record collection revisited: Eric Clapton "Old Sock"

Eric Clapton's latest record "Old Sock" hearkens back to some of his work in the 1970s where, he wrote some of his own numbers and also did his own, unique interpretations of songs by well known writers.  This album is a more relaxed affair, without a lot of the guitar fireworks Clapton is known for, except in a few places.  Taj Mahal and J.J. Cale make guest appearances on songs they wrote ("Further On Down The Road", and, "Angel", respectively).  Steve Winwood, Chaka Khan, and Paul McCartney also make appearances.  Winwood plays Hammond B3 on Gary Moore's "Still Got The Blues".  Clapton's three daughters Julie, Ella, and Sophie, make an appearance, singing on "Every Little Thing" penned by Doyle Bramhall II. and Justin Stanley.  Bramhall plays guitar with Clapton on the album, and Stanley, is one of the drummers, as well as playing Clavinet and Mellotron.

Check out the album credits, as there is an impressive list of players on it.  Other songs are covers of old standards, such as "The Folks Who Live On The Hill", "All Of Me", "Born To Lose", "Goodnight Irene" and the Gershwin brothers tune, "Our Love Is Here To Stay", which closes out the record.  Years ago, yours truly saw a video of an interview with Clapton and J.J. Cale about their then new album "Road To Escondido" where Clapton mentioned wanting to make an entire album of standards and old songs he remembered from childhood.  Well, along with the contemporary, new material, he has indeed done just that on "Old Sock", and has made a listenable, enjoyable record, that will be appreciated by diehard and new fans, as well as people who dig his singing and ability to choose, or collaborate on writing, good songs, even though on this record, Clapton didn't contribute any songs from his own pen.

Here's the track listing.

1. Further On Down The Road                   (Taj Mahal & Jesse Ed Davis)
2. Angel                                                     (J.J. Cale)
3. The Folks Who Live On The Hill            (Oscar Hammerstein II. & Jerome Kern)
4. Gotta Get Over                                      (Doyle Bramhall II., Justin Stanley, & Nikka Costa)
5. Till Your Well Runs Dry                          (Peter Tosh)
6. All Of Me                                              (Gerald Marks & Seymour Simons)
7. Born To Lose                                        (Ted Daffan)
8. Still Got The Blues                                 (Gary Moore)
9. Goodnight Irene                                     (Huddie Ledbetter & John A. Lomax Sr.)
10. Your One And Only Man                     (Otis Redding)
11. Every Little Thing                                 (Doyle Bramhall II., Justin Stanley, & Nikka Costa)
12. Our Love Is Here To Stay                   (George Gershwin & Ira Gershwin)

It is a neat set of songs, and maybe, just maybe, the most diehard Clapton fan, and the casual listener alike, will dig it.