Favorite EC band, Vote for your favorite EC band......

While there are things I love about all of EC's different bands, if I had to choose just one as a favorite then it would have to be Derek & The Dominos followed closely by the Journeyman/24 Nights time period.......

What was your favorite band or time period for Mr. Clapton?

Man...tough tough choice....I had to go with Cream...but it could have easily been the 90's bluesband..D & D,,,,the Phil Palmer 2nd guitar era....I think the times and the age have something to do with it for me. Cream to me was an innovative,,,take no prisoners blues..jazz..rock..jam..try anything band. Unbridled passion for the music, The Blues tour will forever be close to my heart,...the 2004 line-up really rocked also. I enjoyed those shows immensely.


Richie

Soooo difficult to choose!
I'll reverse Don's choice and pick the 24 Nights band followed closely by D&D, with highlights from Cream and Mark Knopfler. I'll listen to almost anything by the Bluesbreakers as well...

I have to choose the Journeyman band. That's one of my favorite commercial releases


jez

Journeyman/24 nights, D&D

I may tick off a few people here (no offense intended) I could not stand it when Eric joined forces with Phil Collins. The sound changed so much. I'm glad he's through that phase.

I don't think too many people would rank those Collins produced albums among their favorites.......
Some of the songs worked well in concert, of course, but, overall, I thought the studio stuff from that period was pretty flat........
I think in the Journeyman period Eric reached the kind of creative peak he hadn't approached since Duane kicked him in the butt in 1970.... I don't necessarily mean in the studio - though that was a strong album - but in concert - that was a great band - the way they took a core of songs (Pretending, Bad Love, Running On Faith, No Alibis, Old Love) - explored and expanded on them - and reworked older tunes (like I Shot The Sheriff & Wonderful Tonight) - man, there were nights when the chills just wouldn't stop coming! A fantastic period - so many incredible shows... and tone he got out of his Strat - jeez! friggin' loved it!
Listen to Old Love from Knebworth or the opening notes to Bad Love on 24 Nights or any of the boots from '90-'91 - No Alibis....... damn, when he and Katie worked up that orgasmic vocal & guitar ending to Wonderful Tonight - on & on - building and building - so bloody sexual! The ache and the longing in the Old Love solos followed by the optimism, determination and strength in Bad Love.........
To me Derek & The Dominos was Eric at the height of his youthful powers and the Journeyman/24 Nights years were Eric reaching maturity.......

Don

I will go with Double0Blues on this.... The D&D stuff, especially with Duane was fantastic, followed by the Journeyman/24 Nights years....

I am really hoping that this years setup goes someway to returning to the D&D with Duane era.... The more D&D songs they play the better for me...

It is a tie:

LOVED the Clapton / Collins 4 piece live (I said live)
LOVED the Journeyman / 24 Nights band

During their 14 night stand at the Beacon, ABB did perform versions of Anyday, Why Does Love Go To Be So Sad , Layla & Key To The Highway and EC has played both Bell Bottom Blues & Little Wing lately so we do have a pretty good D&D core set going there!

I would have to go with Journeyman...

A 4-way tie so far in the votes - though in the posts people seem to be leaning more towards the Journeyman/24 Nights period......

Two votes for Derek & The Dominos.......
A couple for the '70s.....
and two for Cream.................

I too have to go with D&D with Journeyman/24 Nights as a close second!
Yuki

The 1974 Band was awesome, real jamming. Maybe the best Bass playing with EC also.

Eric Clapton Guitar, Vocals
Jamie Oldaker Drums
Dick Sims Keyboards
Carl Radle Bass
George Terry Guitar
Yvonne Elliman Backing Vocals
Marcy Levy Backing Vocals

Cream. They have such classic songs, and what they did in such a short time is incredible.