Eric Clapton reveals this week of his declining health

@tomcy6 

"Everyone has the right to like or dislike Clapton, of course, but when people say his playing is junk, there are a lot of really good guitarists who disagree"

Agreed. Clapton has recorded plenty of excellent music-- if not, this thread would not exist!  

It must be very frustrating to feel one's facility slipping away due to aging. 

Clapton's career has been very mixed, to say the least. Arguably his best material was the Derek and the Dominos stuff co-credited to him and Bobby Whitlock, even if Whitlock was the dominant partner in that collaboration.

The tunes EC's come up with since that period have been pretty bland but then he once characterized his musical taste as "schmaltzy", so at least he's honest. Most of his career has been spent smack dab in the middle of the road. That's apparently where's he's felt most comfortable and after all, you can't legitimately criticize someone for being true to themselves. 

@jafant :

Funny, I remember that incident differently-- as I recall. Robbie Robertson jumped in at that point and took over.  But having just turned 66, I'm not about to claim my memory's better than yours!  

@jafant :

👍

" I believe that the energy of youth and the influence a Jack Bruce's genius were responsible from the great music they created together."

Can't argue with this. By contrast, what drove the Dominos was the "energy of heroin-fueled romantic desperation". Clapton's playing with Cream has an incredible power and authority but his playing as Derek has a human fragility and heart-on-sleeve vulnerability that I for one find more emotionally engaging. Different strokes. . . I still listen to both. 

@jafant 

Thanks! Just how I hear it.

A quick listen to Jack Bruce's first two solo albums illustrates a range and sophistication that far exceeds what one typically encounters in Blues/Rock.It would've been interesting had Cream stayed together longer and provided a setting for some of the material that ended up on Bruce's solo albums.

It seems Clapton raised his game when he was challenged and not just supported by sidemen. 

@onhwy61 

Yes; and furthermore, G. Baker always felt his contributions to arrangements were overlooked and deserved financial compensation (royalties). He remained very bitter about this. And, the constant touring, in addition to being physically exhausting, made it very difficult for the band to generate new material. There's a documentary called Beware of Mr. Baker or something similar that reveals what a difficult person he was. At one point, he assaults the film maker!

Here's a track from Cream's reunion tour that shows what Clapton is capable of in the right company. Gorgeous soloing that transcends typical Blues/Rock playing. . .

@tomcy6 

Layla is one of the greatest studo albums in Rock.

It's Clapton's fondness for bland material (his hallmark since his first solo album) that's the biggest turn off for me. I don't care where he plays Lay Down Sally - live or in a studio or in the shower- it still sounds like drivel to me (or to use Clapton's own term, "schmaltz"). I realize he has many, many fans who prefer his post guitar hero career. Each to his/her own.They can listen to Wonderful Tonight. I prefer Why Does Love Got To Be So sad?.