461 Ocean Boulevard is Eric Clapton's second studio solo album, arriving after his side project of Derek and the Dominos and a long struggle with heroin addiction. Although there are some new reggae influences, the album doesn't sound all that different from the rock, pop, blues, country, and R&B amalgam of Eric Clapton. However, 461 Ocean Boulevard is a tighter, more focused outing that enables Clapton to stretch out instrumentally. Furthermore, the pop concessions on the album -- the sleek production, the concise running times -- don't detract from the rootsy origins of the material, whether it's Johnny Otis' "Willie and the Hand Jive," the traditional blues "Motherless Children," Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff," or Clapton's emotional original "Let It Grow." With its relaxed, friendly atmosphere and strong bluesy roots, 461 Ocean Boulevard set the template for Clapton's '70s albums. Though he tried hard to make an album exactly like it, he never quite managed to replicate its charms. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Yvonne Elliman (Vocals), Yvonne Elliman (Vocals (Background)), Albhy Galuten (Organ), Albhy Galuten (Synthesizer), Albhy Galuten (Piano), Albhy Galuten (Clavichord), Albhy Galuten (Piano (Electric)), Tom Bernfield (Vocals), Tom Bernfield (Vocals (Background)), Eric Clapton (Dobro), Eric Clapton (Guitar), Eric Clapton (Arranger), Eric Clapton (Vocals), Eric Clapton (Main Performer), Tom Dowd (Producer), Jim Fox (Drums), Steve Klein (Assistant Engineer), Jamie Oldaker (Percussion), Jamie Oldaker (Drums), Carl Radle (Bass), Karl Richardson (Engineer), Dick Sims (Organ), Dick Sims (Bass), Dick Sims (Keyboards), George Terry (Guitar), George Terry (Piano), George Terry (Vocals (Background)), Al Jackson, Jr. (Drums), Carl Radie (Bass), Carl Radie (Arranger), Bob Defrin (Art Direction), David Gahr (Photography), Thomas Bernfeld (Vocals (Background))
461 Ocean Boulevard is a 1974 album by blues
rockerEric Clapton. His first album after quitting heroin and his second after the dissolution of Derek & the
Dominos, Clapton was under a lot of pressure during the recording of 461 Ocean Boulevard. He succeeded regardless,
and the album received rave reviews upon its release.
On later pressings of the album and the Polygram CD, "Give Me Strength" was pulled because a songwriter claimed she was the
composer and had not been credited (Clapton was originally listed as composer). It was replaced with the track "Better Make It
Through Today",(dropped from the re-release) which was recorded in September '74 and originally released on the "There's One in Every Crowd" album in April '75.
In 2004 a remastered two-disc "deluxe edition" of 461 Ocean Boulevard was released.
The second disc included in the packaging features a live concert with various "jam" sessions. The first disc also has a few new
added tracks, all live which were recorded at Hammersmith Concert Hall (formerly the Hammersmith Odeon).
The title of the album was the address of a house on Golden Beach in Miami,
Clapton was living in at the time. The house is also the one featured on the cover. In 2003, the album was ranked number 409 on
Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
