Cincinnati Babyhead

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Album : Eric Clapton – No Reason To Cry

CB likes Eric Clapton’s music. It started with Cream and his buddies Jack and Ginger then into the Blind Faith thing then to the discovery of his early stuff with the Yardbirds and John Mayall. The next big chunk was Derek and the Dominoes. There’s a bit of my history with his music.

He’s gone on to cut some solo records that I dig. ‘No Reason To Cry’ is one of them. I probably listen to this one the most. It followed ‘365 Ocean Blvd’ (another very good record). It was a change of pace from all the heavy blues influenced stuff from his early days. Don’t ask me why I like it so much, I just do. The music just grabbed me. It’s a good mix of songs and styles.

The album has a “The Band” vibe. It’s no wonder because all the Band members contribute throughout. Dylan shows up and he and Eric sing ‘Sign language’ together. It’s just one of those tunes that resonates with CB. Some of Bob’s genius lyrics ” You speak to me in sign language as I’m eating a sandwich ..”. Not kidding you folks I love that stuff. Doesn’t hurt that the Band is all over it with the music. The song just gets me. ‘County Jail Blues’ has Clapton back to the blues roots where he came from. It’s one of my favorite Eric tunes. His vocals and guitar are in perfect order. the organ doesn’t hurt.

With ‘Past Times’ he is an honorary member of The Band. Him and Danko (I’m a big Danko guy) nail it. At least my ear thinks so. This song reminds me so much of the fantastic solo album Danko put out at around the same time. ‘Hello Old Friend’ is a feel good song for me. Who doesn’t like seeing an old friend? He captures the vibe on this one. Never too far from the blues EC gives us another good one in ‘Double Trouble’. What a killer cut. The support is top notch.

He just seems real comfortable, inspired and at home on this record. He gets great support throughout the record. Too many to list. (It’s at your finger tips with this new fangled computer stuff) Lots of good guitar on the record and not just from Clapton. A great mix of music that has stuck with me all these years. I like this record

Say hello to an old friend and give it a listen

40 comments on “Album : Eric Clapton – No Reason To Cry”

  1. Jim S.
    January 30, 2022

    A sandwich album for me that, apart from a couple of tunes, I never really picked up on. Sandwiched between the live “EC Was Here,” and the great “Slowhand.” I never really picked up this one but I do know a couple of the tunes. I used to listen to the “Double Trouble” off of the live “Just One Night” album pretty relentlessly. Nice minor Otis Rush blues. As to the Band, I think CB the Band Lover Extraordinaire knows that Clapton was so enamored of them that after hearing “Big Pink,” he traveled to Woodstock in hopes of joining them. Basically, they told him they were a pretty tight unit and they already had a guitar player.

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    • cincinnatibabyhead
      January 30, 2022

      I knew he was a Band JJ Cale disciple but didnt know that story. You can hear some good Robertson licks on this album.

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      • Jim S.
        January 30, 2022

        In his autobiography, Clapton mentions how much he dug “Big Pink.” He tells how it made him realize that Cream’s loud, long jams were over for him and how he wanted to move in a rootsier direction. I don’t believe he tells that story but Robbie does in his book .EC also would much rather have been in Delaney and Bonnie’s band, anything but Cream apparently. Blind Faith was to some extent Clapton’s attempt at being The Band.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        January 30, 2022

        I get all the creative outlets. He certainly didnt get cheated. His early recordings with the bands you mentioned plus The Yardbirds and Mayall were some of the groundwork that shaped my tastes. Big time. Albums like this one were just part of his musical journey that I was still into. It’s amazing how many quality musicians The Band inspired to change things up or just to join in on the fun they were having. Whatever Eric has morphed into, it’s like you said, cant deny his chops.

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      • Jim S.
        January 30, 2022

        “Big Pink” came out of nowhere. The funny thing is if they had made an album just a couple of years earlier it would likely have been more R&B. As to Clapton, yeah, who knows what he’s thinking. But I haven’t stopped listening. I’m jamming these days with a drummer who’s learning to play bass. I figured I’d hit him with “Sunshine of Your Love” on one visit so I’m learning the solo. Clapton’s stuff is great but it’s not particularly complex nor hard to play. But it’s always inventive.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        January 30, 2022

        “Havent stopped listening” That the the key to it all. And in your case “stopped playing”.

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  2. valenciartist
    January 30, 2022

    Although i always leaned towards Jimmy Page as the best guitar player, I do respect and admire Clapton, but this album I don’t know…

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  3. Vinyl Connection
    January 30, 2022

    A fair description, I reckon, CB. I’ve become less of an EC fan over the years, leaning towards the earlier work when he was hungrier. Though there is a pleasing competence and ease on many of these albums that goes down will like a light ale. (P.S. 461).

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    • cincinnatibabyhead
      January 30, 2022

      Im with you Bruce. I could have used your comment and saved some typing. I listen to the early stuff way more. Of his recent albums the one that I play the most is him and Winwood at MSG.

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  4. BuriedOnMars
    January 30, 2022

    I’d rank a few more Clapton records above this one but I like it overall. Too bad he has made it difficult for me to listen to him right now, lol

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Jim S.
      January 30, 2022

      I can still listen to him play. I just can’t listen to him talking anymore. I think he’s making a fool of himself.

      Liked by 1 person

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    • cincinnatibabyhead
      January 30, 2022

      This just hit a chord back in the day and still grabs me. Definitely The Band vibe. I heard he has been saying weird things. I havent explored the details. Probably a good thing on my part. It’s a smorg of madness out there. At the best of times.

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  5. hotfox63
    January 30, 2022

    Next to his well-known albums, this one is almost forgotten. Neatly solid work from Mr. Clapton with 3-4 highlights.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Yeah, Another Blogger
    January 30, 2022

    I like those two sings. I’d never heard them before. Never heard the album at all, actually. I’m a big Danko fan too.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. deKE
    January 30, 2022

    A talent no doubt but to bad he has gone a bit loopey lately CB. I still remember hearing Another Ticket back in the early 80s which was probably the first Clapton album I had heard…
    Cool to read about these records that resonate with you Sir!

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    • cincinnatibabyhead
      January 30, 2022

      Im just going to tale your word on the “Loopy” thing. I dont even want to get any of it on me. Is there a pill to protect “Loopy”. It might be to late for CB.
      Thanks for the last comment. What it’s about for me and I think you also.

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  8. greenpete58
    January 30, 2022

    Yes, a bit “loopy.” As one of his contemporaries said (I forget who), “We all have one uncle who goes Archie Bunker on us.” Although he still shreds guitar.

    A lot of English held The Band in high esteem. This album passed me by. Clapton got increasingly mellow, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but others did the “laid-back country-rock” thing much better, in my view. Give me his version of “Crossroads” any day.

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    • cincinnatibabyhead
      January 30, 2022

      Yeah I like his slide into this style but I do like when he “Shreds” with his other two “Loopsters” and that bunch from the early days.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. observationblogger
    January 30, 2022

    Awesome song CB. Thank you for introducing me to it.

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  10. christiansmusicmusings
    January 31, 2022

    I’ll have to check out “No Reason to Cry” more closely. I only know “Hello Old Friend” and “Double Trouble” and like both.

    While as you know I dig the blues and blues-rock, Cream, The Yardbirds and John Mayall, I always liked Clapton’s laid-back sound on “461 Ocean Boulevard”. In fact, I would consider it as ranking among his finest work. Clapton recorded that album after overcoming a full-blown addiction to heroin. It probably bordered on a miracle he survived it, though he subsequently replaced it with alcohol.

    I had not been aware of Dylan’s and The Band’s involvement in “No Reason to Cry.” This surely looks intriguing.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • cincinnatibabyhead
      January 31, 2022

      This one came after 461 but similar vibe except for the Band influence. He has a pretty diverse musical journey. I like these albums from that time but do dig the earlier stuff. Talking about Mayall, a friend just played me a cut off his new one with Scarlet Rivera on violin. Very good.

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  11. badfinger20 (Max)
    February 7, 2022

    Love Clapton… his voice is really underated because of his guitar playing. This sounds great and loose…Clapton in the 60s and 70s was hard to beat. I just checked him out on the Johnny Cash show with the Dominos and Carl Perkins.
    I’ve never heard Danko’s debut album all the way through…I must do that.

    Liked by 1 person

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This entry was posted on January 30, 2022 by in 1976 Album, Eric Clapton, No Reason To Cry, Rock N Roll and tagged , , , , , , , .

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