- 2024-10-10
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MUSIC
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Eric Clapton Releases New Album “Meanwhile”
British guitarist and singer-songwriter Eric Clapton released his twenty-second solo studio album “Meanwhile” on October 4, 2024 via Bushbranch Records/Surfdog Records.
This marks his first album in eight years since the 2016 album “I Still Do” except Christmas album.
Physical formats, vinyl and CD, will be available on January 24, 2025.
The album comprises a 14-track, featuring guest appearances from Jeff Beck, Bradley Walker, Van Morrison, Judith Hill, Simon Climie, and Daniel Santiago, produced by Simon Climie.
Also, American Dobro and lap steel guitarist Jerry Douglas and Rolling Stones' guitarist Ronnie Wood joined in the album.- The album includes 6 cover songs, such as Chuck Berry's “You've Changed”, Van Morrison's “Where Have All the Rebels Gone”, English folk song “Sam Hall”, Henry Mancini's “Moon River”, Bob Neuwirth's “The Call”, and Charlie Chaplin's “Smile”.
Especially, “Moon River” and “Sam Hall” paid tribute to the late British guitarist Jeff Beck, who died from a bacterial meningitis infection on January 10, 2023, at the age of 78.
The album also features some songs that protest against the COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccines, the likes of “Heart of a Child”, “Pompous Fool”, “This Has Gotta Stop”, and “Stand and Deliver”.
Eric Clapton said of the album itself consists of “all these sort of slightly political comments mixed up with songs that are just songs.” -
Eric Clapton and producer Simon Climie explained about some tracks for the album.
“Pompous Fool” (Anti-Lockdown Song)
Eric Clapton: “Following the PM's announcement on Monday the 19th of July 2021 I feel honour bound to make an announcement of my own. I wish to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present. Unless there is provision made for all people to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show.”
“Moon River” featuring Jeff Beck
Simon Climie: “In January 2022, Eric and I recorded a version which was more of a ballad – and naturally the guitar and vocals were brilliant. When we were happy with the track, Eric asked me to send it over to Jeff. Jeff loved it. And soon after that in the spring of 2022, Jeff added his unmistakable guitar part. It knocked us off our feet.”
“Sam Hall”
Eric Clapton: “This is a real honor for me to be here. I've been to see this show so many times, and our kids have grown up with this. My family's out there. And it is wonderful to be here. I begged Jerry to come up here. [Laughs] But I really wanted to just do one thing, a traditional Irish Traveler's song, a lament, for my friend Jeff, and it's called Sam Hall.” at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 2023.
“How Could We Know” featuring Judith Hill, Simon Climie, and Daniel Santiago
Simon Climie: “I couldn't dream of a more incredible line up for 'How Could We Know' than Eric Clapton, Judith Hill and Daniel Santiago.”
“Stand and Deliver” featuring Van Morrison (Anti-Vaccines Song)
Eric Clapton: “We must stand up and be counted because we need to find a way out of this mess. The alternative is not worth thinking about. Live music might never recover. I took the first jab of AZ [AstraZeneca] and straight away had severe reactions which lasted 10 days. The reactions [to the second] were disastrous. My hands and feet were either frozen, numb or burning, and pretty much useless for two weeks, I feared I would never play again.” - source : Apple Music
