Eric Clapton

Happy Xmas

Slowhand becomes Snowhand on this bluesy yuletide release When we heard about this album a few months ago, looks were exchanged in the Guitarist offices. But you know what? It kinda works. From the opening notes of the first track, White Christmas, you see what Clapton means when he says, “I had in my head that these holiday songs could be done with a slight blues tinge…” There are some great performances here, with the original track, For Love On Christmas Day an outstanding example of EC’s contemporary songwriting. For sure, some of the material sleigh rides ever so slightly towards the cheesy, but there’s some great guitar playing jingling along the way, too. [DM] Standout track: Christmas Tears For fans of: Robert Cray, BB King