fotno
03-20-2007, 12:31 AM
Eric Clapton
Journeyman
1989
Reprise/Duck Records
Blues/Rock/Clapton!
This review is as much a testament to the beauty and power of vinyl as a communicator of music, as it is to the talent that is Eric Clapton.
A little background; With a lot of help from some good friends, and a little luck along the way, I've been able to assemble a system that I can't imagine ever being unhappy with. With Yamaha power, a decent CDP, Pioneer TT, and hopped-up AR-3 speakers, I'm pretty dad-gummed content people. So happy in fact that I've stopped paying much attention to the gear, and I just listen to music. Which was what I was doing while digging through my pile of records, putting the freshly cleaned goodun's in new slips, and poly jackets.
That's when I found something I had forgotten I owned. A mint, never played copy of Eric Clapton's "Journeyman", complete with unslit shrinkwrap and new vinyl smell! I bought this album in 1989, the week it came out, and promptly forgot about it for nearly 20 years. In the meantime, I bought a CD copy of it, and have been happily listening to it (frequently) the entire while that this pristine piece of vinyl was waiting for the "right" time to come to light. Turns out the right time was when Oz's bequeathed PL-115d had just started breaking in a new Grado Green!
I have never heard this album. I've heard a pale digital imitations, and "compressed for radio" edits, but until tonight, I had never actually heard this record. This is some good music.
Side - 1
Pretending - Comes alive on vinyl, leaps out of the grooves and dances in the middle of the room. What I had always thought of as one of the weakest and flattest song on the record, suddenly strengthens and becomes vibrant.
Anything For Your Love - A sweet song becomes even sweeter, richer, pledging itself to its intended. Honestly, and truthfully pulling the listener along for the ride.
Bad Love - In the digital realm this song rails against an invisible enemy, never seeming to make contact with its foe. It's impotent in its anger. On vinyl, Clapton draws blood... Scores hits to the vital organs in the choruses, and then in the bridge, hurls his six hard-won strings like greek fire.
Running on Faith - This Grado Green truly shows this tune to be the Gospel song it had always hinted it was. Every detail (so many of them lost digitally), is revealed in all their glory and pain. Leaden dirge-like drums, late-night bass guitar, and world-weary slide weave in and out, like some punch drunk fighter "give out" from it all. The wonderful Washington Temple Concert Choir (practically invisible on CD) put the final polish on, and it's all glorious at 33-1/3!
Hard Times - Knowing more of Clapton's hard times than I actually care to, makes this song all the more real to me. Some of his best, most "in the pocket" solo playing ever is featured in this tidy little song. There's not a wasted note, and special mention has to go to the sick, greasy (that's complimentary I assure you) horn section.
Hound Dog - Fun song, rave up, nothin' more... Some nice guitar work from Robert Cray.
Side - 2
No Alibis - Pleading for honesty never got more radio friendly! Good little tune, not the best this album has to offer, but still a good song. Recognized Darryl Hall's voice immediately, and I'd never picked that out before tonight. I was so convinced it was him I had to drag the liner notes out to prove myself right. Yeah vinyl!
Run so Far - I really like this song, if for no other reason than it is so un-Clapton like. It has George Harrison's fingerprints all over it, as well it should, as he sings and plays on it. It's not "While my Guitar Gently Weeps" but it is a fun romp between old friends, friends who've shared a bit more than most old pals... Ahem...
Old Love - Great Clapton blues piece. It screams Clapton actually. The changes are classic Slowhand, and as I listened to him break the chorus back down into the verse, I realized that this song could just as easily be thirty years old instead of the twenty it actually is. Little Robert Cray touch here too, in the empathetic guitar duel that ends the song.
Breaking Point - My least favorite song on Journeyman (CD or vinyl). It's just too 80's for me, and not good 80's either. Too much piccolo snare, too much synth, too compressed... Too Miami Vice!
Lead Me On - Lyrically heart-rending, and purposefully a musical dreamscape. A heart broken man, begging, pleading, and generally making a damn fool of himself. But hey, who hasn't? If you're one of the lucky ones, keep it to yourself.
Before You Accuse Me - The only "real" 12 bar piece on the album, making for a nice closer to side 2. Very traditional with beautiful blues voicing and powerful (but subtle) guitar work. Once again proving that some of them englishmen sho'nuf can play blues music. Of course, Robert Cray's in there doing his part too.
All in all a good album, made all the better for being finally, properly heard.
Happy listening!
Journeyman
1989
Reprise/Duck Records
Blues/Rock/Clapton!
This review is as much a testament to the beauty and power of vinyl as a communicator of music, as it is to the talent that is Eric Clapton.
A little background; With a lot of help from some good friends, and a little luck along the way, I've been able to assemble a system that I can't imagine ever being unhappy with. With Yamaha power, a decent CDP, Pioneer TT, and hopped-up AR-3 speakers, I'm pretty dad-gummed content people. So happy in fact that I've stopped paying much attention to the gear, and I just listen to music. Which was what I was doing while digging through my pile of records, putting the freshly cleaned goodun's in new slips, and poly jackets.
That's when I found something I had forgotten I owned. A mint, never played copy of Eric Clapton's "Journeyman", complete with unslit shrinkwrap and new vinyl smell! I bought this album in 1989, the week it came out, and promptly forgot about it for nearly 20 years. In the meantime, I bought a CD copy of it, and have been happily listening to it (frequently) the entire while that this pristine piece of vinyl was waiting for the "right" time to come to light. Turns out the right time was when Oz's bequeathed PL-115d had just started breaking in a new Grado Green!
I have never heard this album. I've heard a pale digital imitations, and "compressed for radio" edits, but until tonight, I had never actually heard this record. This is some good music.
Side - 1
Pretending - Comes alive on vinyl, leaps out of the grooves and dances in the middle of the room. What I had always thought of as one of the weakest and flattest song on the record, suddenly strengthens and becomes vibrant.
Anything For Your Love - A sweet song becomes even sweeter, richer, pledging itself to its intended. Honestly, and truthfully pulling the listener along for the ride.
Bad Love - In the digital realm this song rails against an invisible enemy, never seeming to make contact with its foe. It's impotent in its anger. On vinyl, Clapton draws blood... Scores hits to the vital organs in the choruses, and then in the bridge, hurls his six hard-won strings like greek fire.
Running on Faith - This Grado Green truly shows this tune to be the Gospel song it had always hinted it was. Every detail (so many of them lost digitally), is revealed in all their glory and pain. Leaden dirge-like drums, late-night bass guitar, and world-weary slide weave in and out, like some punch drunk fighter "give out" from it all. The wonderful Washington Temple Concert Choir (practically invisible on CD) put the final polish on, and it's all glorious at 33-1/3!
Hard Times - Knowing more of Clapton's hard times than I actually care to, makes this song all the more real to me. Some of his best, most "in the pocket" solo playing ever is featured in this tidy little song. There's not a wasted note, and special mention has to go to the sick, greasy (that's complimentary I assure you) horn section.
Hound Dog - Fun song, rave up, nothin' more... Some nice guitar work from Robert Cray.
Side - 2
No Alibis - Pleading for honesty never got more radio friendly! Good little tune, not the best this album has to offer, but still a good song. Recognized Darryl Hall's voice immediately, and I'd never picked that out before tonight. I was so convinced it was him I had to drag the liner notes out to prove myself right. Yeah vinyl!
Run so Far - I really like this song, if for no other reason than it is so un-Clapton like. It has George Harrison's fingerprints all over it, as well it should, as he sings and plays on it. It's not "While my Guitar Gently Weeps" but it is a fun romp between old friends, friends who've shared a bit more than most old pals... Ahem...
Old Love - Great Clapton blues piece. It screams Clapton actually. The changes are classic Slowhand, and as I listened to him break the chorus back down into the verse, I realized that this song could just as easily be thirty years old instead of the twenty it actually is. Little Robert Cray touch here too, in the empathetic guitar duel that ends the song.
Breaking Point - My least favorite song on Journeyman (CD or vinyl). It's just too 80's for me, and not good 80's either. Too much piccolo snare, too much synth, too compressed... Too Miami Vice!
Lead Me On - Lyrically heart-rending, and purposefully a musical dreamscape. A heart broken man, begging, pleading, and generally making a damn fool of himself. But hey, who hasn't? If you're one of the lucky ones, keep it to yourself.
Before You Accuse Me - The only "real" 12 bar piece on the album, making for a nice closer to side 2. Very traditional with beautiful blues voicing and powerful (but subtle) guitar work. Once again proving that some of them englishmen sho'nuf can play blues music. Of course, Robert Cray's in there doing his part too.
All in all a good album, made all the better for being finally, properly heard.
Happy listening!