Eric Clapton's Slowhand Gets 35th Anniversary Treatment

One of the highlights of Eric Clapton’s career (among numerous highlights) is the 1977 album Slowhand. Polydor and UMe are saluting that album with the multi-format release Slowhand: 35th Anniversary Edition.

Eric Clapton image by Ros O'Gorman

Slowhand was recorded at Olympic Studios in South West London in May 1977 and was produced by Glyn Johns. Released in November 1977, Slowhand was the most successful album of Clapton’s ’70s studio recordings. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard chart, where it stayed for five weeks, spending a total of seventy-four weeks on the American album chart.

Slowhand features Wonderful Tonight, Lay Down Sally and Cocaine, songs that are still heard regularly on radio and at Eric Clapton’s live shows. So long after its release is a great recommendation and testimony to its place in Clapton’s canon. The album includes cover versions of songs written by some of his favorite songwriters (JJ Cale, John Martyn, Don Williams, Arthur Crudup) along with original compositions by Eric Clapton.

The album is being released in five formats:

CD – Original album remastered
2 CD Deluxe Edition
LP – Original album remastered
3 CD / 1 Audio DVD / 1 LP Super Deluxe Edition
Digital Download

Both the Super Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Edition feature four Slowhand session outtakes (three of them previously unreleased): Looking At The Rain, Alberta, Greyhound Bus and Stars, Strays And Ashtrays.

A week before the Slowhand sessions commenced, the band performed at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. The Super Deluxe Edition captures the complete 14 track Hammersmith Odeon, April 27, 1977 concert on two CDs, while the Deluxe Edition features 9 tracks from the Hammersmith Odeon concert. Songs featured at the Hammersmith Odeon show include Tell The Truth, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, Can’t Find My Way Home, Stormy Monday, Badge, I Shot The Sheriff and Layla.

Track List:

Super Deluxe Edition

Disc 1 – Slowhand Remastered and Expanded