461 Ocean Boulevard is a 1974 solo album by Eric Clapton that marked his return to recording after recovering from a three-year addiction to heroin. Find a Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Boulevard Deluxe Edition first pressing or reissue. Complete your Eric Clapton collection. Shop Vinyl and CDs.

• ' Released: July 1974 • ' Released: October 1974 461 Ocean Boulevard is a 1974 by that marked his return to recording after recovering from a three-year addiction to heroin. The album was released in late July 1974 for RSO Records, shortly after the record company released the hit single ' in early July the same year. The album topped various international charts and sold more than two million copies. The album title refers to the address on where Clapton lived while recording the album. The street address of the house was changed after the album's release due to fans flocking to the property. The house has long since been rebuilt and the street address restored. A two-disc deluxe edition of the album was released in 2004, which included a live concert recorded at the and additional studio jam sessions.

Clapton on stage in, Spain while promoting his new studio album in late 1974 After overcoming his, Clapton realized that he wasted three years of his life, stating he had not done anything other than watch television and get out of shape. When Clapton sought help working on a farm, he began to listen to a lot of new music and old blues records he had brought with him and started to play again, even writing whole songs out of simple ideas. With these song ideas in mind, Clapton was given a demo tape by, the former bassist for, with songs performed by Radle with keyboardist Dick Sims and drummer. Clapton liked the recordings, calling them 'simply superb'. Clapton was given time to write new material for a next album by Radle. When Clapton set to work on tracks for the upcoming studio release, he wanted to leave his songs as incomplete as possible, so that the musicians, who were going to record with Clapton in the studio, would get the chance to make them their own.

After Clapton appeared in the rock opera, his manager at the time,, contacted him about a new project. Stigwood arranged for Clapton to record at the in, Florida with Radle, Sims, Oldaker and record producer. When the time came to record the new album, Clapton was worried about both its commercial and artistic success, noting his concept of a new album would only work when there was chemistry between the musicians. Clapton also hired guest vocalist and guitarist as full-time members of his group. Stigwood also paid for Clapton to live at a rental house at the address 461 Ocean Boulevard in the town of near Miami.

The whole album was recorded from April to May 1974. For the recording sessions, Clapton used his electric guitar. For work, Clapton used several guitars.

He also played vintage acoustic guitars. Composition [ ]. The blues rock tune 'Mainline Florida' was written by for the album Problems playing these files? In his 2007 autobiography My Life, Clapton recalls that he was very pleased with the song's lyrics and instrumental parts of 'Let It Grow', which he wrote himself.

However, music critics and also Clapton noted, that the and is nearly the same as 's '. Except for 'Let It Grow' and 'Get Ready', a song Clapton wrote with guest vocalist Yvonne Elliman about her, the album consists of various cover versions of titles that had been in Clapton's head for a long time: 'Willie and the Hand Jive', 'Steady Rollin' Man' and '. Clapton first heard the song 'Give Me Strength' in London back in the 1960s, when he was living in the city with Charlie and Diana Radcliffe in Fulham Road.

He wanted to record the song, because Clapton thought the song would fit to the album's track listing. While the band recorded the album, George Terry brought the album from to Clapton, stating he really liked the song 'I Shot the Sheriff'. Dtech Edge Modem Driver. He persuaded Clapton to record a version of this tune, which Clapton disliked, because of its 'hardcore reggae' melody.

Finally, the band convinced Clapton to put the song on the album, noting it would definitely become a hit single. When Clapton met years after his take on the tune was released, Marley told Clapton he really liked the cover. Two singles were released of 461 Ocean Boulevard. The first, 'I Shot the Sheriff' was released by RSO Records in early July 1974, before the album was released. Clapton's take on the Marley tune outplayed the original version, reaching the Top 10 single charts in nine countries, becoming Clapton's only number one hit on the chart.

In 2003, Clapton's version was inducted into the. The single was also Clapton's first single to sell well internationally, achieving Gold certifications in the United States as well as a double Platinum award in Canada. The second track to be released as a single was 'Willie and the Hand Jive', which came out in October 1974. Clapton slowed down the for his version. Author Chris Welch believes that the song benefits from this 'slow burn'. However, Rolling Stone critic Ken Emerson complains that the song sounds 'disconcertingly mournful'.