Eric Clapton - From The Cradle : Yea or Nay?

Jbird

Jbird

Kick Henry Jackassowski
So is this a great album, or just another guitarist jumping on the blues bandwagon and not quite pulling it off?

I was just listening to it yesterday on the way, and home from, work. While I like the album, I think Clapton's singing in spots isn't quite there for that type of music.

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That's a great album. When he put that album out, It's 20 years old this year, there weren't that many folks doing roots style blues.
It stands on its own as a great album, blues or otherwise.
 
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Put me down as a 'not sure' :shrug:

Like most late (ie. post-Cream) Clapton stuff, in the right mood I can really enjoy it. Other times it sends me to sleep.
 
It's the best album Clapton did since Layla, and he hasn't done one that matches up since. I agree with B Valley that it was unusual at the time and many have jumped on the bandwagon since. And yes, there's also a case to be made that he didn't quite get there. But I would never have gotten to Mississippi Fred McDowell, Howlin' Wolf, or Mississippi John Hurt without it.
 
Packerbacker said:
I love it. If I remember correctly, weren't most if not all of the tunes done in one take? I like that
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I did not know that. So, I had to check it out.

From wikipedia: This is a live recording with no overdubs or edits except for dobro overdub on 'How Long Blues' and drum overdub on 'Motherless Child'.

I have this somewhere, too. I enjoy it.
 
I agree with Howie that it was his best album since Layla. Even if it was covers, he was at his most raw, fiery, and un-laid-back in a loooooooooong time on that one.

Clapton himself will say that he's not the best singer in the world, although for some of his more poppy stuff, it works.

And I will never think Clapton jumped on the blues "bandwagon", as since he was a young'un he was knee-deep in it :).
 
CBHScott said:
I agree with Howie that it was his best album since Layla. Even if it was covers, he was at his most raw, fiery, and un-laid-back in a loooooooooong time on that one.

Clapton himself will say that he's not the best singer in the world, although for some of his more poppy stuff, it works.

And I will never think Clapton jumped on the blues "bandwagon", as since he was a young'un he was knee-deep in it :).
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I think it's more that others bandwagoned because of that album. I don't consider him a bandwagoner, I just don't particularly like the albums that one prompted.
 
I've never been fond of that album because of the note-for-note version of "Tore Down". He plays really well, I think his singing is kind of a "put on" blues voice but its not a favorite of mine.
 
I like it but I have my reservations.

When I first bought the Clapton disc I really liked it as it was blues that I could relate to. As I became a more blues connoisseur, "From The Cradle" has been put on the backburner for me. I do listen to it when a blue moon comes out. It is always good to hear modern versions of classic tunes.
 
I haven't heard that album in 10 or 15 years, but I loved it when it came out. I was just starting guitar then, and it was a great primer of a lot of artists and styles. There's some hot playing on it (it took me years to realize the flash guitar solo thing happens in 2nd generation white blues a lot more than with the original black players) and the loose, first-take production is really great. The slightly off mike "no more" in "Third Degree" is a moment of genuineness that still sticks with me.
 
I love it and think it's a great album. As folks have touched on, Clapton has a particular reverence for the blues and may have played this album a little too straight. He used the same equipment as the original artist (or the one that exposed him to the tune) for each song and tried to do the same with his vocal tonality. Killer band and great old school production.

That said, I prefer when he puts more of his own stamp on things. Even that, however, doesn't always work for me...as exemplified by his past few solo albums. The Cale tribute is quite good though.
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
It's the best album Clapton did since Layla, and he hasn't done one that matches up since. I agree with B Valley that it was unusual at the time and many have jumped on the bandwagon since. And yes, there's also a case to be made that he didn't quite get there. But I would never have gotten to Mississippi Fred McDowell, Howlin' Wolf, or Mississippi John Hurt without it.
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I owe a great deal of gratitude to guys like Clapton, John Mayall, Johnny Winter, (the list goes on) who introduced these names to me. A lot of us wouldn't have heard them otherwise.

CBHScott said:
.... And I will never think Clapton jumped on the blues "bandwagon", as since he was a young'un he was knee-deep in it :).
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He's responsible for bringing blues to white audiences 50 years ago.

I like "From The Cradle" and the Robert Johnson tribute disc enough. But at the end of the day, I'd rather listen Freddie King, Robert Johnson, et al.
 
I've liked it since it came out but I've always felt that it was a bit contrived. Maybe it's the switching of the vocal style that several have mentioned. Never could put my finger on it.
 
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