Cobb

Actually had a classic-rock station in my teenboy radio-station rotation, but never really got my Zep on until a cousin made me some tapes of their first five albums in late '93.

as far as eric clapton is concerned, I would reccomend listening to the live cut of "double trouble." i would also reccomend, if you haven't already done this, watching eric clapton unplugged and just watching his hands. that single handedly caused me to pick up the guitar on an impulse one sunday when i was forteen. haven't looked back since.

I think it's because I am expecting something akin to the juice I get from SRV or Eric Sardinas, or even Stanley Jordan or Tuck Andress that I've been disappointed with Clapton. I have a feeling, given what I've heard said of him that he's got something, but I just need to hear the quintessential song.

I mean people are comparing this guy to Hendrix. So somebody told me 'Layla' is the song. I listened to that and said WTF! Now that I think of it, I can remember the day. I was driving back to work (when I worked in the Valley) from the Fry's just northeast of the new mall off the 101 in Santa Clara. You know, over near the Faultline. Anyway, I was so disappointed with this song, that I said 'forget rock' and went classical. This was the same day that I bought the remix CD of Prince's 1999, so it must have been the Christmas of 1999. That's when I bought the boxed set of Masterpieces of the Millenium at that same Fry's.

Suddenly I was into Schubert, Grieg and Strauss in a big way and I didn't miss Clapton at all. Still, Layla left a bad taste in my mouth.

I'll still say that it's clear that the two best guitar solos are
#1. SRV's Little Wing from 'The Sky Is Crying' LP
#2. Eddie Hazel's Maggot Brain

After that it's a couple steps down the curve to Hendrix' Star Spangled Banner. I just don't know what Clapton is going to do to get close. Believe me, I want to know but I've got to get to Black Sabbath, King Crimson, ELP and The Grateful Dead, of whom I know absolutely zilch.

yeah that's your problem cuz layla just aint it. i reccomend the live verson of "double trouble" off of his box set.

but he's no SRV. but he's very good, way above layla.

with the grateful dead, I reccomend the album "dozin at the knick." the song "row jimmy" has got a very nice (although not very long) Jerry solo. there is a ton of dead music out there, and many of the studio albums are their worst stuff as anyone in a VW can tell you. some of their best stuff, is on bootleg tapes and i don't think it'll come through very well for someone unfamiliar with them. that's why i reccomend "dozin at the knick," it's got good clear sound.
(a note of caution, do not listen to any of the songs where the keyboardist of that time is singing lead. you'll reckognize them, they sound like either 70's porno music or sitcom love ballads.)

it's always helps to meditate before listening to the dead. that's their pace.

I think maybe you are expecting something from Clapton that you probably aren't going to find. If you like SRV and Maggot Brain, then you probably dig really epic, emotional guitar solos. That simply isn't Clapton's style or what he is famous for. He is more of a smooth bluesy type of soloist, a master of understatement on the guitar. Personally, I don't get excited by too much of his stuff, but I like a lot of the songs he did with Cream.

Two people I like for epic guitar solos:
Frank Zappa
Pat Metheny (more smooth jazzy rather than rock)