Eric Clapton: Money & Cigarettes - 1983


Eric Clapton fired his band for this release, with the exception of guitarist Albert Lee and brought in bass legend Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. & The MG's fame, Muscle Shoals drummer Roger Hawkins and guitarist Ry Cooder among others. 

There were some fine blues tracks here such as a slightly funky cover of Sleepy John Estes' Everybody Oughta Make A Change, Albert King's Crosscut Saw and Johnny Otis's Crazy Country Hop. Typical laid-back Clapton MOR/AOR rock can also be found on the album's hit single, the irresistible I've Got A Rock And Roll Heart and ex-alcoholic Eric even finds time to have a pop at his wife for the same thing on the actually quite catchy, upbeat Shape You're In. He makes it up to her, though, with the loved-up strains of Pretty Girl and Man In Love, so that was alright then. 

Once more, listened to now, this is more than just another eighties album from an already ageing rocker, it's pretty damn good, as far as I'm concerned anyway...check out the vibrant rock of Ain't Going Down, Slow Down Linda and Man Overboard. Quality stuff.

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