Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1977…
#9 – Slowhand – Eric Clapton
Slowhand is Eric Clapton’s fifth solo album and remains his best-performing in the U.S. (setting aside his live Unplugged album). It is best known for its hit singles ‘Lay Down Sally’ and ‘Wonderful Tonight.’
This is the only Clapton album I have ever owned, but I played the hell out of it in and around my college years. It’s a compulsively listenable record, a perfect vibe.
Featuring nine songs and clocking in just under 40 minutes, this isn’t the jam record you might expect from a guitar god like Clapton. The tracks are tight and melodic, and his playing serves the songs rather than his ego.
In ‘Wonderful Tonight’ and ‘We’re All the Way,’ Slowhand boasts two of the sweetest, most tender love songs of the 70s. ‘May You Never’ is similarly gentle. But the album rocks, too, on opening track ‘Cocaine,’ blues track ‘Mean Old Frisco,’ and the epic ‘The Core,’ written and performed with Marcy Levy.
I haven’t played Slowhand start to finish in many years but when I fired it up this week it slipped on like a comfortable old pair of shoes.
She’s got everything a man could ever ask for
She is lovely, brighter than a morning star
She is so beautiful, portrait of a sunset
She got everything including my old car
[Chorus 1]
Next time you see her, tell her that I love her
Next time you see her, tell her that I care
Next time you see her, tell her that I love her
Next time I see you, boy, you’d better beware
[Verse 2]
I’m just trying to warn you that you’re bound to get hurt
I couldn’t be her last love, so how could you be her first?
I want to tell you, buddy, things are bound to get rough
I know that she’s only flirting, but I think that I’ve had enough
[Chorus 1]
Next time you see her, tell her that I love her
Next time you see her, tell her that I care
Next time you see her, tell her that I love her
Next time I see you, boy, you’d better beware
[Chorus 2]
And if you see her again, I will surely kill you
And if you see her again, I will surely kill you
[Chorus 1]
Next time you see her, tell her that I love her
Next time you see her, tell her that I care
Next time you see her, tell her that I love her
Next time I see you, boy, you’d better beware
[Chorus 2]
And if you see her again, I will surely kill you
And if you see her again, I will surely kill you
[Chorus 1]
Next time you see her, tell her that I love her
Next time you see her, tell her that I care
Next time you see her, tell her that I love her
Next time I see you, boy, you’d better beware
Meet Me In Montauk 
One of my favorite albums and right up there with 461 Ocean Boulevard as my two favorite Clapton albums.