CLAPTON - THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Happy Christmas Eve Morning!

I hope you get everything you want this Christmas, and more importantly are able to give all you want! If you do get a gift card to a book store, I have a recommendation: CLAPTON The Autobiography. It came out earlier this year, and at first glance I can see why it got such good reviews.

Even those who only have a mild interest in ERIC CLAPTON, but a strong interest in music will devour this book. It is strongly written and edited. Eric gives you the full scope of his upbringing and life, without getting too hung up on any one area. And what a life it was, from his late teens and seeing his first CLAPTON IS GOD banners at shows, through is drug abuse and re-birth in the post CLAPTON UNPLUGGED years. His love affair with George Harrison's wife, the super-groups (CREAM, DEREK, BLIND FAITH), the death of his son...it's all here.

There are 2 chapters late in the book that are worth the price alone. In one 3 1/2 year period starting in '87 he: Started final sobriety by falling to his knees and praying for help from his alcohol and drug demons (it worked); saw his agent, 2 roadies, and friend Stevie Ray Vaughn killed in a helicopter accident after a show; met a girl he fell in love with, took her to see a Rolling Stones show, told Mick "stay away from this one, I really like her," only to find Mick having an affair with her three weeks later; and finally after re-discovering his relationship with his son Conor, having him die after falling out of a window in a New York City apartment building. Clapton's story telling in these sections, and the whole book, is gripping, though nothing is sensationalised. In fact you feel exactly what he was going through at those times, as much of it comes from his personal diaries.

I'm not a huge Clapton fan, but have become a bigger, more respectful one over the years. But fan or not, this is one great book. Oh and the nickname "Slowhand"; It has to do with breaking guitar strings and how long it took him to re-string...not how he played!

For more on the book, including an interview with Eric on it's writing, click

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/038551851X/bookstorenow18-20

The Original Margaritaville

Sorry it's been almost a month since my last update. Really didn't think it had been that long, and it breaks my string of weekly updates. This update is one that Buffett fans (Jimmy, not Warren) will like.

While going through some old photos on my pc, I came across some from Key West of Jimmy's original, and still in use, studio. As you can see it is a non-descript white cement block building right on the docks. A few oddities about it: When he first opened it in the 70's, there was NOTHING in that area of the docks, just a few local fisherman shanties and some places to tie up your boat. Now it is in the middle of where the tour boats depart, there are major restaurants and tourist traps nearby, and they've even put some paved roads in, as you can tell from the pics.

Also, it is said that 90% of the tourists walk around, over, and by the building (see the pic of people walking down the docks behind it) and never even know that they are near a legendary recording studio. Other than some heavy duty electrical boxes outside, there is absolutely no sign of it being a studio. There is a big KEEP OUT sign posted near the door. Jimmy rents out the studio frequently (Kenny Chesney had been there the week before tweaking some songs), and shows up himself with the whole band about once a year, usually late September. That's when he takes his breather after the summer tour, figures out the financials, tips the roadies, and settles any matters with the band.

You should be able to make the photos bigger by clicking on them. Feel free to e-them to your friends and amaze them with your new found Buffett knowledge.

View from the studio looking out to the docks and harbor