I stumbled across a documentary (2.5 hrs!) on EC in the 1970s on HDNET the other night. It was a little slow at points, but really interesting.
I have to say that I'm a little disappointed in the lack of Clapton's drive. I never really knew how much he didn't like the spotlight and would get bored playing with the same musicians for more than a couple years... I assumed that he just liked to switch things up. But the documentary made it sound like Clapton would grow weary easily.
Before watching this documentary, I thought Clapton threw in the towel after the Unplugged album in 92... but now I think he threw in the towel after Cream.
I compare him to Dickey or Jerry, who both would push the limits of their playing and would miss notes or just screw up here or there. Personally, I'd rather have someone like DB or JG than EC, who plays it safe.
Check it out if you have time: https://www.amazon.com/Clapton-Eric-1970s-Review/dp/B00HEM1LRS .
I'll take both the studio and live Derek and the Dominos over Eric's playing in Cream.
As far as playing it safe. I have to disagree. First, he's covered a lot of different styles / music / genres over the years. That's not playing it safe. Now, if you're only defining "playing it safe" with regard to whether he goes crazy on the guitar, then I guess there's a different conversation, but I take a broader view.
He also worked very hard on his voice over the years. I don't think he's lazy at all. Nor do I think he's ever "thrown in the towel." He doesn't play guitar-centric music all the time, but that doesn't equal laziness, boredom, or anything else. It equals him not feeling like playing that music.
Finally, for my money, his guitar playing on the Marsalis/Clapton live release his perhaps the best of his career. The tone and phrasing have definite nods to his Cream days. In fact, some runs are direct replicas of stuff I remember hearing in stretched out Cream songs. His solos are short and sweet, but they are perfect within that structure -- which, to me, requires more work, precision, and has a higher degree of difficulty in performing than playing for 10 minutes straight where missed notes have less impact.
Whenever I hear someone dogging Clapton I think of Lucy Van Pelt telling Schroder Beethoven wasn't so great.
Duane had a pretty high opinion of EC.
In the sixties he was part of both great British triumverates: Clapton, Green, Taylor in Mayall's band. Clapton, Beck, Page in the Yardbirds.
The impact of Cream cannot be felt if you were not there to experience it.
D and the Ds, and a long solo career.
Just huge by any measure.
A few clunkers along the way? Yep, but taken in the big picture small distractions.
I'll take both the studio and live Derek and the Dominos over Eric's playing in Cream.
As far as playing it safe. I have to disagree. First, he's covered a lot of different styles / music / genres over the years. That's not playing it safe. Now, if you're only defining "playing it safe" with regard to whether he goes crazy on the guitar, then I guess there's a different conversation, but I take a broader view.
He also worked very hard on his voice over the years. I don't think he's lazy at all. Nor do I think he's ever "thrown in the towel." He doesn't play guitar-centric music all the time, but that doesn't equal laziness, boredom, or anything else. It equals him not feeling like playing that music.
Finally, for my money, his guitar playing on the Marsalis/Clapton live release his perhaps the best of his career. The tone and phrasing have definite nods to his Cream days. In fact, some runs are direct replicas of stuff I remember hearing in stretched out Cream songs. His solos are short and sweet, but they are perfect within that structure -- which, to me, requires more work, precision, and has a higher degree of difficulty in performing than playing for 10 minutes straight where missed notes have less impact.
Damn dude, are you a lawyer? You convinced me... I stand corrected 
BTW- I shoulda said Derek and the Dominoes, not Cream when he threw in the towel.
But definitely good points.
"Throw in the towel" wasn't a very good choice of words. Eric supposedly grew tired of the "Eric Is God" mantle bestowed upon him by his adoring fans. None-the-less Eric is/was/always will be the greatest rock guitarist of all time. He's been there since the beginning. He could be accused of inventing heavy metal (Cream). And he certainly popularized other forms of music and brought them to the mainstream. Blues, Raggae, Country come to mind. Nobody has done more to keep the blues alive than EC. To be honest ... EC joining the ABB at the Beacon is the feather in the cap for the last incarnation of the ABB. Eric Clapton, Derek And the Dominos, 461, EC Was Here, Slowhand ... You could say Eric owned the 70's.
As a big Clapton fan I look at his career in terms of his personal life. The unproductive years of heroin addiction. The uninspired years of alcoholism. The years after his son's death, when he finally seemed to embrace his talent and where he belongs in music history. It seems to me he does what he wants now.
I saw him September 74, on my 16th birthday. Sat in the 9th row of Nassau Coliseum. Probably the most disappointing concert I was ever at. He was bad.
I found at later, when I read his book, he was struggling with alchohol those years and was likely drunk
I saw him again in the 90s - he was an entirelyl different persion - blew me away.
Luckily for him, and us, he has been able to deal with his addictions and has been back on track for years.
Layla album was done under mounds of smack and coke by reports. The raw creativity rose above the self abuse. Maybe even helped fueled by it. To me that music is primal genius. Then 461 Ocean Blvd I like, but showed the slowdown of Slowhand beginning. I remember buying vinyl after vinyl release hoping for a new great Clapton and they just got worse and worse until he became Don Williams with a Strat. Thank God he got energized and found the music again. ABB & Clapton at the Beacon were musical highlights of me life!
One of favorite Eric solo's: Stephen Stills "Go Back Home".
Layla was at the start of the heroin addiction. After Layla he became paranoid and withdrawn. Townsend used the Rainbow Concerts to start him on the road to recovery. 461 Ocean Blvd was done probably before he became an alcoholic.
I could echo a lot of what's already been written, but no need to rehash.
As for the 70's Clapton, he admittedly stated he had to get away from the Guitar hero/God image.
Of course being blindingly drunk helped.
But introducing reggae, to most of the world and exploring country and singer/songwriting as well as
still being blues based and rock, I can't see where he was throwing in the towel.
Long jams, super sized solos, sure.
But I do think some laziness was there, mostly because of alcohol. He relied VERY heavily on George Terry before finally accepting his role as true band leader and soloist.
He still relies heavily on chosen players to this day. Nathan East, Steve Gadd, Andy Fairweather Low, Billie Preston before he died, Reg Isodore, Henry Spinetti, Doyle Bramyall II for a while and his backup singers, Sharon and Michelle. Oh, and of course Chris Stainton he's used pretty heavily since '79.
So as frustrating as some of his choices could be, he is comfortable with his status, his playing, and even
more debatable ... his tone.
I've often wondered if he actually pays Fender for the amount of guitars they make him or not.
But hey ... it's Eric Clapton
