Eric Clapton's RSO demise

This album would be Eric Clapton's last on the RSO(Robert Stigwood Organization) label,at least in the non-compilation category. This album only spawned one hit,I CAN'T STAND IT. It also appeared on the compilation THE CREAM OF CLAPTON. The other songs are good. In 1983,two years after the release of this album,Clapton signed with Warner Bros. and put out his WB debut,MONEY AND CIGARETTES. As for RSO,it wouldn't last much longer,and would be sold to its sister label,Polydor. Both labels are a division of PolyGram.

Most underrated album

Well, most of the people knows about 461 ocean boulevard or slowhand, but somehow misses this brilliant album. There are no monster hits on it (I shot the sheriff, Cocaine, Wonderful tonight,...) but all the songs are good, and what's more, they blend together nicely.



It opens with Something Special, Clapton's original, cheerful country. Somewhat ironic lyrics - "she ain't too pretty, she ain't too tall, in fact she ain't too much of anything at all", plus hooky melody, easy, relaxed playing, and you're in laid - back mood... It continues with another country, Black Rose, with refrain so catchy, that you'll sing along with Clapton and Brooker. Just not to sail all the way to Tulsa, there is juicy Muddy Water's blues, Blow Wind Blow. What you hear first is Clapton's voice - next time he'll sing like this on From the Cradle. Second thing you'll notice is that guitar isn't as distinctive as you'll expect on EC's album. Than you'll realize that you didn't even hear the guitar on first two songs! But this is classic blues song, guitar solo is mandatory, but guitar is "burried", you can hear ALL the instruments - you're listening to the BAND. And I like that. I dare to say that this is the sound Clapton was looking for very long time. Or, let's not say the sound, call it the blend. Title song that follows this blues is luckily beautiful, and sang with heart - otherwise it would make you sick - synthesizers are the main instrument (for the first time on EC's album, I think). Side A is completed with I Can't Stand It, song that miraculosly was top ten hit, and later was on every compilation from that period.

B side opens with Hold Me Lord, gospel song played in J.J. Cale style, with slide guitars, and cheerful rhythm,... And than, the best song on the album - Elmor James' Floating Bridge! Played solwly, slowly, and quietly, for your ears only...

Catch Me If You Can is twin brother (or sister) to I Can't Stand It. Call it Blues-pop or blues-rock, this is very close to another hit song.

And than - grand finale! Rita Mae! Crazy jam, the only complain is - it's too short, mere 5 mins. One good thing about cd is you don't have to get up and aim the needle. You simply press no. 9, repeat, and it goes on forever... Bend sounds so inspired, almost like the best moments from Layla album.



As I said in the title, Another Ticket is most underated Clapton's album.

Well worth making the effort for

I'm not much of an Eric Clapton fan. I think he's way overrated as a guitar player--compared to the pop/blues guitarists that I think are truly great, such as Duane Allman, Peter Green, Stevie Ray Vaughn, I think his solos lack direction. Whereas a great soloist tells a story, Clapton plays riffs...just my opinion; I know nobody agrees.

So I don't have a pro-Clapton bias, quite the opposite, but there are two Clapton albums I NEVER get tired of--461 Ocean Boulevard, which everybody knows about, and this one, which nobody knows about.

I'm not saying this is the masterpiece that 461 Ocean Boulevard obviously is; it doesn't have the same loosy-goosy spontaneity and funk of that album, but it has some terrific songwriting, perfect tempos, understated playing that doesn't always have to end up on the upper reaches of the fretboard, and a good flow from one song to the next. It hangs together as an album, seeming like a single statement, without getting repetitive.

It has flaws--the most egregious being the cheesy 80s keyboard voices on the title track, almost(but not quite)spoiling an excellent song--but it doesn't deserve to be forgotten as it has been.

You probably won't love it as much as I do--most people don't. But if you like Clapton, you should definitely get hold of a used copy and form your own opinion of this album, which as far as I know has long been out of print, and isn't coming back anytime soon.

Not Worth the Price of Admission

Periodically throughout Eric Clapton's solo career, his music mellows out to such an extent that it barely resembles rock 'n' roll. His self-titled debut got his solo career off to an unimpressive start, and his most recent offering, "Reptile," makes adult contemporary sound exciting. A similar weak period occurred in the late 1970s through the early 1980s, with "Backless," "Another Ticket," and "Money & Cigarrettes" all competing for title of Clapton's Most Forgetable Album. The country is mellow, the blues are mellow, and even the rockers are mellow. This is easy listening for classic rock fans.