Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts. Slowhand returns to the Blues Albums chart this week in America.
Slowhand is the fifth solo studio album by Eric Clapton. Released on 25 November 1977 by RSO Records, and titled after Clapton's nickname, it is one of his most commercially and critically successful studio albums.
But why is Eric Clapton called “Slowhand”? Explanations vary. One has Clapton telling biographer Ray Coleman that “Slowhand” was an ironic, tongue-in-cheek allusion to Clapton’s ability to play incredibly fast. “My nickname of ‘Slowhand’ came from Giorgio Gomelsky. He coined it as a good pun.
During the pause while I was changing my string, the frenzied audience would often break into a slow handclap, inspiring Giorgio to dream up the nickname of ‘Slowhand’ Clapton.
Eric Clapton ~ Cocaine ~ Slowhand (35th Anniversary Remaster) HQ Audio steelyman08 20K views 2 years ago
There are a couple of explanations as to why Clapton earned the nickname Slowhand that have evolved over the years. The first comes from a conversation between Clapton and biographer Ray Coleman....
This act is actually named ‘to be given the slowhand’ in British slang. After this became a tradition, as it happened frequently, Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky nicknamed Clapton ‘Slowhand.’
Explore the tracklist, credits, statistics, and more for Slowhand by Eric Clapton. Compare versions and buy on Discogs.
Review: 1977's Slowhand became the best-selling studio album from Eric Clapton upon its release, with its low-key but top-notch lineup