Customer Reviews
Laid Back EC, Living and Loving in South Florida 
2006-07-26
I have to confess that, while I love Clapton, his albums are often a hit-and-miss affair. And I can't say I am a fan of the numerous recent blues tribute albums he has put out lately. For me I enjoy his work with Cream, his guest work, his first few albums, the one he recorded with The Band, a few older live albums, and bits of the Phil Collins-produced record in the early 80s. After that it's a fall-off, but I am thankful for all the great music he has turned out over the years.
I have been listening to 461 a lot lately. It holds up exceedingly well. The groove is laid-back, with solid musicianship and expert song selection. It makes for great road music, especially "Willie and the Hand Jive," "I Shot the Sheriff," and the classic closer, "Mainline Florida."
The ballads are beautiful, too. There is not a weak track on the album. There is a consistent tone, an aversion to excess and a concentration on the note and harmonic "fit" that makes this album an overall winner in EC's catalog. As someone who used to party in EC's old house at 461 Ocean Boulevard in Golden Beach in the early 80s, let me say -- you did it (and us) proud.
Sour Cream 
2006-07-06
32 years ago I was so stoked that Clapton was finally coming out with a new album, I walked five miles to Deorsey's Records in Lewiston, Maine the day that it was released to buy this much anticipated record. The still near virgin vinyl remains in my LP collection and has only been played once. Once was enough. Heroin robbed a true master of his creativeness, inspiration and technical ability. Sad.
NOT A BAD ALBUM BY ANY MEANS, BUT A BIT 'PATCHY' 
2006-06-16
I generally prefer EC when he does his 'laid back' country rock/country blues stuff and there are a few tracks that fall into this category. I think there is a lot of fine guitar playing on this album and EC is in good form vocally (but, perhaps, not at his best).
A few comments about individual tracks :
MOTHERLESS CHILDREN (Trad. arr. Eric Clapton/Carl Radle) - A real 'rocker'. Great drumming and slide guitar. Vocals a bit indistinct (perhaps, slightly over-produced ?).
GIVE ME STRENGTH (Eric Clapton) - Slow tempo song with some really mellow dobro playing (incl. 40 second solo intro.). EC's vocals are restrained but not without some emotion (as befitting this type of song). Organ accompaniment gives a gospel feel to the sound.
WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE (Johnny Otis) - Instrumentally unexceptional but great 'shuffling' rhythm and really 'laid back' vocals.
GET READY (Eric Clapton/Yvonne Elliman) - Features EC and Yvonne Elliman sharing vocals. OK, but a bit monotonous.
I SHOT THE SHERIFF (Bob Marley) - I'm not that keen on reggae music (to me, it has a rhythm that 'plods' rather than 'rocks'). Instrumentally it's nothing special. However, its a pretty good track - decent song, tight harmony vocals delivered by Yvonne Elliman & co. and EC does a good job with a 'pseudo-jamaican' inflection in his voice.
I CAN'T HOLD OUT (Elmore James arr. Eric Clapton)) - A jazz/blues sound - some more amazing slide guitar playing.
PLEASE BE WITH ME (Charles Scott Boyer) - A lilting ditty with a 'folksy' sound, features acoustic and electric guitar. Pleasant, but a bit too 'sugary' for me.
LET IT GROW (Eric Clapton) - Ordinary song, vocally and instrumentally unexceptional, tedious and 'drones' on a bit.
STEADY ROLLIN' MAN (Robert Johnson arr. Eric Clapton) - Great percussion and keyboards. Features some nice sharp guitar licks.
MAINLINE FLORIDA (George Terry) - Ordinary song. EC's vocals are drowned by the backing vocals and instruments.
There is some exceptionally good 'bluesy' guitar playing together with decent vocals, but I only liked half of the tracks - so I can't really give it more than 3-stars.
Mine is the re-mastered version; some other reviewers have commented on the questionable re-mastering quality. I don't know if it's the re-mastering or the original recording, but there are a few tracks where I thought the sound quality left something to be desired.
One Of My Favorites From Eric Clapton!! 2005-12-31
Even though this was originally released in 1974 as his comeback album. Several of the songs on this CD still sound fresh. The best songs are Motherless Children, Let It Grow, and Mainline Florida. These songs aren't as well known as some of the others, but overall make this CD one of my favorites from Eric Clapton!!!
ERIC CLAPTON IS AMAZING! 
2005-10-10
I Just couldn't get enough of Eric Clapton on this album. I am not going to lie, before I stumbled across this album in stores, I did not even know who this Eric Clapton guy was, but he must be an up and coming star! Who else could create such great remakes of songs from the 70's. I have heard these songs before, but Clapton does a great job of adding a little new flavor to all of the songs.
clapton's studio album 2008-03-30
You remember back in the 70's when it seemed like side one of a record always contained the most memorable songs? Well in this case it's the second side that has the best songs, specifically the final three- the emotionally brilliant "Let it Grow" with its ending you don't want to EVER end, the funky and bluesy "Steady Rollin' Man", and the poppy goodness that is "Mainline Florida". People can take their "I Shot the Sheriff" but it's NOT the best song on the album. Remember- hit songs don't equal best songs. Never has and never will.
batcall 2007-09-12
He was thought to be washed up and gone before this LP. Some friends got together and encouraged him to put this out. You can see why he was called the guitar god. Can't be beat.
"Get Ready" 5 stars with the bonus tracks and 4 on the original 2007-08-25
As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.
"461 Ocean Boulevard" Clapton's 1974 album on so many levels is important not only for deserving its rightly place in your CD collection but for the myriad of reasons.
What makes this particular release fascinating is the incredible diversity of those that have purchased this either as an 8-Track tape, cassette, LP, and or CD. There are those that are the Clapton collector. Searching for every note they seek any product to get their fill. Others that are into the Mayall/Yardbirds/Cream/Blind Faith/ and Derek & The Dominos with such passion that they are leery to venture into solo material with few exceptions and finally those that don't know his legacy but pick up music as they hear it on the radio. The one road that brings them all together is "461 Ocean Boulevard." Although the songs aren't structured for those that clamor for the guitar hero, they are strong enough that this record and the self-titled Eric Clapton are represented.
"Motherless Children" may be listed as a traditional song but the first time the slide was put to the six string Clapton took possession. The vocals and the instrumentation create a natural sound that engulfs your ears from the first listen. "Give Me Strength" slows the tempo a bit and has blues stamped all over. Interestingly enough is Eric penned this song. It could pass for a cover but this is Clapton 74. "Willie And The Hand Jive" saw excessive airplay on the Album Rock and progressive stations after the record hit the shelves. With the mix of reggae and funk there is something magical the way Clapton took on something out of the realm and made it such a terrific creation. "Get Ready" which Clapton wrote with Yvonne Elliman solidifies how his ego was in check here. These were not hired hands but a band to him. Elliman and Marcy Levy offered strong vocals to the mix, Jamie Oldaker picks his spots well as a drummer, Carl Radle's bass-lines are respected through the continents, Dick Sims may not be known to the masses but he is no stranger to the professional, and George Terry was not specifically second guitarist. During the years with Clapton in the live setting he was allowed to take a few solos and not be relegated to all rhythm all the time. Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff" not only is one of the most impressive covers of the period but opened the door a crack for those to explore the music of the Whalers, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, etc. "I Can't Hold Out" is sometimes criticized for being too laid back as Eric puts the blues to work. "Please Be With Me" mixes a folk and Gospel approach. "Let It Grow" is majestic in its splendor. A timeless tune that will never age. "Steady Rollin' Man" gives us a dose of the blues in upbeat fashion. The finale is a perfect choice. "Mainline Florida" has the memorable riff and the exact energy to be four minutes without a single flaw.
If you want a very good record to become excellent in the blink of an eye, all you do is pick up the remastered version with 26 songs and 2 CD's! Combining session out-takes with live material the end result more than doubles the original LP. If you want a treasure check out Clapton's live version of "Smile." Think Sinatra meets Slowhand!
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
TANNED, RESTED, AND READY, CLAPTON COMES BACK MELLOW, BUT STRONG, WITH 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD ! 2007-07-03
Eric Clapton recorded 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974) after kicking his heroin habit, and during the time he was living at, you guessed it, 461 Ocean Boulevard in Miami, Florida (the house is pictured on the album cover). This is a strong Eric Clapton album, even though it's nothing like a Cream or a Derek and The Dominos album. His time in Florida definitely affected his outlook on life, and that's not a bad thing. The album really rocks in some places, like Motherless Children and Mainline Florida, but the rock is fun and laid back, not foreboding or contentious. There is some blues on the album, as he covers Elmore James' I Can't Hold Out, and Robert Johnson's Steady Rollin' Man, but again, these songs have an easy-going feel to them, too, and they are very good. The huge reggae hit, Bob Marley's I Shot The Sherriff, put Clapton's solo career on track, and of course, sounds great. Clapton plays his dobro on Cowboy's Please Be With Me (his late friend, Duane Allman, played dobro on the original). Let It Grow has a layered acoustic/electric guitar sound, a steady, leisurely beat, and is classic Clapton. Recording artist/actress Yvonne Elliman sings backing vocals on the album, and trades lead vocals with Eric on the funky Get Ready. 461 Ocean Boulevard is a very good, laid back album, with some solid guitar work blended in with the mellow atmosphere and carefree rocking beat of most of the songs. It's also one of Eric Clapton's best solo albums.
Barcardi 151 Ocean Boulevard 2007-02-18
The comeback. Claptons passion for the blues is doing the talking here, but still slowhand makes the best album of his career. He had replaced his heroin addiction with an alcohol fixation, which made him very laid back, but it all works here very well.
