After all these years, I still believe that "461 Ocean Boulevard" is Clapton's best solo album. I will readily admit I'm not such a big fan of the more recent blues albums such as "Me and Mr. Johnson", which I thought was rather dull, as well intentioned as it was. But I digress.

"461 Ocean Boulevard - Deluxe Edition" has grown from the original 40 min. album to an exquisite 2CD spread (26 tracks, 142 min.), and quite comfortably at that. CD1 (15 tracks, 69 min.) brings of course the original 10 tracks, and they still sparkle today as they did 30 years ago. The remastered sound is fantastic. It has of course the hits "I Shot the Sheriff", "Willie and the Hand Jive", and "Motherless Children" (all from the original Side 1), but there really are no weak songs here. Other classics include "Let It Grow", the pensive "I Can't Hold Out", and the album closer "Mainline Florida". The 5 bonus tracks are session out-takes from the album recordings, they have appeared elsewhere before on various compilations such as "Crossroads", but are grouped together here for the first time. My fave of them is "Meet Me (At the Bottom)", a mostly instrumental jam session. CD2 (11 tracks, 73 min.) is a live album, recorded in London at the end of the 461 Ocean Blvd tour in December, 1974. After the announcer's "Well Ladies and Gentlemen, this is it, the last show of the tour, please welcome Mr. Eric Clapton and his band!", we're in for a treat. Only 3 of the 11 tracks have appeared before on the Crossroads compilations. The highlights are many, including "Let It Grow", the Steve Winwood cover "Can't Find My Way Home", a rousing "Tell the Truth", the Jimi Hendrickx cover "Little Wing", and the closer "Let It Rain", with at the end EC simply saying "bye bye, thank you" to an elated audience.

The liner notes are a bit skimpy, but that aside, everything is an A+ on this "Deluxe Edition". Let me emphasize that this is not just for the EC fanatic. Anyone interested in just plain good music will be taken aback by this album, finding Clapton at the top of his game. Strongly recommended!

461 Ocean Boulevard was the first studio album Eric Clapton recorded after he kicked his heroin habit. Unlike the tortured passion of Layla, the album finds Mr. Clapton still not completely satisfied, but with a more positive outlook. The album opens with a blistering take on the traditional song "Motherless Children" follow-up by the compassionate "Give Me Strength". His remake of the Johnny Otis classic "Willie & The Hand-Jive" is loose and fun. On "Get Ready", he duets with his backup singer Yvonne Elliman (pre Saturday Night Fever) on a simmering, bluesy number that has call and response vocals backed by a driving guitar riff. He practically introduced Bob Marley to the white rock audience with his percolating take on Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff". By combining the song's reggae roots with rock, Mr. Clapton made a memorable song that became his first and only number one hit. Ms. Elliman backup vocals provide the backbone for the sweet "Let It Grow". The album closes with the burning "Mainline Florida" in which Mr. Clapton lets it all hang out. 461 Ocean Boulevard was his first number album and re-established Eric Clapton as a musical force.

Eric Clapton's solo career has been a series of ups and downs. Among the former, none is better than "461 Ocean Boulevard," which is one of the best rock albums of the 1970s. The big hits were the ace covers of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" and Johnny Otis's "Willy and the Hand Jive." Other classic songs include "Motherless Children," "Get Ready," "Let it Grow" and the rockin' "Mainline Florida." This is not Clapton's most jamming album, but it features the strongest and most diverse set of songs he ever recorded. His backing band is first rate as well. Overall, a must have for Clapton fans as well as fans of 70s rock.

This album brings back memories. I remember first hearing "I shot the sheriff" in a bar and immediately thinking that EC had "sold out" by moving beyond his 'guitar hero" image. How wrong I was!! This is a great album that easily has worn the test of time. The band is arguably Clapton's best of his solo units (and there IS plenty of great guitar work). It is, in a way, a cross between the D&TD album and his first solo effort. During ECs tenure in Blind Faith, he became passionately interested in the music of the Band. This influence is evident here in the ensemble playing, shared vocal chores, economical guitar playing and the deadened drum sounds. However, ECs strong musical personality makes the album his own. Great original songwriting and an excellent choice of covers. The live material is a wonderful treat. It is great to hear those renditions finally on a legit release. For those of you interested, THIS IS WHERE CLAPTON'S SOLO CAREER REALLY BEGINS TO COOK. Long may he live!!!!

I never gave this album much of a chance when it first came out. Maybe I thought it was a little to laid back at the time. After buying this 461 Ocean Blvd. [Deluxe Edition] disc I now feel it is one of Clapton's finest efforts and one of the finest albums of the 70's. When you add the many bonus tracks it is an irresistible must have. That said I will let other reviewers deal with the artistic content of this disc. I am cursed with an obsession for the quality of the recording and digital transfer. In other words how it sounds on expensive esoteric stereo equipment. This year I have been bitten by the SACD bug yet every time I play this CD I am shocked at how amazingly great it sounds. I do not understand how but this disc matches my SACD's when it comes to natural, warm, detailed, and dynamic sound reproduction. When you add the extra bonus disc of great 70's rock how can one resist. "JUST BUY IT" and thank me later.