Part III of III, Please read part I and part II.
Round 12: "Wonderful Tonight" (Slowhand album, 1977; written by Eric Clapton).
Now there is sanctification in the air as Clapton turns his Fender down to tender and warms over an old chestnut of his own composition.
Music is dialogue between souls and here the talk turns intimate. The song is so lovely it congests the throat with emotion. It also vaunts the lead-guitarist as much or more than the sum of his famous fingers — far more than the legendary "10."
The voice soft as buttermilk, the guitar as delicate as a seashell, Clapton performs the song as if he cherishes it. This is his most personal work of the evening, made all the more effective by its being slowed down from the album version. The song discloses its composer as a supreme stylist who holds within himself a genuine dignity.
Standout though he is, Captain Crossroads knows very well one of the chief reasons he can do his job this evening is the A-l band around him. Back in 1969 at the Toronto Peace Festival, Clapton once did a show with John Lennon, and the band's only rehearsal was on the airplane on the way to the gig.
That obviously isn't the case tonight. The band is well-rehearsed, to say the least. The rock 'n' roll conductor has chosen to people his stage with seven extremely talented if relatively unheralded musicians.
After a dozen songs of pleochroic moods and styles, the seven are introduced to the tune of Sly Stone's "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin." They include: Phil Palmer (second guitar); Nathan East (bass); Steve Ferrone (drums); Alan Clark and Greg Phillinganes (keyboards); and Tessa Niles and Katie Kassoon (back-up vocals).
Round 13: "Cocaine" (Slowhand album, 1977; written by J.J. Cale). After a lull in the action, however brief, Clapton knows it's time to re-energize the crowd. So the fine-carved talent goes back to work on the fine-carved wood with an acrimonious song from over a decade ago.
These days Clapton takes neither drink nor drugs, but in the early 70’s he spent three years as a drug addict. So he knows what he's singing about.
He also knows something about addiction's little brother, obsession. He has been so obsessed with the West Bromwich Albion football team he used to sign hotel registers as "W.B. Albion." He loves Ferraris so much, he once drove to Italy just to see one of his being built.
Article comments
1 - portnoy
Read about Clapton. What he was like to work with. How a stranger turned him onto a guitar and how Nigel Tufnel showed up.