Nothing But The Blues - Part 4 Martin Scorsese Eric Clapton

[SuperStephen1951]

if you go to demonoid.com you will find the dvd its called nothing but the blues

[SDsailor7]

What DVD is this Clapton performance from,anyone know?

I need to have it..

Thank you..

[zthetha]

Little bits of BB here and there - very nice -I guess you have to be a Clapton devotee to appreciate the rest.

[PolarSkua]

@zthetha I had no idea this documentary would be all about Clapton. Disappointed oh well.

[StPeteG8r]

One word.. INCREDIBLE !!!!!!

[TheNigelr]

Now THIS is truly the blues

[morningwood1985]

saw Clapton in june in Helsinki, the review wasn´t that good but in my mind, the reviewer couldn´t have been at the same gig as me=) I was totally blown away by his playing, have also been a fan for many years=)

[Xcitableboy]

After listening to Mr. C for more than 40 years now, I am amazed at how tight-assed some people can be.  I was born in Memphis myself, Eric wasn't, but that's no qualifier for "authentic" blues grounding. The fact is, the man has utterly mastered the form, as this video magnificently demonstrates. After all the heart-wrenching losses he has suffered and endured, he is certainly MORE than qualified to sing and play the blues AUTHENTICALLY. You "purists" need to give it a break.

[fchandschuh]

This concert is truly one of the greatest moments in blues guitar history. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see Clapton at his best.

[SDsailor7]

@fchandschuh From what DVD is this footage? do you know?

Thank you

[TheSchnitzelburger]

@fchandschuh which concert is this?



[loneranger3169]

GET A DEEP SEAT AND GET A FAR AWAY LOOK IN YOUR EYE ... EAT YOUR HEART OUT .. FREEKING AWSOME

[jamestsuel]

All you little grils suck it up ,the man is as good as it gets!!

[cdevers100]

With all due respect, Man if you really heard the masters, Muddy, Otis, Buddy and the like, anyone with a good ear will say the same thing......It is not authentic. I dont give a damn about all the negative responses I get either. Just cause you stink like the blues, dont mean you sting like the blues....Sorry, just a blues lover with an opinion......

[cdevers100]

Ole Eric, as a writer in one of the most prestigous mags once said, He is the master of the cliche........

[bamboosa]

Only one thing matters here. Eric is playing a Gibson. That's it. Everything else is moot.

[Jitpring]

It seems that Eric Clapton managed to achieve absolute technical perfection.

[Jitpring]

@cdevers100 Your comments are incoherent. Please clarify. 

[Jitpring]

@cdevers100 Right.

[verbw002]

@cdevers100 Why don't YOU get documentary made on YOUR blues playing, then come rip on a master for not being good enough.

[verbw002]

@cdevers100 that made virtually no sense what so ever......... Why are you watching this if you hate Clapton?

And by the way, I already listen to all those guys and love them.

[definiteNZ]

I respect Claptons technical ability and place in rock history - you can never say his love for and support of blues isnt genuine - but - to me, he just doesnt have the swagger, attitude and depth of your Howlin Wolf's, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and all them. I actually thinkClapton shines best on songs like 'Change the World' where he can be and sound like himself and not a fanboy of his heroes

[tjfitzpatrick10]

@definiteNZ shines the most on layla...not the contemporary garbage. layla he gets in a bit of his blues stuff, gets to jam with a contemporary who digs the same stuff (duane) and they combine to make undoubtedly one of the best rock (not blues, jazz, etc) tracks of all time. layla smokes with just straight rock attitude. good post tho.

[bamboosa]

Finally. Clapton back on a Gibson.

[mcleanartists]

@bamboosa Amen.

[solorising]

It amazes me that people comment on Clapton saying he sucks etc...

Really? Are you F'n kidding me? Trying to hard? Thats called feeling! Boring? You have no appreciation for good blues.

Are you watching the same ass kicking guitar work I am?

I appreciate Clapton & the Bluesmen who came before him.

[BucksOwin]

@solorising

Absolutely right on. Those who are stupid enough to criticize EC are obviously not in the same league and should go practice scales or something....(maybe go watch some paint dry)

[cdevers100]

@BucksOwin If the color of the paint is deep blue........Get me a chair......Why should I go and practice scales when your God only knows one.........Panasonic dont beat Bose boy

[Donniedoitall]

Clapton is great but it almost seems like hes trying to hard 

[guitarkenbob]

@Donniedoitall you surely mean "too hard" but he all it is actually is a thing called 'feeling"!

[HomesickBluesBand]

Clapton is just more traditional blues on Gibson guitars, but his technique is "better" on a Strat, today.... He seems to choose the notes better on Gibson... the sound of the guitar has there a great deal, but also how it feels in hands...

[cgabler91191]

SRV also learned blues from Eric Clapton, as well as Albert King and Jimi Hendrix. Clapton's influence is just as dominant to later generations of guitarists as well: Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepard, John Mayer and Joe Bonnamassa for example.

[9ihsanp9]

Just watched the whole 4 of these and SRV would have represented the blues a lot better than clapton!

[ENOCHSZUNXXXL]

Clapton IS terrible compared to the real Blues guys I give him a E for effort. He is just boring.

[hazor777]

Well the one thing you can't take away from Clapton is that he was/is an innovator. When he hit the "scene" he shook it up,not unlike Hendrix (who shook Clapton up)- it was the transfer of blues into a rock format with alot of juice/strength (whatev U wanna call it) behind it. ALL rock/metal guitarists owe a debt of gratitude to Clapton for unveiling what could/can be done with an amp & a guitar - blues notwithstanding-the man plays "B*L*U*E*S",...period.

[happypatio]

annoying compared to king.. but so close, why is that..

[Shub99]

Nobody has to like Clapton or the blues, I don't understand Opera, disco, rap and some other stuff it's ok ... but the blues ... they are the heart beat

[cgabler91191]

I have seen Eric live several times, and twice in 2007, and I can attest he is as good as anyone playing the blues, when he plays in the zone like this song. I have also seen these cats live: B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall, and Joe Bonamassa. Eric Clapton is a great revivalist of the wonderful blues tradition. If others don't like him, well, that is just their personal preference.

[JOHNNYG99X]

great playing

[aaronamccoy]

clapton never tripped me out

[kidsareoverrated]

i think clapton's strengths are in his ability to blend and meld different types of music, but his 'straight' blues stuff is kinda...meh...

[daniva]

clapton band sound souless, i prefer his 60s or 70s era, for me the blues have to be more dirty and less hi fi

[yankeelawdog]

Part 4 of Martin Scorcese's unreleased documentary "Nothing But The Blues." Clapton solo is extraordinary.

[clean3]

That 335 seems to bring out the old Clapton.

[mcbob1955]

With Clapton you have to factor in the perspective of the time he was emerging as a guitarist. He was unique for the time and, compared to others, he played with a lot of feeling. If you compare his stuff with Cream to his contemporaries, he stood out big time. Personally, I've never heard a white player who played the blues with the feeling of, say, Freddie King or Albert King or Buddy Guy. SRV was basically the Clapton of his era - again, perspective of the time period.

[chickenandbaconclub2]

@mcbob1955 Why make the skin-colour distinction? They are all just guitar players. If you think hard about what blues guitar is all about, then you will quickly realise that everyones persistent talk of skin colour is pointless and dated. What is blues guitar about to you? What does it mean?

[mcbob1955]

@chickenandbaconclub2 It's not about skin color it's about culture. There are plenty of technically proficient white blues guitarists who haven't got the feel. There are also plenty of black blues guitarists who didn't come up through the same set of circumstances as did, for instance, Freddy King. Robert Cray really does nothing for me. Freddy, Albert, Buddy, Hubert, etc, etc - there's real blues in that music. Blues - pain, suffering, hurting, disappointment.

[chickenandbaconclub2]

@mcbob1955 I agree whole-heartedly that it is about culture. So why not talk about culture instead? You can speak about culture without mentioning the colour of peoples skin...

[mcbob1955]

@chickenandbaconclub2 Well I guess I could say that it's the culture of impoverished former slaves in the USA whose ancestors harkened from Africa, but that's a mouthful compared to just referring it as black culture. But I'll do it your way - the degree to which a musician's background reflects the above, versus a UK working class or art school or a US suburban upbringing, directly correlates to the authenticity of their respective blues mojo. Or something like that.

[mcbob1955]

@chickenandbaconclub2 and further, just to clarify, I think Clapton was brilliant in Cream. Better to adapt what you've learned to what is essentially a new form of music than to parrot that of others. Post-Cream, I found him boring, uninspired and irrelevant. Then again, to hear him still being able to rip off licks like this in his golden years is inspiring to those of a not dissimilar age who still like to bust out the mid-60s Gibson every now and then and relive their teenage years.

[jamestsuel]

IF YOU CANT GET CLAPTON, GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR SOMETHING IS WRONG

[stp88mil]

5:09 that was sic

[xXShesARebel8xx]

i was playing the blues before i knew it had a name. if u play an a minor at age 7 without even knowing it was a chord or well known, doesnt that mean you invented the a minor chord? i know silly isnt it?

[xXShesARebel8xx]

made my livin playing music since i was 12. started playing at 7. blues has always been my favorite but i still think the skill it takes technically speaking is overrated. its something you are born with, simple as that.

[chevy66driver]

This documentary is so great because it more like a showcase of the blues legends with Clapton disguised as the main event

[djembelelle]

Sounds like a decent amateur..

[william1theguitarwah]

i agree with u guys clapton should go back to playing gibsons, he plays alot better on them and they sound much better with him than the strats

[bluelibra65]

eric's career spans so many stages of his development, and so many musical styles, it'll make your head spin ~~ if you dont' appreciate this, check out some of his earlier, more trad, material

[djfingersflores]

i like clapton and obviously he can play the guitar pretty damn good but i just cant get into his type of blues music, i think its his voice... tryin' too hard, dont sound natural....

[scout005]

Yeah, know what you mean. His licks are cold, man. No soul behind it. As opposed to somebody like Peter Green. Clapton's good but he's not great IMHO.

[clint1663]

it's like 10,000 bb king licks then him stredding in between... really good though

[voiceofthenorthable]

Eric jams on Olympus-say no more chief!

[ZEBRA2828]

When EC plays like this it's mind boggling. I hate some of the pop shit he's done but this is primo

[willowperson]

I never quite got why everybody would consider him one of the greats...now i finally know.

[boxingin]

@willowperson I'm starting to feel the same way about Eric. I mean, there is a reason why The Great Jimi Hendrix requested to meet him way before he arrived in England.

[stuielad]

I think he actually plays the best I've heard him in a LONG time on this film...and I think he should go back to playing Gibsons...he plays better on a Gibson and his playing suits the sound of a Gibson much more than a Fender. In my humble opinion...

[kidmumudf]

I agree with you..

fits better with the SG and the 335.. but not with the Les Paul.

[chriscurrey1]

This solo is as close to perfect as you can ever get.

Not one misplaced note. Damn, he's good and i sometimes i forget that

[mitchakotaco]

that's where the name came from yes. but Clapton himself muses that the joke was he could play 90m miles a min an it took him foreve to restring the guitar. hence "slowhand"

[jefferzone61]

yEAH, i'M PROBABLY THE ODD MAN OUT HERE, BUT i THINK HE tends to overplay, as in too many notes - great player, but clay feet like all the rest - one of my my faves is the Don't Think Twice version he did at Dylans 30th Anniversary MSG show - then there's the Last Waltz performance - Robertson did very well....

[jc333jc]

Yeah! I rule... :-)

Thanks.

[SavantSvant]

OH MHA GHHHHHAAAAAAD

[JOHNNYG99X]

pure class.. love his strat playing but wish he'd play the 335 more as he approaches blues from another angle

[scottishsanny]

Claptons meticulous... hes a perfectionist.....

[bluesfanman1]

Man that 335 doesn't even sound like a Gibson. Cleanest humbuckers ever.

[BrotherPaul57]

he 's playing through a fender 57 reisssue twin , no distort everything pedals , yes any guitar can sound good clean or naturally overdriven if you try.tto many guiatrist rely on distortion to hide mistakes , listen to Tbone walker , now that's clean!

[halloweenfiend666]

powerful

[kupacore]

-he is the MAYOR.

[tedfio1tedfio1]

Clapton; simply AWSOME!

[xHighallTimesx]

not on this video .. right where he belongs , This vid is reserved for good people .. But dont Feel bad i didnt see srv on any of these parts either

[cadgenyus]

The bend that he does at 1:31 is NASTY!!!

UGH....it stands the hair up on my neck every time......

[Mariekesone]

I agree this is almost a spiritual experience listening to them....Its Clapton at his Best..Top form..

[nameofthepen]

Approaches being a religious experience to listen to these giants.

[zep123dmc]

it may sound weird but im 18, own a 07 civic, love music like rage against the machine and led zeppelin, but truthfully eric clapton is probably my favorite musician... he keeps it real onstage, no fuckin around, guitar skills are amazing, has a great voice, oh and did i tell you he is just damn cool... Clapton bitches!

Peace

[Tezman82]

Damn! Clapton got to learn from, and jam with, some of the most amazing blues artist of all time...and he's still alive and playing.

[keithstrat]

Fiinally someone got it right!!!!

What makes Clapton king is in the soul and feeling..He makes the guitar sing like a voice like no one else can! It is all about, soul and FEELING.... Plus EC has an unbelievable sense of timing , were to place the notes and where not to....

[TREYOLDHIPPIE]

As clear and extended as a guitar can be. But I are butt an amateur.. of many years.

[joeylovetx]

Freddie was so influential that it's a shame he hasn't been inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame !

[FuctUpGlam13]

is it od that when i think of blues i don't think of clapton at all?

i just to like muddy waters or john lee hooker right away.

[JFizoust]

clapton is part of the progressed blues. much later in time than skip james and such. maybe you are thinking of a style of blues called "delta blues". which is much more southern. buddy guy and clapton were more into the blues rock. but yeah, when i want some blues blues, i'm all about the skip james. this is an awesome movie btw. love to watch the progression.

[BigRickBitch]

yepp its odd. it just shows lack of musical knowledge

[FuctUpGlam13]

lack of musical knowledge?

thats a fuckin' broad statement.

i think its fare because eric clapton came out of a group of english rock bands inspired by muddy waters and john lee hooker,

so i'm ignorent to say i think of the REAL blues musicians before people immitating them?

its not ignorance, its commone sense

[BigRickBitch]

yeah bro you're right, stupid comment on my part.

i guess what i meant was when thinking the blues you should think a community of musicians (including clapton) rather john lee and muddy waters but it's really whatever musicicans you can associate the music with. which in your case are those guys. sorry bro

[shadracastrat]

People forget that clapton is like in his 60´s now. He has had a 40 year career so obviously you cant remain the same for that long.

He has a special talent on the guitar, yes there are faster players etc but may i quote ginger baker and say "he got time" man. Listen to that phrasing and they way he feels his way round the time, right in the pocket.

[norwiegenwood]

also he is so melodic everthing fits with the song so well it is like an extention of the voice and meledy

[Jimi85]

I don't know who said it, actually I think it might have been Eddie Van Halen when talking about Clapton. Anyways, what he said was "Clapton doesn't waste any notes". The words first kind of sound like a pretty obvious thing to say, but when you think of it, it's actually quite on the money. Clapton was called slowhand for the reason that he knows which notes to pick, when to pick them, without any rush but with feel and meaning.

[jc333jc]

As a small aside; he's called slowhand because he took so long to re-string and tune up. :-)

He is a brilliant player at any tempo with fantastic phrasing.

[mitchakotaco]

i agree with you. but ironically... his nickname came from him playing so fast when he first came round it became somewhat of an inside joke with his bandmates in the bluesbreakers and the yardbirds.

[PAULOcbi]

an inside joke ,that is it ,that is the actual birthplace of the name,so many authors who are too lazy to research have wrote so many diff. accounts,lol,(he`s called Slowhand `cos of how long it takes him to restring the guitar is soooo funny,lol)

[TheOwlMan]

I think it's because Hendrix wooped his ass,and he had no other choice BUT to be called slow hand after that! lol

[TREYOLDHIPPIE]

Just go ahead and kill us MR CLAPTON..!!

[cmlnrowan]

I think it's just different and "is what it is." He's always been very deferential to the originators. I think he still holds them in awe. I enjoy EC's blues. I try not to be bigoted about music - it's so high school. He's way better than I'll ever be - 'nuff said.

[PageandPlant4Life]

Stratocasters are Great. But Eric should've stuck with an Es-335.

[jbawn]

amazing guitar solos from Ec. Genius

[aklein123456789]

is their a part 5?

[MichaelHoff]

I have such a hard time getting into Clapton's blues... Not sure what it is, but I just can't dig it.

[musiccuts]

For me personally, I have played the guitar for years and have tried to play some of Clapton's guitar licks from The Yardbirds to the present and I've then had a greater appreciation for his work.

[MichaelHoff]

You might be on to something there. He definitely can play, there is no arguing that.. I guess it's just the emotional quality. I definitely enjoy his more rock n'roll side, when he plays the pure stripped down blues that's where I get a bit distracted looking for more in his music.

[JilaX]

Yeah, a LOT of Musicians get this. I mean, putting him next to Freddie King, Albert King etc. It just doesn't have that emotional quality. I still love his early stuff, I enjoy From The Cradle, but it just ain't as good as it was before I had played the guitar for a good year.

[Mtallica101]

he's just a rock player. in my honest opinion he shits all over the "authentic" blues.

[schamp6]

i cant take that statement serious from a guy whose name is metallica...

[MichaelHoff]

Okay okay - Last night I sat down and listened to the best of Cream. That guitar playing on there killed this work... Maybe Clapton is talented and more authentic than I thought, just not with his altruistic sound he's got going on here.

[bc1969214]

I enjoy it, check out his MSG 2008 Double Trouble with Steve Winwood, but also enjoy his Cream and Derek and the Dominos stuff better.

I admire the blues for the influences, but can't get into for example Robert Johnson's version of Crossroads that started it all. I'll listen to the Cream version and I'm hooked.

Love the blues for what they spawned.

[iArsalan]

@MichaelHoff I understand what you mean. His technical ability is impressive but he's missing the soulfulness. Clapton to me always seems to imitate Blues greats rather than becoming one himself. The Blues is just you expressing your unfiltered soul, like yourself singing to yourself to keep from crying; Clapton has yet to do that.

Just hearing the difference between Freddie King and Clapton was enough to illustrate this. It's annoying that so much focus is on Clapton in this documentary.

[christophereu]

@MichaelHoff listen to the layla album

[Jenntasnim]

@MichaelHoff brother it is what it is he's a great musician, but you like what you like.

[Jenntasnim]

@MichaelHoff brother it is what it is he's a great musician, some love it and some don't.

[TheCidiot]

@MichaelHoff

For some reason they use clips of Clapton from when he was way past his prime in this documentary. Check out some Cream or John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Check out 5:17 in the clip called "3. Cream Documentary" on youtube

[rule914]

@TheCidiot

Eric Clapton in the 90s was just as good if not better than when he was in Cream.

[cgabler91191]

@rule914 I agree, and I have seen him in the 90's and 2000's and his tone on the Strat has only gotten better. I saw him on the 2007 tour and he had Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall in the band, and all would switch off and solo on the blues songs. Excellent show, and guts with E.C. wanting to have this "newer" blues artists challenge him.

[TheCidiot]

@rule914

Maybe technically, but there's nothing in it. Or maybe I'm just distracted by the cheesy 15-piece backing band.