The word on the street is that Eric Clapton, at 71, is winding down. In 2014, he hinted that his touring days were numbered, emphatically stating that “the road has become unbearable.” Two years later, as many of his peers have passed away or stepped back from the spotlight, Clapton has resurfaced with I Still Do, his 23rd studio album. Speculation is high that this could very well be the final recording from the man once called “God” by guitar aficionados.
There are a number of highlights on the record that underscore a denouement of sorts for the guitar legend. For one, producer Glyn Johns, who turned the knobs on 1977’s Slowhand, is on board for the album, Clapton’s first since his 2014 tribute Eric Clapton & Friends: The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale. The cover art is a simple and tasteful illustration of Clapton by Sir Peter Blake, widely known for creating the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album sleeve. And then, of course, there’s the case of Angelo Mysterioso.
Longtime Clapton followers may recall that someone with a similar moniker, i.e., “L’Angelo Misterioso,” was credited with playing guitar on Cream’s “Badge.” It was later revealed that Mr. Misterioso was none other than George Harrison. So naturally with the credit of a slightly reconfigured Angelo Mysterioso on I Still Do, a well-publicized rumor began circulating that the acoustic guitar and vocal on “I Will Be There” was indeed the work of the late Beatle. Clapton has denied the claim, but resisted saying who exactly Angelo Mysterioso is. Unfortunately, listening to the mellow tune does little to support the assertion.
As for the rest of the record, it’s loaded with tasty licks and blues-heavy overtures. The opening “Alabama Woman Blues” is pure blues with Clapton sawing the slide and Chris Stainton supplying the ivory underbelly. The Clapton-penned “Catch The Blues” leans more toward smooth jazz than blues, but his take on Skip James’ “Cypress Grove,” Robert Johnson’s “Stones In My Passway” and JJ Cale’s “Somebody’s Knockin’” more than make up for that with a plethora of trademark blues guitar from the master.
“Can’t Let You Do It,” another Cale cover with a swinging rhythm, would have been right at home on Slowhand. The version of Bob Dylan’s “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine” elegantly brings all of Eric Clapton’s talents — playing guitar and singing — to a head. There’s nothing necessarily groundbreaking or eye-popping about I Still Do, and in the scheme of things, it could easily get lost in Clapton’s extensive discography. But if I Still Do is, in fact, the guitarist’s final studio record, it’s not a bad way for the only musician to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three times to sign off.
~ Shawn Perry
