‘461 Ocean Boulevard’ is the second solo studio album by Brit musician Eric Clapton. The album was released in late July 1974 by RSO Records (Robert Stigwood Organisation) after the record company released the Bob Marley hit single I Shot The Sheriff . The album topped various international charts and sold more than two million copies.

The album was Clapton's return to the recording studio after a three-year hiatus due to his heroin addiction. By the time 1974 came around, Eric Clapton’s days of Cream and psychedelic jamming were over. The album cover refers to the address on 461, Ocean Boulevard in Golden Beach, Florida, where Clapton lived while recording the album. The album was produced by Tom Dowd and featured musicians Carl Radle (bass), Dick Sims (keyboard) and Jamie Oldaker (drums). A second guitarist (George Terry) was also employed for the sessions.

Many have labeled the album to be Clapton’s best solo efforts. Rootsy, rocking blues from the first track to the last is what many have said. It has all the songs that I grew up listening to and this is the original pressing that I managed to pick up years ago. The groove is laid-back, with solid musicianship and expert song selection. Songs like Willie and the Hand Jive, I Shot the Sheriff, and the classic closer, Mainline Florida are nostalgic and on the lips of any Clapton fan and features a talk box and some good guitar work. The ballads are beautiful, too and you have two amazing pieces in Please Be With Me and Give Me Strength. There is not a weak track on the album and it spins perfectly with the bluesman taking full control of all songs. The first track Motherless Children stands out as one of the most upbeat tracks on here, written by Clapton and Radle, it is easy to tell as it starts with a rocking guitar riff which is perfect to kick start the album. CIapton’s mastery of the guitar is well known and even then he made a mark and throughout this album his fret work is phenomenal. It is very easy to tell why Clapton is the God of the guitar, his inspiring guitar work is phenomenal. After Motherless Children the album slows down into more soulful songs with heartwarming vocals.

So the album ends with Let It Grow that starts off with soft vocals and gradually transitions into a beautiful chorus with backup singers. Let it grow, let it grow Let it blossom, let it flow In the sun, the rain, the snow Love is lovely, so let it grow Very beautiful lyrics indeed, with a hypnotic solo that might make you to play this album again. The album has the Clapton sound and is an excellent album. At the end of the day, this is still one of his best solo efforts and I would recommend it to any blues rock fan who wants to investigate into Clapton’s music from his early days.

Not only is he a guitar legend, he is as much a Human legend. He has battled the worst demons anyone should have to and apparently has conquered them.

Released in: 1974

Label: RSO Records

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira