Can't get over

Music review

English rock guitarist and singer Eric Clapton is popular in India, especially among Christians during weddings. His song Wonderful tonight is invariably played by wedding bands, when the bride enters the wedding venue in her trousseau. Old Sock is Clapton’s 21st album. It features two new compositions and 10 covers of some of his favourite popular songs. It also features several reputed guest artistes.

The opening song Further On Down The Road featuring Taj Mahal is a lilting reggae with organ swirls and harmonica solo and classy backing vocals. Angel featuring J J Cale has lead guitars to the fore and melodic interludes and pleasing harmony vocals. The Folks Who Live On The Hill is a waltzy track that has the guitar god playing on nylon string guitar.

Gotta Get Over is the first new track in the album which has been on the internet for sometime now. It has rhythmic riff leading to energetic vocals with Chaka Khan joining in the backing vocals. The soulful Till Your Well Runs Dry is a perfect reproduction of the Peter Tosh standard withe tinges of reggae territory. All Of Me has been covered by several all time greats like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra. This version features Paul McCartney.

Clapton shines with his resonating guitar on Born To Lose, which has been recorded previously by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles. The Gary Moore version of Still Got the Blues has lovely organ music by Steve Winwood. In Goodnight Irene, an old favourite, one can identify a plethora of musical instruments including violin, banjo, mandolin, accordion and of course the guitar.

The Otis Redding number Your One and Only Man has a reggae feel, understated guitar work and great harmonica sounds. Every Little Thing is the second original song in the album. It has a strong melody and extended guitar solos. The last song Our Love Is Here to Stay from the film An American in Paris, performed by Gene Kelly is a slow song dominated by the piano.