After performing at the 1973 Rainbow Concerts hosted by his good friend Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton returned to the Criteria studios in Florida to record 461 Ocean Boulevard. Clapton hadn't played the Rainbow concerts two years before due to personal problems, but with the help of a group of musicians, including George Terry, ex-Derek & The Dominoes bassist Carl Radle Jamie Oldaker and Yvonne
… Elliman, Slowhand put together an album that many counted among his best. He focused more than ever on his vocals and less on his past guitar antics. He showed a relaxed, JJ Cale-esque singing style with great effect in a sweet version of Willie & The Hand Jive and Elmore James' I Can Hold Out. Not that he's a nice, had become a friendly guitar hero, the slide guitar soaked Motherless Children and the driving Mainline Florida (the album shutter) contained too much fire for that. Of course it was his cover of Bob Marley's I Shot The Sherrif that attracted attention, and the song made it to the top of the charts. 461 Ocean Boulevard is still one of the highlights of Eric Clapton's career.more