[Slowhand] Re: Popularity and other Issues

[DeltaNick]

>> There's been much discussion lately about ticket sales reflecting a 

>> decline in Clapton's popularity and somehow equating that with the 

>> quality of his music. <<




Record sales are merely a reflection of popularity, not necessarily a 
reflection of the quality of the music contained therein. I added lackluster 
sales, for "Back Home," to a list of other items in yesterday's e-mail. I do 
believe that in the aggregate, the list supports the notion that Clapton's 
popularity seems to be in decline in recent years. The record sales remark 
is merely but one possible indicator of this trend, also mentioned by John 
Whitney. Also, in 2004, he failed to fill all seats during his US tour. Does 
this also indicate declining popularity among his hardcore fans? Maybe, 
maybe not.




>> I will say that DeltaNick has presented his case in great detail, very 

>> technical guitar playing detail. It may be that the disappointed fans are 

>> more into the technical aspect of guitar playing and the satisfied fans 

>> are more into emotional nature of music in general. <<




Actually, in an attempt not to bore the non-musicians, I merely jotted down 
a comparison of a few characteristics of EC's guitar playing today vs. 
yesterday. Those of us who are disappointed in Clapton's recent guitar 
playing are primarily -- and overwhelmingly -- concerned with the emotional 
nature of Clapton's music and guitar playing, the architecture of his solos, 
and not the technical aspects of his guitar playing (although this is also 
an interesting subject). However, writing that a particular solo is great or 
that I like it goes only so far in keeping the reader's attention. 
Describing the pleasure one gets from a really great Clapton guitar solo 
often involves a creative energy that few of us have. And if you or I 
possess it, maybe we're wasting our time here, and should be writing 
professionally instead. Not only are we Slowhand Digest subscribers amateur 
(or semi-pro) musicians, we're also amateur writers.



I saw EC on his 1998, 2001, and 2004 tours in Washington, DC. The last one 
was an enjoyable show, and EC did play some pretty decent guitar. I don't 
regret attending the show at all. However, although it was better than the 
1998 and 2001 shows, I don't think it was his finest playing. It was my 
distinct impression that during all three of the shows I just mentioned, 
Clapton held back, especially when it came to guitar. His singing was good; 
his guitar playing was good. But I believe that Clapton is capable of so 
much more than I've heard on all recent official AND bootleg recordings. In 
my opinion, his guitar playing just doesn't compare to the Nothing But The 
Blues period in the early-mid '90s, nor does it compare -- to a much greater 
extent -- to his cutting edge, groundbreaking playing during the 
Yardbirds-Mayall-Cream-Blind Faith period.



Bottom Line: I'm not trying to be a downer, but I call 'em as I see 'em. 
When your favorite team loses, you can't keep pretending that they won.



                                                                             
  DeltaNick