If Eric Clapton: The 1960's Review is any indication, he's likely the salt to the industry musical diet as well. I always knew Eric Clapton was a sort of a big deal when it came to the history of modern music, I don't think I ever realized just how influential he was. He was an early member of many noteworthy bands in the 60's, including "The Yardbirds," "Cream" and "Bluesbreakers" and arguably those groups' musical heart and soul.
The 1960's Review is a documentary covering only ten years in Clapton's early career. I'm a big fan of documentaries, particularly those that take extra pains to get to the heart of the matter. It's one thing to show how things happen, but another to actually show why.
It's hard to watch The 1960's Review and not come away just a little bit inspired. When you look at Clapton's early life, it's easy to see how things could have gone another way. In 1961, he was dismissed from the Kingson College of Art because he couldn't focus on anything but music. Rather than let the experience derail his musical interests, Clapton instead began playing blues clubs in England until finally joining "The Roosters" in 1961.
From here, Clapton's story is the stuff of Hollywood movies. After leaving "The Roosters," he went on to join "The Yardbirds," quickly gaining notoriety as a guitar player thanks to his unique sound and style. This would eventually lead him to leave "The Yardbirds" after their turn towards a more pop sound. Clapton soon joined the "Bluesbreakers," where he once again built a name for himself as a blues player and eventually joined "Cream."
Every step of the journey is told through the use of archive interviews with Clapton, rare performance footage and interviews with friends. The 1960's Review provides a rare and incredibly interesting look at his early career.
Extras offer a little more insight and are a good supplemental feature.
There's an expected amount of hero worship, but at no time does anything feel "faked." When it comes to documentaries, there's always at least one or two interviewees whose comments seem tailored to get them airtime on the documentary. As genuine as their comments may be, there's always a tinge of performance. That isn't the case here.
Rock historians will likely find holes in Eric Clapton: The 1960's Review's presentation, but as a casual music fan who is into documentaries, I was completely spellbound by what The 1960's Review had to offer. Whether you're a fan of Clapton or just great music, Eric Clapton: The 1960's Review is a great pick-up.
