This is a gritty raunchy guitar lovers song,but yeah Eric in the 70s had his issues with it.But yeah Eric is the 🎸 master!!! Yes he is always a little bluesy
Saw EC 2x...always hasd a second guitarist. Albert Lee...may be better. Only "guitar god" I've ever seen, and I've seen anout all of em except Beck (jimmy Page 5x), who had to have a 2nd guitarist. No soul.
@@JoeandAngie Eric Clapton spent about 16 thousand dollars a week on his heroin addiction back in the 1970s; he claims he couldn't quit heroin cold turkey, so he turned to cocaine and alcohol to keep him going. For a while, in the mid-70s, his guitar playing was shit, that's why he needed a second guitar player. When the man was sober, he was really good...one of the best.
This song will always be a banger!! Eric Clapton is the man. I love his version of “I Shot the Sheriff”. He is a big Bob Marley fan (and B.B. King) ☮️💟
This song was tongue in cheek about using cocaine. Clapton has been through rehab many times. He has founded a rehab center in Antigua in the West Indies called Crossroads Centre Antigua. Now, when he performs this song he calls it, "that dirty cocaine". He is my favorite guitar player. He has such a large catalog. My all-time favorite is The Core. Bell Bottom Blues ranks up there along with Breaking Point, Running On Faith, She's Waiting... I could go on and on, but, I'll let you take your time and discover how good he really is on your own. Oh, and I checked off one of my bucket list items by being able to see him sitting in the 5th row in concert, on his Birthday, for my Birthday, back on March 30 1997. Next to my daughter's birth, it was the Best experience of my life.
Congrats on accomplishing that bucket list item. What a wonderful memory and even more special that it was combined birthday event. What a coincidence. Loved that you listed it just under the birth of your daughter! Must have been a great night!!
I sadly have seen concert in the 70’s when he did disappoint, quite a lot I have always been an admirer. But this night he really let his Audience down.
J.J. Cale recorded and released Cocaine in 1976 from his album Troubadour. It spent one week at no.1 in New Zealand. Eric Clapton's version was released as a single in 1977 from his album Slowhand which is also Clapton's nickname. It peaked at no.3 in Canada. Clapton also covered two other Cale songs called After Midnight and Same Old Blues. Cale was a talented artist who was one of the originators of the Tulsa Sound, a mixed genre of blues, rockabilly, country and jazz. Cale was highly influential and many recording artists, including Clapton, called him "one of the most important artists in the history of rock".
So glad to see y'all getting deeper into Clapton. Go further... into his non mainstream. My music tastes are very eclectic. But if I had to choose only one artist for the rest of my life, whatever's left of it, I'd have to choose Eric. Couldn't live without his guitar. And his blues is staggering. But all his stuff has a vibe that's heartfelt, yet raw.
Eric Clapton is a great English rock & blues guitarist, singer & songwriter. He is considered one of the best guitarists in the world & has had a great career in music. He was with many great groups before going solo. The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & The Dominos. He has had a lot of solo hits such as "Layla", "I Shot The Sheriff", "Change The World", "My Father's Eyes", "Wonderful Tonight", "Lay Down Sally", "Tears In Heaven" etc.
@@davey3884 … I understand that, but I’m just basing my statement on the song title & not what the song is about. I, much like the song, am very anti-drugs myself & have always enjoyed listening to Eric’s music 👍😁👍
@@davey3884 I played this song this song all the time especially when I was throwing lines down. No one thought of it as an anti drug song. I mean really after working second shift and you’re ready to party cocaine.
Love this version better than the original.One thing you need to know about Eric is his fanatical love of the Blues above all other genre's.The only other artists whose obsession matches Claptons would be Keith Richards of Rolling Stones.
Adding a few more that haven't been added to the comments. Don't know how Leon Russell wasn't mentioned. Doesn't get more bluesy than that. The Allman Brothers, Long John Baldry, Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood, who at age 14 was playing piano in English clubs for touring famous black American blues artists. There are so many more. Clapton & Richards are hardly the only artists who were heavily influenced by the blues and that incorporated it into their music. :)
If I I'm not mistaken, it was the English musicians who took American blues music and incorporated it into their "early" rock music and then brought it to America. From what I understand there wasn't much crossover in genres back during that time of segregation, etc. The American blues artists were performing in England and hiring English musicians as their touring bands. So there are many English musicians/bands that are influenced by the blues. :)
Clapton did a few covers while solo, this one is written by JJ Cale and he wrote "After Midnight" too, absolutely love Clapton's spin on them!! Check out "I Shot the Sheriff" written by Bob Marley!! Then listen to Marley's original!! 👍🏽 Can't go wrong with Slowhand!! 🔥❤🥳
JJ Cale and Eric Clapton recorded an Album together as Clapton loved JJ Cale and recorded both Cocaine and After Midnight and had hits with both and both were written by Cale but the two had an Album they recorded together that had success among the Blues community in particular.
This is called Tulsa Blues, which was perfected by Tulsa's own JJ Cale. This song was put out by JJ Cale about 1975. JJ had that slightly behind the beat guitar playing style and his music is great! A whole raft of rock stars covered his music. Eric Clapton said there was only one other guitarist he would want to be, and that was JJ Cale! Eric says he can play this style of blues "until the cows come home!" You two just have to get into some authentic JJ Cale blues. There is literally nothing like it, though many, many have tried to copy him. JJ's "Naturally" album came out around 1972 and is a joy to hear to this day. Start off with "Call Me the Breeze" and then "Crazy Mama" and you will be nicely on your way! 🎸🎸🎸
Wife here..Wow..Legendary Classic Rock here!!!...About the Guitar BJ ...his nick name was "Slow Hand"..Clapton was Obsessed with the Blues as he was from England and didn't have the opportunity to hear it there...Great Reaction!!!
JJ Cale wrote it, along with After Midnight, Call Me the Breeze, some other hits for others. I always liked JJ's originals better than the covers, but the covers made him $$. Cocaine is off JJ's Troubadour album, around 75 or 76, if you have some free time the whole album is a really great listen, great intro to JJ. The radio station where I grew up used to play JJ's Cocaine quite often, I thought it was minor hit, but maybe just our station?
Story time: about a decade back me and some friends went to our local pool hall for some games, ended up at the table closest to the women's restroom. As per the usual, I found myself at the juke box picking some songs while the others set up, with this being the first song I pick. All of a sudden I hear my friends burst out in laughter. Unbeknownst to me there was a table across the room with 4 girls who had been taking turns going into the ladies room to do bumps off the counter. Was definitely the highlight of the night
Eric Clapton's love of music started with the Blues. Eric Clapton was the first lead guitarist in the Yardbirds. He is the guitarist on the Yardbirds first hit "For Your Love". The reason he left them was that he wanted to play the Blues Rock not Pop rock in July of 1965. Eric Clapton then played in a Group called John Mayall's & the Bluesbreakers. He left that group a year later to play in the group "Cream". By the way Rolling Stone Magazine has Eric Clapton as the #2 lead Rock Guitarist of their Top 100. With Jimmy Page at #3 and Jeff Beck at #5. The reason I added Jimmy and Jeff to this is because both had also been the lead Guitarist in the Yardbirds also.
Got to see Clapton, Phil Collins and Mark Knopfler in concert in Dallas back in the day! OMG. And yes he did play cocaine that night.! It was amazing with a trio like that. Thanks for reacting / reviewing this. Y''all be safe.
Sorry, I think Bob Seeger has one of the best voices. He has been referred to as the "The Voice" by many in the industry. Of course there are a couple others that have been tagged with that title through the years. Bruce Springsteen has stated "he is no Bob Seger". Of course, it's a matter of preference but I like my rock voices, deep and raspy! :)
All of Eric Clapton's music is fantastic he did a song called Pilgram for the Lethal Weapon 4 soundtrack and the way he played the guitar on that was unforgettable
After Midnight should be next ! Eric Clapton cut himself in a guitar store once, took them a week to get all the blues out of the rug :) .Keep rocking guys !
Absolutely ! Found a used cassette and fell in love with it. It was crucial to have albums with all good tracks back then, since it was so hard to skip bad songs on those tapes. “Old Love” has to be on my top ten list for sure.
JJ Cale and Leon Russell were both Oklahoma natives, and there is a lengthy video of them on youtube located here: (4901) JJ Cale & Leon Russell at the Paradise Studios, LA 1979 - RU-vid
Waylon Jennings- "Don't you think this outlaw bits done got outta hand" Johnny Paycheck- "The cocaine train" Hank Jr- "O'D in Denver" Waylon Jennings -" Lookin for a feelin" David Allen Coe- "Cocaine Carolina" are all great cocaine songs. pick any one and give it a listen.
🤔💭JJ Cale! (If you're ever in Oklahoma, Crazy Mama, Soulin, One step ahead of the blues, They call me the breeze, After midnight, Call the Doctor, Same old blues, and a lot more!) 👍
JJ Cale tune, also wrote 'Call Me the Breeze', which Lynyrd Skynyrd had a hot with. You should do both versions, Cale with a breezy laid back version and LS with a more free spirited version.
In 1986, there was an undercover cop at my suburban NJ high school. One morning, she arrested eighteen students with more than $100,000 of cocaine. There was a story in Newsweek (something about the real "21 Jump Street"). At our Prom, we had a DJ. I paid him $20 to pay this and "White Lines" by Grand Master Flash & Melle Mel. It was hysterical (and sad). God, I'm old.
Great, but how about a reaction to the guitarist that beat Clapton, Hendrix and Beck in 1972 for the title of International Guitarist of the Year (Melody Maker), the Irish wizard Rory Gallagher? I'd suggest "Do You Read Me?" from Rock Goes to College 1979 as a place to start with his amazing catalog.
I'm 66 years-old now. When I hear this song it takes me back to '77, and bikin' down to Daytona on a chopped-down '47 Knucklehead, Half stoned, carrying a straight-razor, a .45, and two thirty-eights named Shannon and Raven (talk about your black-magic women). You're only young once, and if you do it right... once (or several times) will still give "warm' thoughts" when there's "snow on the roof" and a little still left in your sinus cavity. Later kiddies.
Clapton is an ICON!! JJ Cale was a great writer. Clapton is on a planet by himself. Please give him the respect he deserves. He doesn't demand acknowledgment. He is what he he is!
listen to Derek and the Domino's " layla and other assorted love songs" you will find blues , great slide playing by the late Duane Allman ,there is even a Hendrix cover.
This song was never played on the radio station back home, but we heard it somewhere else. 1:03-at this part of the song my friend and I would take a quick sniff and say, “cocaine”. Oh, our mom’s almost wanted to whip our tails when we did that.
I have good & bad memories of those times. You can't get it back ! America was flooded with the stuff then. I am blessed to have stopped all those days & am alive. Thanks, I think.
This song is younger on cheek..it's gloryfing the ups of cocaine. Yet other lyrics tell the after effects of Coke. recorded in 70s..a very difficult time for Eric .. crippled by addiction..yet in your spare time catch any love performance of this song from year 2000 on up. He adds an answer back..when he say s Cocaine.. Cocaine...DIRTY Cocaine! Brilliant song.
J.J.Cale released the song in 1976 and Eric Clapton covered it just one year later. EC was addicted to heroin for many years I´m not sure if he still was when he did this.
Well, it was used recreationally but everyone knew it was illegal, and for good reason! Lots of people got thrown in jail for using and possessing it! People had to have their noses rebuilt, as it were, because it is like a sandblaster and will eat away the cartilage that separates one side of your nose from the other when you sniff it. Many people have died from cocaine overdoses, so everybody knew it would hurt you. Glenn Frey from the Eagles is rumoured to have had to have his nose rebuilt two times from abusing the stuff. So stay away from it. It ain't good for your health!!! 🤷♂😮👌
Clapton left nothing to the imagination referring to his love for Cocaine. He often wore a shirt during this period that said "No Blow, No Show". Even though he didn't write it, there's a reason he chose to play it, almost like a theme song.
@@jefflast9489 - so were the 80s and beyond.. there is always something to appreciate in every decade.. I know right now we have to look awfully hard, but its there! Never give up, peace and joy are still available!!! xo
You guys really should get to know Eric, the legend a lot better. Yeah, he throws in the blues sound in all of his music. He's been playing along side BB King for many years!!! You gotta see him playing live with the king. And there's others also, not just Clapton!
I heard a radio interview years ago where he said what he liked about the song was the fact that it is lyrically ambiguous. You cannot tell if it is a pro or anti drug song.
