Pilgrim - Clapton, Eric (CD 1998)

Eric Clapton is best known for rockin' blues, fast and nimble guitar playing, and keeping things livened up. I have liked his stuff for a long time. I just did a review on from the cradle, and gave it 5 stars primarily from that standpoint, it is quintessential Clapton. Bluesy old time blues music that makes you close your eyes and shake your head back and forth.

When something horrible happens in your life, you have to sit still and figure out what in the world all of this means. This is exactly what happened to Eric Clapton, and the music on this C.D. is the ray of light that shone through from the darkest cloud any of us would never want to be mired in.

After his 6 year old son fell to his death, everyone including myself thought Eric Clapton would rightfully just fold up and call it quits. How can one rebound from devestation like this ? Write from the depth of your soul for therapy, and share your pain with everyone who cares.

This C.D. is in no way regular Clapton, not the way most people would think. But that does not mean it isn't excellent listening. If you brought it to a party, they would probably throw you out. But if the party is yours, and at 3:00 in the morning, after everyone else is gone, and you shove everything into a corner to deal with tomorrow, this is the only music you will want to hear.

It is slow, thought provoking, and very mellow. It is perfect for that rainy Sunday afternoon when you don't want your brain bouncing off the sides of your head. It is also one of my favorite make out albums. Just ask my wife. Put the kids to bed, turn the lights down low, and be soothed better than any aroma therapy wished it could.

I guess you really can't even classify this as a blues album, though that's what it is all about. It is possibly even the dreaded easy listening, but I don't think so !

Everything in life is fast enough, and there is a time and place for it all. The time for playing "Pilgrim" is when fun time is over, and it's the hour to relax. Let the slow beats of the drum massage your mind, let the soothing lyrics take all your cares away, and let Eric Clapton bare his soul to you. There is some fine background vocals by Chyna and Ruth Kelly-Clapton, and outstanding orchestration. It is well arranged and produced, and fills a void right when you need it most.

Add this to your collection, it will be there when you need it the most. I promise if you are looking for music to chill to, this has got to be the #1 choice. But you already knew Eric Clapton has music for just about any occasion.