Eric Clapton, ‘Give Me Strength: The 1974/1975 Recordings’

WHEN Eric Clapton returned to the studio in 1974 after a long break from recording and performing because of heroin addiction, he embarked on a rebirth as an artist with three major albums that showcased his vocal skills alongside his well-known talents as a guitar god.

“Give Me Strength: The 1974/1975 Recordings,” repackages and remasters those two studio albums, “461 Ocean Boulevard” and “There’s One in Every Crowd,” and the live album, “EC Was Here!” in a 5-CD, 1 Blu-ray set along with studio outtakes and unreleased versions of songs he recorded in that critical year.

The songs he recorded in this period are heavy into blues, gospel and reggae, but the live album revisits some of his killer rock guitar skills from his days with Cream and Blind Faith. Some gems in the set are actually when he’s the most muted, such as his dobro performance on “Give Me Strength” or the simple acoustic version of “Please Be With Me.”

For fans of Clapton’s solo work, the set provides a detailed look at the turning point in his career and the music that brought him back to the stage. (AP)