May 8, 1984: Eric Clapton Lets Loose with Roger Waters on 'The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking'
On this date in 1984, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters released his first solo album, The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking.
The album abounded with something that Eric Clapton’s early Eighties albums sorely lacked: screaming guitar solos—played by Eric Clapton!
The title track—"5:01 AM (The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking)"—features a mini masterpiece of a solo, a composition within a composition, much like his work on Cream's “Badge,” another blues-driven pop gem.
For the album’s most generous serving of Clapton, check out “4:41 AM (Sexual Revolution),” which finds the guitarist dishing out a nonstop array of blues riffs in E minor using a compressed, crystal-clear Strat tone. You can check out videos of both songs below.
Clapton’s contributions to Pros and Cons and George Harrison’s Cloud Nine stand out as highlights of his bountiful Eighties session work. Enjoy!
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Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.