A bit of filler is thrown into the middle of the second side. This is an almost-country song driven more by Terry’s rhythm than the Clapton’s lead. Clapton and Dowd had worked together previously with the short-lived super-group Derek and the Dominos and the 1970 album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which was also recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami. Clapton then fell into a deep funk and heroin addiction due to his unrequited infatuation of Patty Boyd, then George Harrison’s wife. Then unexpectedly it rose to the top of the album charts, sparking a short arena tour and what Webber called “one of the worst productions he had ever seen on Broadway”. In fact, the only reason it was put on Broadway was to head off the various small theatre and school productions which had begun to sprout up in 1971. For his part, Eric Clapton claims this is actually an anti-drug song, but that is definitely up for debate. Right from the jump, the album establishes a nice groove with J.J. Cale‘s “Cocaine”. However, personal strife and substance addiction halted his momentum for the better part of for years, until he released, 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974, which brought Clapton back into the public light with a remade sound and image. The members of the backing band were all from Oklahoma and Clapton explained how the sound came much more naturally for them; “It’s as close as I can get, being English, but the band being a Tulsa band, they play like that naturally…”. By 1974, Clapton and Boyd were together and he had kicked the drug habit. Help us build our profile of Eric Clapton and Yvonne Elliman! Led by the dual acoustic guitars of future Roxy Music member Neil Hubbard and future member of Paul McCartney’s Wings Henry McCulloch, the song contains a laid back arrange which provides the perfect canvas to compliment Elliman’s fantastic vocals. It contains three of Clapton’s most popular singles as well as several other classic rock standards that became Clapton classics. On “The Temple” the album gets a little lethargic and repetitive with the story of usary in the temple being a bit superfluous followed by Jesus being accosted by lepers, cripples, and beggars, all wanting to be healed. I remember how big this was at a sixth grade, catholic school dance, where the chorus hook whipped us adolescents into a frenzy that totally baffled the chaperones who were on the lookout for the more overt shock-rock by artists like Alice Cooper and not this relatively calm, soft spoken Clapton song. “Next Time You See Her” is another fine song with a late sixties vibe due to its organ-rich backing and the chanting vocal style of the bridge, almost a revival folk song. One of the highlights of the first act, and the peak of Elliman’s involvement on the album is the short reprise of “Everything’s Alright” which leads into the soulful folk song “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”. The song is in a 5/4 time signature, offering the perfect rhythm to push it forward at a brisk pace for full effect and the vocal contrasts between Gillan, Head, and Elliman makes it a masterpiece. “Gethsemane” is the real showcase for Gillan and the most like “Child In Time”, the Deep Purple song which got Gillan the gig in the first place. Alternating between the folk chorus of the Apostles and several other parts consistng of another spirited dialogue between Jesus and Judas, with Gillan and Head at top vocal form, accompanied by a great electric piano and more exquisite bass by Spenner. Oakes introduced her to Eric Clapton, who invited Yvonne to sing backup vocals on “I Shot the Sheriff” which appeared on his “comeback album”, 461 Ocean Boulevard. Slowhand‘s hit songs are all stack up front. Beyond his singing and songwriting skills, Murray Head was also a seasoned actor who won a leading role in the Oscar-nominated film Sunday Bloody Sunday in 1971. film Thematically, the song deals with Judas’ betrayal of Jesus to the high priest conspirators along with his internal conflict over the situation and hauntingly ends with an-almost Greek chorus speaking to Judas’ conscience. The album is an easy listen from front-to-back, with a sort of laid-back virtuosity that never sound pretentious or forced. It would be his highest charting album for nearly twenty years. Guitarist George Terry had played on Marley’s album, Burnin’, and convinced Clapton to record a cover version of the song (which he initially declined but was persuaded by the other musicians). By 1974, Clapton had won Boyd over and began his comeback with the critically acclaimed 461 Ocean Boulevard, although that album was comprised mainly of covers. Yvonne Elliman and Eric Clapton had an encounter in 1975. “The Arrest” starts a long sequence in the second act where Jesus faces an all night ordeal leading to his crucifixion. The final original side started “Could We Start Again Please?”, the only showcase for Elliman during the second act which doesn’t quite measure up to those in the first act and is almost set up like a pop song off the beaten path. Elliman was musical from an early age, playing the ukulele by age four and taking piano lessons at age seven. The album was produced by Glyn Johns who had previously worked as an engineer with several top caliber bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who, and The Rolling Stones. Accented by great horn sections, this production masterpiece aptly closes the first Act, even with some abrupt changes between the two parts of the medley. Her zodiac sign is Capricorn. John Gustafson makes his only appearance on the album as Apostle Simon the Zealot, who suggests a revolution led by Jesus, offering power and glory to Jesus after a successful overthrow of the Roman occupation in an upbeat section backed by funk rhythms, led by piano and bass. Eric Clapton was remarkably prolific through the late 1960s into the year 1970. Born Eric Patrick Clapton on 30th March, 1945 in Ripley, Surrey, England, UK, he is famous for The Yardbirds. The two original tracks on the first side are “Give Me Strength”, a slow and very short blues track with slide acoustic up front and deep Ray Charles-like-organ behind, and “Get Ready”, co-written by vocalist Yvonne Elliman. “Simon Zealotes” and “Poor Jerusalem” reflect more of the competing philosophical vision. Dennen returns as Pilate in an exaggerated, jazzy version of “Hosanna” named “Pilate and Christ”. Andrew Lloyd Webber originally thought the production would be limited to a niche audience, blocked out on either side by young people thinking it was uncool subject matter and religious people who would think it was too controversial. Pilate “washes his hands” of the situation and sends Jesus to the Jewish King Herod, leading to the rendition of Webber and Rice’s ragtime “Try it and See”, performed by Mike D’Abo as Herod. After her Broadway performances and role as Mary Magdelene in the 1974 Hollywood film of Jesus Christ Superstar, Yvonne Elliman sang on several Eric Clapton albums, most poingnently Slowhand in 1977, before a brief but successful disco/pop career, which included several Top 20 hits. “Mean Old Frisco” is an updated blues song which fills in nicely on the second side. For the role of Mary Magdalene, a then relative unknown Yvonne Elliman was chosen. Yvonne became a member of Eric’s band, staying until June 1977. Starting with a chorus of picked electric guitars, the track is ever building until it reaches a great drive, fueled by the fantastic drums of Jamie Oldaker. Yet it is quite eclectic in the styles and approach used in forging each of the nine tracks. The end of the Side 3 is the most sticky sweet, show-tune-ish section of the album, as well as least rock oriented. Eric Clapton is a 75 year old British Musician. Help keep Eric Clapton and Yvonne Elliman profile up to date. The upbeat “Hosanna”, driven by strings, chorus, and a soaring melody begins Side 2 and symbolizes Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. After a performance at Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh in which he collapsed on stage, Clapton withdrew from recording and touring as he struggled with drugs and alcohol. Born on 29th December, 1951 in Honolulu, Hawaii, she is famous for Jesus Christ Superstar in a career that spans 1970–1980 and 2004–present. Part of Classic Rock Review’s celebration of 1977 albums. The combination of the song’s ever-infectious, groovy guitar riff and taboo subject made it both a cult classic and pop song all at the same time. Prior to that Clapton had been one of the most prolific artists on Earth, forming and playing in the band The Yarbirds, John Mayell’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie, and Derek and the Dominoes, as well as releasing his debut solo release in 1970. music, “Steady Rollin’ Man” is a piano and clavichord driven rendition of a Robert Johnson Tune with good bass by Radle. The album came a few years into Clapton’s “comeback” following a four year hiatus in the early seventies. The second side of 461 Ocean Boulevard starts with a cover of “I Can’t Hold Out”, written by Willie Dixon for Elmore James in 1959. What “Cocaine” did to proliferate drug use, “Wonderful Tonight” may have done for sex. Musically, Webber took delight in exploring different keys and time signatures, while Rice came up with some clever wordplay which fused modern phrases with traditional terms. Gillan’s reply as Jesus in “Poor Jerusalem” is more of a short piano ballad where Jesus rejects this suggestion, stating that none of his followers understands what true power is, nor do they understand his true message. trivia Eric Clapton Had Two Secret Children During His Relationship with Pattie Boyd ... who he had during an affair with recording studio manager Yvonne Kelly in 1984.) Webber and Rice had collaborated on several previous projects, starting with the 1965 musical The Likes of Us, which was actually shelved for four solid decades and not publicly performed until 2005. Elliman was born and raised in the Manoa neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii; her mother was of Japanese ancestry and the background of her father—a salesman for Best Foods—was Irish. Yvonne Elliman is a 68 year old American Actress. In May 2012, Webber launched a reality television show called Superstar where the UK public decided who would play the role of Jesus in an upcoming arena tour.