"Money and Cigarettes" is not one of Eric Clapton's better remembered albums, but that's not because it isn't any good. It ranks somewhere in the second tier of Clapton albums behind classics like "461 Ocean Boulevard" and "Layla" but well ahead of some of his lesser efforts. The best songs here include the easy rockin' "I've Got a Rock'n'Roll Heart," "Pretty Girl," and "Slow Down Linda." The album is also one of Clapton's more bluesy, which perhaps accounts in part for its lack of popularity. Nevertheless, it is a worthwhile listen for Clapton fans.

The early 1980's were something of a forgotton time for Eric Clapton's career.Now he was about to come back very strongly but,the fact was that Clapton's soul,blues and boogie woogie mix of pop/rock music just wasn't really being paid attention to as much anymore now that different post punk and new wave music was being bought to the forefront on the radio. Those genres were definately a breath of fresh air in terms of innovation to an extent but for those who stayed with people like Clapton he actually still had a lot to say. The most interesting thing about this album is that it doesn't really stray all that much from the style Clapton had been using during his mid to late 70's solo career. With Ry Cooder and Albert Lee on the board this is very much a laid back styled rhythm & blues affair. The reason I use that term is because blues artists of this era who were working within the then current ideom actually wound up doing not necessarily straight ahead blues but a sound that was something like a modern variation on what Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin did in the 50's and 60's. Claptons version of "Everbody Oughta Make A Change",therefore is top notch rhythm & blues and,for an even more decent reference there is the presense of Booker T & The MG's Donald "Duck" Dunn actualy ups the ante even more. Many of the songs such as "The Shape You're In","Ain't Going Down" and "Man Overboard" follow a similar lead: none are exactly lowdown blues or smooth blues exactly but have have that rhythic bite and crunch that brings it up to having something of a retro/modern soul flavor to it. "Pretty Girl" brings the same approch to a wonderful romantic ballad that features some wonderful slide guitar playing. "Man In Love","Crosscut Saw" and "Slow Down Linda" are very much reminders of the type of music that Clapton worked magic with back in the day with Cream,Blind Faith,Derek & The Dominoes and even to a certain extent The Plastic Ono Band. Since these songs have a strong small group flavor they tend to make one forget the musicians intensely legendary status and just find him and his fellow musicians relaxing and letting the music flow. The album ends on a pretty appropriatly upbeat note with "Crazy Country Hop".One of the best things about this album IS the fact it wasn't a hit album and would up being forgotton in the huge cannon of Clapton albums extending back to his earliest work with John Mayall and The Yardbirds. The fact he was able to create such an enjoyable album that gets better with each listen says a lot.

MONEY AND CIGARETTES, Eric Clapton's first CD for his new label, Warner Brothers Records, is a classic in the vein of his previous four Polydor albums and 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD. With Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. & The MGs on bass and Tom Dowd once again producing, Clapton puts out a low-key set of classic blues-rock and soul. On "The Shape You're In", he warns his wife of the dangers of her alcoholism, whereas "Ain't Going Down" is about perseverance in the face of adversity, and "I've Got A Rock And Roll Heart" celebrates the music itself. Even though this album tanked commercially, becoming his first in several years not to go gold, it's still classic Clapton.

After the disappointing Another Ticket, Eric Clapton followed it up with the often overlooked, Money & Cigarettes. The album is a easy going affair of simple, fun and enjoyable tunes. Nothing included here is an instant classic, but Mr. Clapton sounds like he's enjoying himself and you will equally enjoy songs like "I've Got A Rock & Roll Heart", "Crazy Country Hop", "Crosscut Saw", "Man Overboard" and "The Shape You're In".

Short Story; Five great songs and no major turds...easily Eric's strongest outing of the 1980s. Very well remastered, too!

Long Story; The chorus of Crazy Country Hop features they lyrics "Ooh-weee, oh-oh...Oooh la, la, let's rock and roll". A brief discussion broke out among Eric and his sidemen about whether these profoundly fruity lyrics compromised their manhood. They were interrupted by the phone outside the control room. Eric answers and then turns to his band, "Hey guys, my smokin' hot supermodel wife Pattie Boyd is callng from the $1.50/minute car-phone in my Lamborghini Countach. She's in the McDonald's drive-thru and wants to know what you guys want on your Big Macs." Needless to say, it was then decided by unanimous vote that the Oooh la-la lyrics were not a problem for men in their situation.

Don't even think about bothering me with a rant about how profoundly inaccurate my story is.