Record Replay- Eric Clapton “Let It Rain” [AUDIO]

Eric Clapton recently hinted that his touring days may be coming to an end. For fifty years, Slowhand has been the gold standard for rock and blues guitar players and he deserves to rest or tour or do whatever he wants to do. His resume is uniquely impeccable. The Yardbirds. John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Cream. Blind Faith. Derek and the Dominoes. Bonnie and Delaney. That was all by the time he was twenty-five years old. Kind of a go-getter, don't you think?

In 1970, along with the Derek and the Dominoes album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, Clapton released his first solo album. Titled Eric Clapton, it was produced by Leon Russell who was white hot at that time and very sought after for his producing prowess. The album was decidedly cleaner and polished compared to the gritty sounds of his previous bands, and that quality would follow Clapton throughout his career right up to today.

There is a ton of great stuff on this record. Clapton introduced us to J.J. Cale with his version of "After Midnight". Then there's "Bottle of Red Wine" and "Blues Power," co-written with producer Russell. The album ends with the great song "Let It Rain." Friend Stephen Stills provides some guitar work and backing vocals on the song.

Within two years, Clapton went into self-imposed exile to deal with his addiction to heroin before finally being coaxed back to the stage by Pete Townshend. The Who's guitarist organized a 'Welcome Back' party London's Rainbow theater in 1973 that featured Pete, Ron Wood (pre-Stones), former Blind Faith bandmates Steve Winwood and Ric Grech, Jim Capaldi and others. The concert took place in January and was released as Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert in September of that year. I once borrowed that album to a friend, who moved a few months later before returning the record. Three years later, I was on a road trip in Florida and stopped by to see my old friend; and pick up my record! A couple of expanded full concert packages were released on CD in the mid '90s.

On today's Brizz Record Bin we "Let In Rain." Here is the version from the Rainbow Theater show. Have fun trying to figure out which player is soloing. You just can't lose when you have Clapton, Townshend and Ronnie in the line-up.