ERIC CLAPTON - GOLDEN RING

GOLDEN RING

ERIC CLAPTON

SONGWRITER: ERIC CLAPTON

COUNTRY: U. K.

ALBUM: BACKLESS

LABEL: OLYMPIC STUDIOS

GENRE: ROCK

YEAR: 1978

 

         Eric Patrick Clapton(born 30 March 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, widely regarded as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. Clapton ranked second in Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and fourth in Gibson's "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". He was also named number five in Time magazine's list of "The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players" in 2009.

        After playing in a number of different local bands, Clapton joined the Yardbirds in 1963, replacing founding guitarist Top Topham. Dissatisfied with the change of the Yardbirds sound from blues rock to a more radio-friendly pop rock sound, Clapton left in 1965 to play with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. On leaving Mayall in 1966, after one album, he formed the power trio Cream with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce, in which Clapton played sustained blues improvisations and "arty, blues-based psychedelic pop". After Cream broke up in November 1968, he formed the blues rock band Blind Faith with Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech, recording one album and performing on one tour before they broke up. Clapton embarked on a solo career in 1970.

          Backless is the sixth full-length studio album by Eric Clapton. Produced by Glyn Johns, and released by RSO Records, Backless reached Nº 8 on the pop charts. While the single "Promises" only reached Nº 37 in the UK, it was a much bigger success in the US, reaching Nº 9 on the Billboard charts. The follow-up single, "Watch Out for Lucy", was the B-side of "Promises", but reached Nº. 40 on the Billboard charts on its own merit. Later in 1980 "Tulsa Time" was US #30 with 1977 song "Cocaine" as B-side. It was Clapton's last studio album to feature his longtime bassist Carl Radle who died in 1980.

He gave to you a golden ring;

It made you happy, it made you sing.

And I played for you on my guitar;

It didn't last long, we didn't go far.

 

And though the times have changed,

We're rearranged.

Will the ties that bind remain the same?

 

You came around after a while;

Everyone said that I made you smile.

It all went well, and suddenly then

You heard that he would marry again.

 

Chorus

Well I know that I have been here before;

I've trod on your wings, I've opened the door.

If I gave to you a golden ring

Would I make you happy, would I make you sing?

 

Chorus

 

Chorus.