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    The Jock of Rock posted an update 4 years, 9 months ago

    RockChat Rewind with Joe Milliken
    On this day in 1974, Eric Clapton released his second solo album on the RSO label titled “461 Ocean Boulevard.” Recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami and produced by Tom Dowd, the title refers to the address in Golden Beach, Florida where Clapton resided during the recording of the solo album.
    The album was released in late July, shortly after the hit single, “I Shot The Sheriff” was released earlier in the same month. Leading up to the recording of the album, Clapton had overcome a nearly three-year addiction to heroin, a time in which he had done nothing musically. Realizing he had wasted so much time, he connected with his former bassist in Derek & The Dominos, Carl Radle, who had written some songs with another drummer and keyboard player. Clapton loved the songs and it inspired him.
    Clapton wrote a few new songs and the four musicians entered the studio with Tom Dowd and recorded a new album in less than two months. Although many of the songs on the album were indeed covers, the cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff” was a smash hit and catapulted Clapton back into the charts.
    “I Shot The Sheriff” would become Clapton’s only #1 song on Billboard’s Hot 100 and the album would also hit #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. “461 Ocean Boulevard” would go on to sell over two million copies and essentially put the guitar hero back on the map, leading to an illustrious career now spanning five decades.
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