Álbum Slowhand (Eric Clapton)

Slowhand de Eric Clapton

Álbum de Eric Clapton

1977
★★★★★
Basado en 13 votos
  • Fecha de lanzamiento: 25 de Noviembre de 1977
  • Sello Discográfico: RSO
  • Compositores: Eric Clapton, J.J. Cale, Don Williams, John Martyn
  • Productores: Glyn Johns

Valora este álbum

Slowhand es un álbum de Eric Clapton, publicado en 1977 por RSO. El disco incluye 9 canciones, entre ellas «Cocaine», «Wonderful Tonight», «Lay Down Sally» y «Next Time You See Her».

Introducción: la definición de un sonido

"Slowhand" es, para muchos, el álbum por excelencia de la carrera en solitario de Eric Clapton. Lanzado en 1977, el disco toma su título del apodo de Clapton y encapsula perfectamente su estilo de la época: un sonido "laid-back" (relajado) pero increíblemente seguro y pulido, que fusiona el blues rock con el country y el soft rock. Producido por Glyn Johns, el álbum es una obra sobresaliente de contención y musicalidad, donde cada nota y cada solo están al servicio de la canción.

El álbum fue un éxito comercial y de crítica masivo, y contiene un trío de canciones que se han convertido en clásicos inmortales del rock: la balada romántica "Wonderful Tonight", la versión del himno de J.J. Cale "Cocaine" y el éxito de country rock "Lay Down Sally". "Slowhand" consolidó a Clapton como una superestrella mundial y definió el sonido del rock de finales de los 70.

Cómo nació el disco

Después del enfoque disperso de "No Reason to Cry", Clapton buscaba un sonido más cohesivo y enfocado. Para ello, contrató al productor británico Glyn Johns, conocido por su trabajo con The Rolling Stones y The Who, y famoso por su habilidad para capturar un sonido de banda en directo en el estudio. Las sesiones de grabación en los Olympic Studios de Londres fueron rápidas y eficientes, durando solo una semana. Johns fomentó un ambiente de trabajo profesional que resultó en algunas de las interpretaciones más pulidas y seguras de la carrera de Clapton.

Claves sonoras

El sonido de "Slowhand" es una clase magistral de producción orgánica y buen gusto. La influencia del "Tulsa Sound" del compositor J.J. Cale es omnipresente, especialmente en el ritmo relajado y el groove de canciones como "Cocaine" y "Lay Down Sally". La producción de Glyn Johns es limpia y espaciosa, dando a cada instrumento su propio lugar. La guitarra de Clapton es el corazón del álbum, pero sus solos son melódicos y concisos, nunca autocomplacientes. La interacción con su banda de acompañamiento, que incluía a Carl Radle y Dick Sims, es telepática.

Canción por canción

"Cocaine": Una de sus canciones más famosas. La versión de Clapton del tema de J.J. Cale es un blues rock hipnótico construido sobre un riff de guitarra inolvidable. A pesar de su título, Clapton siempre ha mantenido que la canción tiene un mensaje anti-drogas sutil.

"Wonderful Tonight": Una de las baladas de amor más famosas de la historia del rock. Clapton la escribió mientras esperaba a que su entonces novia, Pattie Boyd, se vistiera para ir a una fiesta. Es una canción de una belleza y una simplicidad desarmantes, con un solo de guitarra que es pura emoción. Se ha convertido en un estándar en bodas y celebraciones románticas en todo el mundo.

"Lay Down Sally": Un pegadizo tema de country rock que se convirtió en un gran éxito. Con su ritmo de shuffle y sus armonías vocales, mostró un lado más ligero y comercial de Clapton, demostrando su versatilidad.

Impacto comercial y legado

"Slowhand" fue un éxito comercial gigantesco. Alcanzó el número 2 en el Billboard 200 de Estados Unidos, donde fue certificado 3 veces platino, y el puesto 23 en el Reino Unido. En España, fue un éxito duradero que consolidó su estatus de leyenda. El álbum es considerado uno de los puntos álgidos de la carrera de Clapton y un clásico del rock de los 70. Su perfecta combinación de blues, rock y baladas pop lo ha convertido en un disco atemporal que sigue siendo inmensamente popular décadas después de su lanzamiento.

Listado de Canciones

  1. Cocaine3:38

    Letra

    If you wanna hang out you've got to take her out Cocaine If you wanna get down, down on the ground Cocaine She don't lie She don't lie She don't lie Cocaine If you got bad news, you wanna kick them blues Cocaine When your day is done and you wanna run Cocaine She don't lie She don't lie She don't lie Cocaine If your thing is gone, and you wanna ride on Cocaine Don't forget this fact, you can't get it back Cocaine She don't lie She don't lie She don't lie Cocaine She don't lie She don't lie She don't lie Cocaine
  2. Wonderful Tonight3:41

    Letra

    It's late in the evening She's wondering what clothes to wear She'll put on her make-up And brushes her long blond hair And then she'll ask me: Do I look alright? And I'll say: Yes, you look wonderful tonight We'll go to a party And everyone turns to see This beautiful lady That's walking around with me And then she'll ask me: Do you feel alright? And I'll say: Yes, I feel wonderful tonight I feel wonderful Because I see the love light in your eyes And the wonder of it all Is that you just don't realize How much I love you It's time to go home now I've got an aching head So I'll give her the car keys She'll help me to bed And then I'll tell her As I turn out the light I say: My darling, you were wonderful tonight Oh, my darling, you were wonderful tonight Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
  3. Lay Down Sally3:52

    Letra

    There is nothing that is wrong In wanting you to stay here with me. I know you've got somewhere to go, But won't you make yourself at home and stay with me? And don't you ever leave. Chorus: Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms. Don't you think you want someone to talk to? Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon. I've been trying all night long just to talk to you. The sun ain't nearly on the rise And we still got the moon and stars above. Underneath the velvet skies, Love is all that matters. Won't you stay with me? And don't you ever leave. I long to see the morning light Coloring your face so dreamily. So don't you go and say goodbye, You can lay your worries down and stay with me. And don't you ever leave.
  4. Next Time You See Her3:58

    Letra

    She's got everything a man could ever ask for. She is lovely, brighter than a morning star. She is so beautiful, portrait of a sunset. She got everything, including my old car. Next time you see her, tell her that I love her. Next time you see her, tell her that I care. Next time you see her, tell her that I love her. Next time I see you, boy you'd better beware. I'm just trying to warn you that you're bound to get hurt. I couldn't be her last love, so how could you be her first? I want to tell you, buddy, things are bound to get rough. I know that she's only flirting, but I think that I've had enough. Chorus And if you see her again, I will surely kill you. And if you see her again, I will surely kill you. Chorus And if you see her again, I will surely kill you. And if you see her again, I will surely kill you. Chorus
  5. We're All The Way2:30
  6. The Core8:42

    Letra

    Every morning when I wake, a feeling soon begins to overtake me. Ringing in my ears resounds through my brain; it finally surrounds me. There is fire, there is life, there is passion, fever and fury. There is love and there is hate, there is longing, anger and worry. Oh, I have a flame; feel it touch my heart. And down at my core is the hottest part. I can burn without fuel. If it should become too cold, I know I can endure the frostbite. Oh, a blanket then I'll wrap around me; I keep myself so close to my side. No one then can cause me harm, just as the river runs into the sea. 'Cause every day, your fire alarm is deafening the silence all around me. Repeat First Chorus It is burning. It is burning. You can trust me; we can laugh. Together we can share our sorrow. I will give you secrets too, an attitude that you may borrow. Gypsy woman said to me, "One thing you must bear in your mind: You are young and you are free, but damned if you're deceased in your own lifetime." Oh, you have a flame; feel it in your heart. And down at the core is the hottest part. We can burn without fuel. It is burning. It is burning.
  7. May You Never2:57

    Letra

    May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold. May you never make your bed out in the cold. May you never lose your temper if you get hit in a barroom fight. May you never lose your woman overnight. Well, you're just like a great, strong sister to me, And I know that your love is true, And you hold no blade for to stab me in my back; I know that there's some that do. So please, won't you please, won't you bear it in mind: Love is a lesson to learn in our time. Please, won't you please, bear it in mind for me. Chorus Well, you're just like a great, strong brother to me, And I know that your love is true, And you never talk dirty behind my back; I know that there's some that do. Bridge Chorus May you never lose your woman overnight. May you never lose your woman overnight.
  8. Mean Old Frisco4:38

    Letra

    Well that mean old dirty Frisco And that low down Santa Fe. Mean old Frisco And that low down Santa Fe. You know they take my girl away, Lord, and blow back out on me. Well my mama, she done told me, And my papa told me too. Mama told me And my papa told me too. A woman that gets in your face, Lord she ain't no friend for you. Well I'm goin' away now baby And I won't be back until fall. Goin' away, baby. Lord, I won't be back till fall. If I don't come back by then, Lord, I won't be back at all. {Alternate Verse} Well I'm goin' away baby And your cryin' won't make me stay. Goin' away baby And your cryin' won't make me stay. Well the more you cry, little girl, If anything you'll drive me away. Well that mean old dirty Frisco And that low down Santa Fe. Mean old Frisco And that low down Santa Fe. Gonna take my gal away, Lord, and blow back out on me.
  9. Peaches And Diesel4:48

    Letra

    instrumental