Customer Reviews
Unpredictable, laid back and fine - By: Chris Wood, 16 Jun 2008 
This is a wonderful album. It marked Clapton's sobriety following his heroin usage, & has a theme of redemption & rebirth running through it. Also, there's a strong taste of someone who has turned himself inside & out.
In places, this is passionate, elsewhere playful, &in many places you can hear a man asking himself what he has left. Fantastic stuff, strongly recommended.
Format - By: simon harman, 02 Dec 2006 
This CD isin DTS format only - not DVD Audio as suggested.Thers is a big difference. If you want true 24 bit stereo sound, then buy the SACD.
Eric's best album - By: Peter Durward Harris, 04 Feb 2005 Eric wasin various blues-rock groups, notably the Yardbirds & Cream, before embarking on a solo career, during which he recorded many excellent albums. This is one of the best, if not the best of the lot. It includes I shot the sheriff, a British top ten hit that topped the American charts, as well as many other outstanding songs.
The album features Yvonne Elliman (best known for her Saturday night fever hit, If I can't have you) on backing vocals. She provides great support for Eric on this album, especially on Let it grow, my favorite song here after I shot the sheriff (on which Yvonne also sings). Eric & Yvonne co-wrote Get ready & sing it as a duet.
The album opens with a traditional song, Motherless children, & closes with a song that Eric wrote about himself, Give me strength. Both of them are great songs, as are all the songsin between.
The musicians arein top form throughout on this classic blues-rock album. If you are a fan of classic rock music & haven't already got this album, what are you waiting for?
One of EC's best solo efforts - By: Docendo Discimus, 07 Jun 2003 
"461 Ocean Boulevard", Eric Clapton's second solo album from 1974, is an appealing amalgam of several different styles (rock, pop, R&B, country, blues & even reggae).
It may not have the flashy guitar work of his earlier recordings, nor is it as gritty as fans of Eric Clapton the blues player (rather than Eric Clapton the pop singer) might have preferred. But it is a pleasant, low-key affair with several excellent songs, including a charming, laid-back rendition of Johnny Otis' "Willie And The Hand Jive" & the lovely, folkish ballad "Please Be With Me", originally recorded by Southern rockers Cowboy.
Clapton should stay away from covering Elmore James, though. He obviously knows that he can't match the intensity of James' vocals, so he delivers "I Can't Hold Out"in a very subdued style which doesn't suit the song.
His version of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff", although somewhat watered-down, works really well, though, as does the mournful, almost spiritual blues "Give Me Strength" & the melodious "Let It Grow", both of them Eric Clapton originals.
Lovely slide dobro playing on "Let It Grow".
Another bluesy spiritual, Blind Willie Johnson's "Motherless Children (have a hard time)", is quite good as wellin this electric, up-tempo recording,in spite of the clippety-clop rhythm played by drummer Jamie Oldaker (kind of a strange choice for a blues number).
But allin all, "461 Ocean Boulevard" is a really fine album, & one that Eric Clapton tried again & again to replicate over the next ten years. It's not perfect, but it is as good as the man from Surrey ever got during his solo years.
EC plays it fine and plays it cool - By: , 30 Jun 2001 461 Ocean Boulevard marked, for a time, a departure for Eric Clapton's up front guitar playing; on this album EC concentrates more on the songs & often puts the guitar soloing on hold, or certainly tones it down. Nevertheless, this album, which is named after the address of the studio, is excellent. Listen to the emotive 'Give Me Strength' & the bright version of Johnny Otis' 'Willie And The Hand Jive' with some nice guitar included. Bob Marley's 'I Shot The Sheriff' is dealt with brilliantly by Clapton & has become a favourite of many, also worth a listen is Elmore James' 'I Can't Hold Out' beautifully performed & confirming EC's blues roots. A fine album. Recommended.
