Eric Clapton – Old Sock (2013) [HDTracks 24bit/96kHz]

Old Sock is Eric Clapton’s latest masterpiece and first album since 2010. The work is a collection of Clapton’s favorite songs from childhood to present day. It showcases his deep appreciation of music and celebrates those who inspired him including George Gershwin, Gary Moore and Taj Mahal. Clapton has always possessed an unmatched gift for interpreting classics. Old Sock features music luminaries including Steve Gadd, Willie Weeks, Chris Stainton and Paul McCartney. Standouts include “Still Got The Blues,” “All Of Me” and “Our Love Is Here To Stay.” Absolutely essential.

The album is a collection of some of Clapton s favorite songs spanning from his childhood to present day that highlights his vast appreciation and knowledge of music. From Leadbelly to J.J. Cale; Peter Tosh to George Gershwin; Hank Snow to Gary Moore and Taj Mahal, this record is a celebration of so many who have inspired Clapton s rich musical life. Clapton has always had a remarkable ability to recognize great songs and a gift for knowing how to uniquely interpret them, as he does on Old Sock. The album explores romantic standards of the 30’s, reggae, soul, rock, and includes a stand out playful collaboration with Paul McCartney, to create an experience that is quintessential Clapton.
Clapton assembled a band for the recordings consisting of longtime collaborators Steve Gadd (drums), Willie Weeks (bass) and Chris Stainton (keyboards) along with some surprise guest additions. JJ Cale joins the song “Angel” for backing vocals and guitar, Chaka Khan joins as backing vocalist for “Get On Over, ” Steve Winwood on the Hammond B3 Organ on “Still Got The Blues, ” Paul McCartney on bass/vocals on “All of Me, ” Jim Keltner on drums for “Our Love is Here To Stay”.

Switching from a major to his own Bushbranch imprint on Gary Hoey’s independent SurfDog label is, to the say least, a little unexpected from Eric Clapton, but now that he’s reached the ripe old age of 67, the guitarist isn’t so concerned with proving himself. On Old Sock, his 20th studio album, he sounds downright happy to be slowly dropping off of the mainstream radar, not bothering with any music that could conceivably be called pop, or even writing his own songs. Only two of the 12 songs on Old Sock are new, and he didn’t write either himself; they’re co-writes between his longtime right-hand man Doyle Bramhall II, Nikki Costa, and Justin Stanley, and the vaguely propulsive blues-rock of “Gotta Get Over” and cheerful lite reggae bounce “Every Little Thing” fit neatly into the sunny nostalgia offered on the rest of the record. And “sunny” describes Clapton’s sound, mood, and styles here, as he favors reggae over the blues, turning both Otis Redding’s “Your One and Only Man” and Taj Mahal’s “Further On Down the Road” into lilting bits of sunsplash, covering Peter Tosh’s “Till Your Well Runs Dry,” and getting so besotted with good cheer on “Every Little Thing” he brings in a bunch of kids to sing the closing chorus, a jarring addition that treads the border of good taste. When Clapton does dip into the blues, it’s on a grandiose “Still Got the Blues,” a tribute to the late (and somewhat underappreciated) British blues guitarist Gary Moore, so it’s clear his heart now lies elsewhere, namely shuffling along with Paul McCartney to “All of Me” and knocking out Leadbelly’s “Goodnight Irene” as a front porch singalong. Clapton indulged in this shameless, warm-hearted celebration of the past on 2010’s Eric Clapton, but that album bore all the hallmarks of a carefully considered major-label effort: the sound was immaculate and the song selection had the well-considered thrust of a history lesson. Here, he leaves all those classy trappings behind, picks up his guitar and plays a bunch of songs he likes, maybe even loves. It’s not an especially compelling reason to make an album but it’s not a bad one, either, and the same can be said about the experience of listening to Old Sock: it’s a pleasurable way to while away the time.

Tracklist:

01 – Further On Down The Road
02 – Angel
03 – The Folks Who Live On The Hill
04 – Gotta Get Over
05 – Till Your Well Runs Dry
06 – All Of Me
07 – Born To Lose
08 – Still Got The Blues
09 – Goodnight Irene
10 – Your One and Only Man
11 – Every Little Thing
12 – Our Love Is Here To Stay

Musicians:
Eric Clapton – Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, 12-String Guitar, Dobro, Mandolin
Doyle Bramhall II – Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar, Mandolin, Backing Vocals
Willie Weeks – Bass, Upright Bass
Steve Gadd – Drums
Walt Richmond – Upright Piano, Keyboards
Greg Leisz – Pedal Steel, Mandolin
Chris Stainton – Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hammond B3 Organ
Taj Mahal – Harmonica, Banjo
Jim Keltner – Drums
Steve Winwood – Hammond B3 Organ
J.J. Cale – Vocals, Electric Guitar
Paul McCartney – Upright Bass, Vocals
Abe Laboriel, Jr. – Drums
Tim Carmon – Hammond B3 Organ, Chord Organ
Henry Spinetti – Drums
Justin Stanley – Clavinet, Mellotron, Drums
Matt Chamberlain – Drums
Matt Rollings – Keyboards
Simon Climie – Percussion, Piano
Frank Marocco – Accordion
Gabe Witcher – Fiddle
Stephen “Doc” Kupka – Baritone Sax
Joseph Sublett – Tenor Sax
Nicholas Lane – Trombone
Sal Cracchiolo – Trumpet
Background Vocals – Sharon White, Michelle John
Guest Vocals – Chaka Khan, Julie Clapton, Ella Clapton, Sophie Clapton, Nikka Costa, Wendy Moten, Lisa Vaughn

Download:

EricClaptnldSck2013FLAC2496.part1.rar
EricClaptnldSck2013FLAC2496.part2.rar