Eric Clapton — I Still Do (2016)

Summary

"Eric Clapton — I Still Do (2016)" is a critically acclaimed album that showcases Clapton's enduring talent and his collaboration with renowned producer Glyn Johns, featuring a mix of original and cover tracks, and a cover art by Sir Peter Blake.

Abstract

The album "I Still Do" by Eric Clapton, released in 2016, is a testament to his lasting influence in the music industry. It marks a reunion with producer Glyn Johns, known for his work with iconic bands, and includes both new compositions and reinterpretations of classic songs. The cover art, created by Sir Peter Blake, who also designed The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," adds to the album's prestige. The music is characterized by its subtle yet profound arrangements, with Clapton's guitar work and emotional interpretations receiving particular praise. The song "Spiral" stands out as a self-reflective piece that encapsulates Clapton's relationship with the blues genre.

Opinions

The author considers "I Still Do" a masterpiece, with its quality and relevance persisting since its release in 2016.
Clapton's ability to revisit the past with a unique approach to his guitar arrangements is highlighted as one of his great characteristics.
The album's subtleties are seen as its defining feature, demanding careful appreciation and absorption.
The cover art by Sir Peter Blake is viewed as a significant highlight, drawing a connection to his iconic work with The Beatles.
"Spiral" is recommended as the best song on the album, interpreted as a self-tribute and a message about Clapton's enduring connection to the blues.

Eric Clapton — I Still Do (2016)

I wrote this back in 2016 and it still makes sense, it's a masterpiece

I Still Do is the twentieth studio album by English musician Eric Clapton. The album was released on May 20th, 2016 through the independent label Bushbranch Registros / Surfdog Records. The album features a combination of new material written by Clapton as well as cover versions of classic songs, contemporary songs, and influences interpreted in his own style.

It is amazing to to listen to an album like this one! In “I Still Do”, Clapton returns to work with producer Glyn Johns, who has worked with big names like Eagles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Who. The duo repeats the partnership of the acclaimed “Slowhand”, which has simply won three platinum records in the United States.

Another highlight in this new work is the cover art. An illustration of Clapton made by Sir Peter Blake, artist who created the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s and The LonelyHearts Club Band from The Beatles, I'm sure you've heard of it.

The ability to interpret and arrange songs with such sentiment and turn them into works of rare sentimental content remains one of Clapton’s great characteristics, which becomes increasingly clear when he decides to revisit the past but with a unique approach to his guitar, it's just brilliant and special.

It is an album where subtleties become paradoxically the protagonists, within an instrumental situation and with a good taste in the rare arrangements nowadays. It is in the subtleties that this great album must be appreciated and absorbed.

Check out the best song of the album, in my opinion of course, “Spiral”, which is a self-tribute and a message: "I’m stopping, but the blues doesn’t leave me I think about it in the morning, throughout the day and in the afternoon". He needs the blues, and the blues will be with him until the end.

This text was originally posted in Portuguese, in 2016 on www.saladacult.com.br