Customer Reviews
The definition of "mediocre" 
2006-07-15
I have been a Clapton fan for several years, but I only recently bought a copy of Slowhand, widely considered to be one of Clapton's best solo records. I, however, fail to see the big deal: Outside of Cocaine, Lay Down Sally and The Core there really isn't much of interest here. Wonderful Tonight was the fourth hit, but I always found it to be a bore. The same can be said for Next Time You See Her, We're All the Way and Peaches & Deisel. I guess Mean Old Frisco and Next Time You See Her are decent tunes, but this is too much of a soft-rock album for me.
If you want good Clapton, get Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, Wheels of Fire, Layla, Blind Faith, 461 Ocean Blvd., Unplugged or the B.B. King duets album. Steer away from this one!
Wherein We See That 461 OB was no fluke, and that EC will endure 
2006-04-18
The young Eric Clapton is a bluesy, psychedelic hell hound. On his best middle period work though-- like here-- he finds a more sustainable groove for the long haul, his playing shifting from explosive to tasteful. The two best records of this period are 1974's 461 Ocean Boulevard (really quite good) and this one, Slowhand. (The follow-up, Backless, is really just a touch off this and is quite underrated.) Clapton entered the 70s like a lion, and exited like a lamb... but manages to make the transition with grace and swing.
In the 60s the Slowhand nickname was ironic, like calling a fat guy "Slim." But by the time of this record's release, Clapton had indeed become a slow hand on guitar-- not that he lost his edge, but he learned how to be just as poignant on his instrument, without having to turn all the way up or play super-fast. Here, unlike say his Cream stuff, Clapton shows how less can be more.
JJ Cale's "Cocaine" is a solid riff rocker that finds an insistent, repetitive groove, and provides a platform for some of Clapton's most explosive playing on the record. "Lay Down Sally" is probably the purest distillation of the vibe of this album, with its breezy feel, gently chugging guitars, and airy vocals. Indeed in the mid-70s one of Clapton's biggest areas of growth was in becoming a singer, adding the voice of his singing to the voice of his guitar as a signature of his recorded work. His singing voice suited to-- and indeed probably helped facilitate-- the more molasses approach the records began to take, and it all comes together in the radio-friendly bounce of this song.
"Wonderful Tonight" was nice when they played it at your wedding. At the time SLowhand came out, it seemed too mellow for Clapton, too poppy. But now it has become part of his "old stuff," and endures. And the simple guitar figure that he plays on the intro and in the verse, and off which he solos, says everything it needs to without one wasted note.
"The Core" may well be, as another writes here, the best tune on the album. Less well known because it was too long to be a single, but it combines the harder rock edge with the groove of "Cocaine," and features Marcy Levy (who went on to becme part of the vocal duo Shakespeare's Sister) to good effect.
"Mean Old Frisco" is a slow blues that shows Clapton is still a bluesman at heart, and "Next Time You See Her" is an easy-listening kissing cousin to "Lay Down Sally."
Back before CDs, I always had a cassette with this record on one side, and 461 Ocean Boulevard on the other, and I'd make sure to take it with me on a spring drive or a day at the beach. Highly recommended for such settings.
very slow.....and...boring! 
2006-02-24
I don't understand why many people entitle this album: "the best of Eric Clapton".For me,Slowhand is simply a "flat" album.....If you want the best Clapton's albuns, buy the following:Eric Clapton
Live -The Rainbow Concert
There's one in every Crowd
Money and Cigarettes
Behind the Sun
Journeyman
live-24 nights
Pilgrim
Rush
One more car, one more rider.
layla
Clapton's best work 
2006-02-06
JJ Cale's rocker "Cocaine" starts this masterpiece off and the mellow "Peaches and Diesel" ends it with soothing effect. "The Core" however is the highlight of this CD, IMO. Of course, "Wonderful Tonight" is a mainstay of FM stations and deserves recognition. "Lay Down Sally" is the silliest song Clapton has ever done IMO. Maybe it would have something to do with the fact that I broke up with my wife (who was named Sally) about the time the original vinyl version came out.
One of his finest 2005-11-03
Slowhand is one of the milestones of Clapton's career. On this album you have some of the best songs he has ever recorded.
Cocaine leads off and has been a signature song since this album was released, and remains one of his concert staples to this day.
Next is Wonderful Tonight which is one of the finest songs of his career and remains a concert staple to this day as well.
Lay Down Sally is next and spent some time on the charts in the 70's when this first came out.
Clapton at this time was going through a country phase in his life and its shows.
Next Time You See Her and We're All The Way are country songs.
The Core is another of my personal favorites and is a solid performance.
Mean Old Frisco is slide guitar at its very best. And finally the CD concludes with Peaches and Diesel.
No Eric Clapton collection is complete without this CD.
SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE! 2008-04-23
This was Eric Clapton's most popular recording and with good reason. Often Clapton's recordings suffer from a lack of consistency and a shortage of good material. On "Slowhand" the filler, although it still exists, is kept to a minimum making it one of Clapton's best records.
Classic Clapton originals like "Wonderful Tonight", "Lay Down Sally", the instrumental "Peaches and Diesel" and the 8 1/2 minute "The Core" lie alongside some classic covers like the JJ Cale penned "Cocaine", the melodic "May You Never" and the blues romp of Arthur Crudup's "Mean Old Frisco".
If you're new to Clapton and looking for a starting point for his solo material, "Slowhand" or "461 Ocean Boulevard" are the places to start.
Clapton got the right address 2008-04-15
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. this cd is a must and quality sound is perfect.
Eric Clapton is what he is 2008-01-12
There are artists who simply are the genre. Eric Clapton is one of those artists. In other venues I have read some pretty stinging comments about him, his morality, his abilities and so on. Frankly, I think there is no finer blues rocker alive or dead.
This album illustrates what a virtuoso is. He carries it all the way from We're Going Wrong on Disraeli Gears to We're All The Way to Steady Rollin' Man.
This fella does the Blues. Others do too but Eric Clapton DOES THE BLUES and Slowhand is one of his best.
"The Core" of the matter is worth owning 3.5 stars! 2007-08-27
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.
November 1977 saw the release of Clapton's "Slowhand" record. Those that were not enamored with the material joked the title is the problem." The other side finding no humor with the statement quickly pointed out "Slowhand" is a nickname. The grizzled Clapton veteran fan always longs for the guitar hero sound however found strong contentment with "461 Ocean Boulevard" because of the varied musical styles, flashes of the past, and lyrical content. "Slowhand" offered them diversification but a smaller percentage of the flashback to yesterday. If Clapton failed to bring along the old crew for the ride, the bus was overflowed with a new era of fan. You didn't have to travel too far in any city to hear the tunes coming from the fifth floor, the teenagers boom box, or the cassette player in the car. The album was exceptionally friendly for FM radio. How so?
While riding high on the charts five of the LP's tunes (The first four in succession and The Core) saw constant Album Rock airplay-Cocaine, Wonderful Tonight, Lay Down Sally, Next Time You See Her, and The Core.
J.J. Cale's "Cocaine" starts the festivities. Clapton covers the song well and the memorable riff has never left the play list of FM radio. "Wonderful Tonight" at the time paid homage to his then wife Pattie Boyd Harrison Clapton. The lyrics are stunning for the beauty. The criticism E.C. received was for making it more of a singer-songwriter tune than a Clapton composition. "Lay Down Sally" was not only penned by Clapton but Marcy Levy, and George Terry (Guitar). A middle of the road result gave this an opportunity to be heard on many non Album Rockers. "Next Time You See Her" is a hybrid of folk and country. There is a tremendous line in the tune that would foreshadow the eventual divorce "She got everything including my old car." The Don Williams song "We're All The Way" is the most overlooked of the albums contents. Mellow in construction, it gives the listener a superlative Clapton vocal. "The Core" has some interesting background. It was actually co-written by Marcy Levy and is the one tune that even the harshest critic of "Slowhand" never faulted. Clocking in at almost nine minutes it opened the eyes wide when the old rocker checked out the material. It would never harm inclusion on any Clapton solo record. The up-tempo rocker has Clapton and band holding our attention through every second. John Martyn (Opened for Clapton on one of the 1970's tours) penned the next tune "May You Never." It blends country and folk for a pleasing result. Arthur Crudup is credited for the blues based "Mean Old Frisco." Mid-tempo with E.C. playing the blues for four minutes plus. The ride ends with "Peaches And Diesel." Next time you have this on the CD Player listen to some of the instrumental portions similarity to "Wonderful Tonight."
If you keep an open ear as the last note is finalized, there is a good chance you can find enough material to digest. The newcomer may like this solo effort by Clapton the most of any. The older crowd hasn't tired of "Cocaine", The Core" and Mean Old Frisco."
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
Give a big hand for slow hand 2007-02-17
This is, in my personal opinion, by far the best Eric clapton album. We all have our own choice of music & albums of favourite Rock stars are no different.
The album starts with Cocaine. I never get tired of listening to cocaine -the best song on this album - great tunes, amazing vocals. wonderful tonight is my next favourite - the classic Hit that you will occasionally hear in soap operas. If you are on the romantically inclined side, you will love this love song. "Lay down sally" is another big hit song and I dont have to say more. "Next time you see her" is one of those repetitive catch-line songs that you cannot get enough out of and you find yourself singing the line over and over again when you are at work.
You have to have an acquired taste to enjoy "We're all the way". "The core" - Eric comes out with his strong guitar skills on this one. Its simply awesome. It also has very nice vocals of Marcy Levy. "May you never" and "Mean old frisco" are good songs if you are in the right mood - listening to good songs mood! "Peaches and diesel" is a Rich guitar/ drums instumental piece which at first sounds like "wonderful tonight" but its really not and it just sounds wonderful.
I have been listening to the vinyl format of this album but I recently switched to CD. I do have to confess that I like listening to vinyl because I think certain albums sound much better on vinyl but thats just me. vinyl or CD, there is a reason why Eric clapton is nicknamed "slowhand". Dont take my word for it. listen to the album and you will find out that I was right afterall!
