On this day in 1974, Eric Clapton’s second solo album hits number one in the US

After finding huge success with his bands The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos, Clapton decided to embark on a solo career, with his self-titled debut releasing in 1970 and finding reasonable success. After the release of this album however, Clapton took a three year hiatus from music due to personal issues with his relationships and an addiction to heroin.

In 1974, Clapton moved in with future wife Pattie Boyd and ceased his drug use, leading him to focus more on music again. He began working on a farm and listening to a low of new music and old blues records he’d brought with him, and was eventually given a tape of demos by the bassist of Derek and the Dominos, Carl Radle, alongside keyboardist Dick Sims and drummer Jamie Oldaker. Clapton loved the sound of the demos and joined the group, later adding guitarist George Terry and backup vocalists Yvonne Elliman and Marcy Levy.

Clapton would take this band to Criteria Studios in Miami, along with producer Tom Dowd, and moved into a house nearby at 461 Ocean Boulevard, giving the album its name. During April and May, the band would work on the project, and by July it was ready for release. Ahead of the album, the group would release two singles, Willie and the Hand Jive and I Shot the Sheriff. The latter would shoot up the charts, with Clapton’s take on the Marley classic reaching the top ten in nine countries and giving him his first and only number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

461 Ocean Boulevard would follow this trend, hitting the top ten in eight countries and number one in three of them. Shortly after the record would go Gold in the US. The release was also a critical success, with praise being given for its laid back and mellow tunes and in 2012 it was listed at number 411 Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”