Eric Clapton

Me and Mr. Johnson

The current record review is of Eric Clapton’s Me and Mr. Johnson.  This is the guitar wizard’s 2004 CD and it is a winner.  The liner notes are written by Mr. Clapton himself and he gives homage to blues man, Robert Johnson.  Mr. Clapton writes that he has been driven and influenced all his life by the work of this one man. Mr. Clapton says that Johnson’s work has always been the keystone of his musical foundation and refers to it whenever he feels himself going adrift.   Slowhand goes on to describe Johnson’s work as likened to an old friend, after all these years, always in the back of his head, and always on the horizon.  He says Johnson’s work is the finest music he has ever heard. Mr. Johnson only produced two albums during his brief musical career, but wrote many of the blues standards that are still popular today including Key To The Highway, Cross Roads, Sweet Home Chicago and lots more.  Robert Johnson was only 26 years old when he was stabbed to death by his girlfriend in Houston in 1937.

No doubt Mr. Johnson would be mighty proud to be regarded so highly by the Guitar  Man himself today.  Clapton has brought new life to Johnson’s work and both men should be proud.  All songs on this CD were written by Mr. Robert Johnson.

Under the excellent song category would be songs #1,4,5,7,10, 11 and 12.  Actually songs #1 and 11 are perfect WCS songs!  This CD is full of really good stuff.   Song #1, When You Got A Good Friend and song #11, If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day are about 114 and 122 bpm, respectively, and in my opinion are perfect WCS songs.  Songs #4, Me and The Devil Blues, #5, Traveling Riverside Blues, #7, Stop Breaking Down Blues, #10, Come On In My Kitchen and #12, Love In Vain range from about 90 to 120 bpm and all have an excellent dance beat.  It’s Clapton at his best.

Song #2, Little Queen of Spades is a slow belly rub song.  It is great for late night  dancing.  #3, They’re Red Hot is too fast for dancing, but a good listening song, #6, Last Fair Deal Gone Down and #3 are in the same category. Song #8, Milkcow’s Calf Blues is a good slow, WCS and #9, Kind Hearted Woman Blues is another slow belly rubbing with an excellent arrangement. Song #13, 32-20 Blues is way too fast and I don’t really know what this song is about and song #14, Hell Bound On My Trail is actually a pretty good song with a slow WCS beat.

Bottom Line: Slowhand scores a perfect 10 with this CD.