Review: Eric Clapton The Lady In The Balcony: Lockdown Sessions

Eric Clapton

By Mike O’Cull

Rock and blues guitar legend Eric Clapton gives his fans a heartfelt career and character retrospective on his new album The Lady In The Balcony: Lockdown Sessions. Set to drop November 12th, 2021 via Mercury Studios, the mostly acoustic set was an in-studio concert performed by Clapton and his band of Nathan East (bass and vocals), Steve Gadd (drums) and Chris Stainton (keyboards). They played unplugged versions of an assortment of Clapton standards along with a selection of other blues, country, and seldom-heard original tunes.

Eric’s longtime Grammy-winning producer Russ Titelman (James Taylor, George Harrison, Brian Wilson, Randy Newman, Rickie Lee Jones) ran the session, which was captured live at Cowdray House in West Sussex, England. The results of this effort will be available in all conceivable formats, including DVD+CD, Blu-ray+CD, 4K UHD+Blu-ray, 2 LPs pressed on yellow vinyl, and a Deluxe Edition containing the DVD, Blu-ray and CD packaged in a 40-page 12” x 12” hardback photo book, digital video and digital audio. Also, a CD-only version will be available exclusively at Target.

The record was an outgrowth of Clapton’s concerts scheduled for May 2021 at the Royal Albert Hall being forcibly cancelled due to the ongoing Covid pandemic. Clapton felt that his best alternative to playing for live crowds was playing for microphones and cameras, which led to this intimate set coming into existence. EC’s views on all things Covid have generated much discussion in recent months and have been covered extensively. No matter which side of the virus issue you’re on, a new Clapton release is also worthy of discussion because of his impact and influence on the guitar community and rock music in general. As we aren’t a political blog, we feel we can acknowledge his new music here and still debate his views elsewhere.

Clapton opens with a gently-shuffling version of Bessie Smith’s 1929 standard “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out” that highlights the vocal melody and story of this hard-luck hymn. This kind of early blues sound doesn’t get nearly enough attention and it’s cool to hear someone of Clapton’s stature put it up front. EC also works his acoustic magic on the Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac jam “Black Magic Woman.” He does it with a feel that references the ever-popular Santana version but converts the groove to a rough-and-tumble shuffle on the back end. Smooth and soulful, it’s everything people dig about our man Slowhand.

“After Midnight” appears in a pulsating new form that adds some muscle to this Clapton staple. Nathan East’s upright bass work is especially strong here and carries much of the vibe. Clapton’s vocals and guitar work are both tight and he grooves within the band like a master. “Bell Bottom Blues” is heartfelt and sweet, delivering some of Clapton’s most melodic playing on the record. The entire band sparkles in this mellow context and plays for the song like the pros they are.

“Rock Me” gets a lowdown, late-night articulation that lets Clapton shine while still leaving plenty of space between his notes. His unhurried lines hit a lot of happening spots in the form and his feel is timeless. “Layla” gets a gentle, almost jazzy treatment that gives it new legs and features some fine keyboard work from Chris Stainton. “Tears In Heaven” is as emotive as it’s ever been and Clapton seems to have a deeper relationship with this song in the years since the loss of his son. His always-understated style hits the mark right on and he gives the track a beautiful performance.

By the time he closes with the electrified “Got My Mojo Working,” Clapton has given us a glimpse of everything he does and is. Equal parts hardcore blues lover, expressive songwriter, bereaved father, and rock legend, Clapton is as complexly human as the rest of us and makes no bones about it. The Lady In The Balcony: Lockdown Sessions is a fun, career-spanning set that Slowhand’s faithful will be spinning all winter. Take it for a ride and see.

Watch the trailer