This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/8/2023
Here is an original 1974 U.S. first vinyl issue of Eric Clapton’s ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’ signed on the gatefold in black ballpoint by Eric Clapton, Carl Radle, Dick Sims, Jamie Oldaker and Sergio Pastora Rodriguez. The signatures were obtained on August 2nd, 1976 at Torquay, Devin during Clapton’s 1976 UK tour. This would be Clapton’s first proper UK tour following the release of the album. Comes with a letter of provenance that reads: ‘I saw Eric and his band play in Torquay at the Town Hall in the 1970s (research shows this to be August 2nd 1976). I had travelled down from Bristol with my wife and we spent a few days there. We arrived early for the concert and saw the band arriving with their instruments. Eric came a little later, on his own. I had brought an LP with me, and they all signed it for me before the show. Eric didn’t seem very happy, and I think he only came over to me as my wife called louder than I could! The concert was very good – although I don’t remember very much of it now. I saw Eric a few times over the next decade or so. He was always very good.’ 461 Ocean Boulevard was Clapton's return to the recording studio after a three-year hiatus due to heroin addiction. Indeed, Clapton had remained out of the public eye for much of this period, with the most notable exception being his brief appearance in August 1971 at the Concert for Bangladesh, organised by close friend and former Beatle George Harrison. Shortly after overcoming his addiction to heroin, Clapton was given a demo tape by Carl Radle, the former bassist of Derek and the Dominos, with a series of songs performed by Radle, along with keyboardist Dick Sims and drummer Jamie Oldaker. These are the songs that would form the basis for ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’. Radle, Sims and Oldaker, would go on to become the nucleus of Clapton’s studio band for the recording of ‘461 Ocean Boulavard’. These key musicians would tour and record extensively with Clapton throughout the remining decade. Tragically, Radle would die of a drug overdose in May 1980. ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’, so named after the South Florida address where Clapton lived during the recording process, has become critically acclaimed and is widely recognized at one of Clapton’s greatest solo records. True vintage-signed albums from Clapton’s early career are quite scarce. To date, this is the only example we have encountered of Clapton’s classic release ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’ period signed by the legendary guitarist and his band. The original vinyl record is included. Accompanied by a full Letter of Authenticity from music memorabilia authority Tracks UK.