares! Anyway, I didn't know Clapps played Still Got the Blues! I'll have to check that out, if there's a recording available somewhere.
For its time, this was a great documentary, and there are, even now, some gems in this video. I have since seen a number of other documentaries which are far more comprehensive, namely "Life in 12 Bars" and maybe "Standing at the Crossroads" would be a runner up. Nevertheless, this is definitely worth a watch.
I think the newer generations need introducing to his mudic to fully appreciate it. Todays music is so mechanical lacks the passion soul and humanness of this era.
I think Claptons grandmother says it all, I don't like wonderful tonight, but I think it's all about his ability to overcome what's expected of him. Who gives a shit what you are expected to do? Worried life blues, ha brilliant rendition, who can do it better?
I think wonderful tonight is probably much more appreciated by women than men. I really like it. It's really a lovely romantic song, without being sappy. It makes a sweet scene in just the right words. More for ladies to enjoy, I think
Today's button pushing so called "Musicians" have flooded the music business with pre fabricated computerized crap! Back in the day's of early Hendrix,Clapton Page,Gilmore they had to be so very good at what they did, then they had prove it nightly on there instrument's with pure innovated talent.Today you can rhyme street slang to a basic drum beat and people call it music! The art of arranging tones with a instument in an orderly sequence as to produce a unified and continuous composition are gone!
Clapton has NEVER missed a note. How many bar bands can say the same thing? The best rise to the top and he did that at about 18 years old and has stayed there ever since. Pretty moronic comment Mr. Senseless in the Tavern boy.
+Daniel Solano Word , and what´s with the First Song of this Album (Motherless Children) , is this Phantastic Slide Solo No Guitar Solo ? How i LIKE it when all the no name Guitar shred Amateurs , try to explain why Clapton is not good ...after a DREAM Carriere , with Cream , John Mayall , Yardbirds , Derek & the Dominoes (NO NO , to record a Brilliant Double Album with the Best Musicians @ that time which includes the MEGA Hit "Layla" etc. Does mean Nothing , JERK !) Later his Phantastic Live Concerts in the 70´s , The MTV MEGA Acoustic record ( ILOVE It) I Mean this Man had a Goddamm Dream Carriere and He is a Living Legend . OUT of Million Guitars i Can Hear his ABSOLUTE Unique Tone /style ..all these "little Amateur Bastards" , Just go and keep on Masturbating on your cheap Guitar skillz and trying to maximize your ego by disrespecting some good Musicians , yeah , thats "great" ;-),
Gee Eric, the dis of the Airplane was uncalled for. Not all rock music needs to be blues derived, and the Airplane listened to Fred Neil, and the Weavers not the Kingston Trio.
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