Clapton Puts 'Tears in Heaven' to Rest

[Khephra]

NEW YORK -- Two of Eric Clapton's best-known songs are gone from his concert repertoire -- perhaps for good.

The guitar legend found, during a series of concerts in Japan a few months ago, that he couldn't perform "Tears in Heaven" and "My Father's Eyes."

The songs, both Grammy Award winners, deal with the loss of his 4-year-old son, Conor, who died when he fell from a New York apartment in 1991.

"I didn't feel the loss anymore, which is so much a part of performing those songs," he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

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http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/wire/sns-ap-people-eric-clapton,0,698427.story?coll=sns-ap-entertainment-headlines

[RandomKoolzip]

1. Now if only he'd put his entire post-"Layla" career to rest...

and quit tarnishing his legacy, we'd all be happy.

[MGKrebs]

2. Awww, bringing the blues to a mainstream audience,

and introducing them to BB King, Albert King, John Lee Hooker,and many others, isn't a bad thing. Clapton is likely a big part of the current blues resurgence.

[Enraged_Ape]

4. No kidding

Everyone keeps telling me this guy is some sort of guitar genius, but if he's exhibited it in the last thirty years, I sure as hell haven't seen it.

Go ahead, Eric. Indulge us.

[mmm]

5. Why won't he just stop?

One of his recent all-blues albums is really
embarrassing (almost painful).

[XNASA]

7. I'll second that.

It's a source of amusement to me to hear a non-musician talk about what an amazing player is Clapton.

Personally, I could never see it. I've always thought he was a major hack.

Quick, name 5 songs penned by Clapton. Now name two good ones.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. IT'S IN THE WAY THAT YOU USE IT!!!!!!!!

OK, I am definitely taking the piss, now.

[Khephra]

3. There's a great Mr Show skit about Clapton and this song

I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it before, but it's pretty close to how I feel about the song.

[bubblesby2002]

6. All I can say is THANK GOD!!!!

I hate both those songs, and anything he does with an acoustic guitar.:puke:

[argyl]

9. His career's at rest.Has all the snap of a Vegas lounge singer.

xx

[MGKrebs]

10. Geez, you guys are rough.

What's wrong with "From the Cradle"? I admit it sounds a little too polished for blues, but it WAS recorded live. No dubs (except one, I think.)

What about Snake Lake Blues? Or Have You Ever Loved A Woman? Or Old Love? Tell The Truth?

I admit, Reptile sucked. And there were many records through the 80's that had maybe one or two decent songs, and the rest was pop filler. But so what? BB King is down with him, and that's good enough for me.

PS- Many blues artists aren't technically proficient. Hell, they say Hound Dog Taylor couldn't play shit unless he was drunk. BB would tell you himself that he's no good. He's just got the mojo. How many good songs did Elmore James write? One? Of course he recorded it 50 times with different titles, so is he a hack too?

What I reject is this narrow definition of what blues should be, or what constitutes good music. There is room for a lot of different stuff. Hell, I like "Louis, Louis", and what redeeeming qualities does that have?