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List Price: $11.98 | | Label: Polydor / Umgd
Salesrank: 4968
Released: August 20, 1996 |
| Our Price: $5.67 |
| Used Price: $2.98 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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461 Ocean Boulevard Track Listing:
1. Motherless Children
2. Give Me Strength
3. Willie And The Hand Jive
4. Get Ready
5. I Shot The Sheriff
6. I Can't Hold Out
7. Please Be With Me
8. Let It Grow
9. Steady Rollin' Man
10. Mainline Florida
Editorial Review:
Eric Clapton Merchandise
Description of 461 Ocean Boulevard:
The 1974 album on which Clapton's solo career truly caught fire, 461 Ocean Boulevard is best remembered for its hit version of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff"--perhaps the first time many in America ever heard the rhythms of reggae music. But it's also an album on which emotions run high, especially on two Clapton originals, the prayerful "Give Me Strength" and the pleading "Let It Grow." Clapton maintains his grounding in the blues with versions of Robert Johnson's "Steady Rollin' Man" and Elmore James's "I Can't Hold Out"; revisits a rock & roll classic in Johnny Otis's "Willie and the Hand Jive"; and turns the standard "Motherless Children" into a showcase of snarling guitars. Following a period of dark reclusiveness, 461 Ocean Boulevard was a powerful comeback for Clapton. --Daniel Durchholz
461 Ocean Boulevard Reviews:
Steady Rollin' Clapton 
2008-09-17 - I thought Clapton's work during the '70s couldn't get any better than Derek and the Dominoes, but I was wrong. 461 Ocean Blvd. is a great mix of traditional blues like Robert Johnson's "Steady Rollin' Man" and the opening track, "Motherless Children" is a beautiful collage of distorted blues guitars(George Terry with Clapton). "Motherless Children" should be played on classic rock stations alot more than it is.
The album also features Clapton's hits like "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Let It Grow" but it dips into unknown funky tracks like "Get Ready" and "I Can't Hold Out". It's acoustic leanings on "Give Me Strength" and "Please Be With Me" are great to listen to because you get to hear Clapton alone on guitar, probably where his blues roots began.
What a comeback!
2008-04-22 - One of Eric's best recordings. Should be listened to in a hammock under the warm sun with a good beer in one's hand. Great guitar playing mixed with a laid back, mellow feel in the groove. Terrific stuff.
clapton's studio album
2008-03-30 - You remember back in the 70's when it seemed like side one of a record always contained the most memorable songs? Well in this case it's the second side that has the best songs, specifically the final three- the emotionally brilliant "Let it Grow" with its ending you don't want to EVER end, the funky and bluesy "Steady Rollin' Man", and the poppy goodness that is "Mainline Florida". People can take their "I Shot the Sheriff" but it's NOT the best song on the album. Remember- hit songs don't equal best songs. Never has and never will.
batcall
2007-09-12 - He was thought to be washed up and gone before this LP. Some friends got together and encouraged him to put this out. You can see why he was called the guitar god. Can't be beat.
"Get Ready" 5 stars with the bonus tracks and 4 on the original
2007-08-25 - As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.
"461 Ocean Boulevard" Clapton's 1974 album on so many levels is important not only for deserving its rightly place in your CD collection but for the myriad of reasons.
What makes this particular release fascinating is the incredible diversity of those that have purchased this either as an 8-Track tape, cassette, LP, and or CD. There are those that are the Clapton collector. Searching for every note they seek any product to get their fill. Others that are into the Mayall/Yardbirds/Cream/Blind Faith/ and Derek & The Dominos with such passion that they are leery to venture into solo material with few exceptions and finally those that don't know his legacy but pick up music as they hear it on the radio. The one road that brings them all together is "461 Ocean Boulevard." Although the songs aren't structured for those that clamor for the guitar hero, they are strong enough that this record and the self-titled Eric Clapton are represented.
"Motherless Children" may be listed as a traditional song but the first time the slide was put to the six string Clapton took possession. The vocals and the instrumentation create a natural sound that engulfs your ears from the first listen. "Give Me Strength" slows the tempo a bit and has blues stamped all over. Interestingly enough is Eric penned this song. It could pass for a cover but this is Clapton 74. "Willie And The Hand Jive" saw excessive airplay on the Album Rock and progressive stations after the record hit the shelves. With the mix of reggae and funk there is something magical the way Clapton took on something out of the realm and made it such a terrific creation. "Get Ready" which Clapton wrote with Yvonne Elliman solidifies how his ego was in check here. These were not hired hands but a band to him. Elliman and Marcy Levy offered strong vocals to the mix, Jamie Oldaker picks his spots well as a drummer, Carl Radle's bass-lines are respected through the continents, Dick Sims may not be known to the masses but he is no stranger to the professional, and George Terry was not specifically second guitarist. During the years with Clapton in the live setting he was allowed to take a few solos and not be relegated to all rhythm all the time. Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff" not only is one of the most impressive covers of the period but opened the door a crack for those to explore the music of the Whalers, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, etc. "I Can't Hold Out" is sometimes criticized for being too laid back as Eric puts the blues to work. "Please Be With Me" mixes a folk and Gospel approach. "Let It Grow" is majestic in its splendor. A timeless tune that will never age. "Steady Rollin' Man" gives us a dose of the blues in upbeat fashion. The finale is a perfect choice. "Mainline Florida" has the memorable riff and the exact energy to be four minutes without a single flaw.
If you want a very good record to become excellent in the blink of an eye, all you do is pick up the remastered version with 26 songs and 2 CD's! Combining session out-takes with live material the end result more than doubles the original LP. If you want a treasure check out Clapton's live version of "Smile." Think Sinatra meets Slowhand!
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
