[Slowhand] RE: A Civil Debate 1&2

[Jason Lynch]

Well Nick, you've put a lot out there. Fortunately, when you have a job the 
consists of reading for the entire day, there is time to listen to music, 
which is what I have been doing all today, so that I might continue this 
discussion.


>

>First of all, I would list Eric Clapton's initial "great guitar" period as 

>1963-1970, possibly until 1971, when EC went into self-imposed hibernation 

>and heroin-induced stupor. I count nine years, if you include 1971, or 

>eight through 1970. This period includes Clapton's membership in the 

>Roosters, Casey Jones & The Engineers, the Yardbirds, John Mayall And The 

>Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton And The Powerhouse, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney 

>& Bonnie And Friends With Eric Clapton, Derek And The Dominoes, and even 

>his first solo album. In any case, this 8- or 9-year period is twice as 

>long with what I consider to be his second "great guitar" period of 

>approximately 4 years: late 1992 through early 1996.

>


I think we'll have to split the difference here. I went back and listened to 
some Yardbirds stuff. It had been awhile. I don't listen to it often 
because, wuite frankly, I think the songs are terrible. What I found was 
that his early Yardbirds playing is unspectacular. However, somewhere around 
his mid-point with the group, I think he figured it out, so I'd be willing 
to say his prime period started in 64-65, but I can't go back farther than 
that as the playing just doesn't impress me. Mind you, I wasn't alive when 
the recordings came out, so I can't accurately judge how important they may 
have been. However, there are plenty of Chess recordings that predate the 
early Yardbirds stuff that I find much better than Clapton's playing at that 
stage. I would also extend the second period to start in late 1989, with the 
Journeyman sessions.