Eric Clapton – Clapton (Reprise Records)

Ronnie Wood – I Feel Like Playing (Eagle Records)

How does a rock & roll guitar god age gracefully? Or, even a better question, how does one get older without either appearing that he’s trying too hard – or – simply just doesn’t give a shit any more? It’s a tough act to pull off and the attempts to do so often aren’t pretty.

As it turns out, we have 65-year-old Eric Clapton and Ron Wood (who turned 63 this year) each doling out solo albums this fall. Right off the bat, it needs to be said that if anyone ever spray-painted “Wood Is God” on a wall somewhere, it didn’t get the press that the legendary Clapton-inspired graffiti did, but no matter. Between his work with Jeff Beck, The Faces, and, of course, The Rolling Stones, Ronnie Wood has made his share of the soundtrack to our lives.

What we have here are two very different approaches to the music. The quick one-word take on each would be to label Clapton’s self-titled album as “comfy,” while Wood’s is “passionate.” Clapton will make you say “Well, there – he’s happy these days, isn’t he?”, while Wood’s I Feel Like Playing is more apt to have you checking the liner notes to make sure this isn’t some undiscovered gem that’s been hiding in the vault for a few decades.

Clapton kicks off with “Travelin’ Alone”, a bit of gentlemanly blues raunch with a cool minor-sounding foundation, caulked with bits of major-flavored riffs. After just under 4 minutes’ worth of almost-sweaty fun, things mellow out with a laid-back saunter through Hoagy Carmichael’s “Rocking Chair”. Derek Trucks sits in with sweet slide work that perfectly complements EC’s sleepy-sounding vocals. And those two opening tunes pretty much sum up the two hats Clapton plays on this album: either elder-statesman bluesman sitting on a stool (think Muddy Waters in his later years) or a lazy-lidded jazz crooner who’s having fun without wrinkling his suit.

Clapton’s core band for the session – keyboardist Walt Richmond, bassist Willie Weeks, drummer Jim Keltner, and guitarist/co-producer Doyle Bramhall II – are perfectly in sync with his vibe throughout. So are the guests, ranging from Allen Toussaint and Wynton Marsalis on “My Very Good Friend The Milkman” and “When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful” to some neat and nasty blues harp, courtesy of Kim Wilson on “Can’t Hold Out Much Longer”.

Clapton truly is the sound of ol’ EC being comfortable with being ol’ EC. And he’s confident enough to know and expect that the rest of the world is cool with that. Is there another Layla left in Eric Clapton? For his sake, you have to hope not – the raw ache that fueled that period is nothing to wish on anyone. Is there another great Cream effort to be had? Same basic principal applies. The odds are better that we may someday see Clapton step into a just-out-of-the-spotlight’s-glare supporting role similar to the Delaney & Bonnie & Friends period of long ago where he feels like letting it all hang out and just go for it – but who knows? In the meantime, what we have is Mr. Clapton playing some tunes for the sheer fun of it – sort of the audio equivalent to the semi-retired shop teacher doing wood burning projects out in his garage. He simply doesn’t have a thing to prove.

On the other hand, Ron Wood’s new album feels like he’s playing as if his very life depended on it – not in a desperate way, but a manner totally committed to and passionate about the matter at hand. The name of the album is I Feel Like Playing and it sounds like it.

Perhaps I Feel Like Playing is Wood’s Layla, of sorts – a way of playing his way through his own demons. The tabloided-to-death details of his personal life over the last couple of years are one thing, while his berth with the Stones (has it really been 35 years?) has been both a blessing and a curse at times. (It’s not easy playing little brother to Keith Richards.) Wood has cranked out a number of solo efforts during his career, but – with the possible exception of Slide On Live (1992) – none of them come close to matching the groove-laden just-right grittiness of 1974’s I’ve Got My Own Album To Do.

Until now, that is.

The list of guests on I Feel Like Playing is an impressive one (we’ll get to them in a minute), but the fact of the matter is, Wood does a hell of a job all on his own. His voice actually sounds stronger than it has for years (never pretty, but never lacking for feeling, either) and his guitar work is both fiery and tasteful, from crunchy rhythm chunks to lovely flutters of dobro. In fact, if there was going to be a “Best Supporting” award handed out for I Feel Like Playing, it would have to go to Bernard Fowler, a longtime member of the Stones’ backline who contributes some absolutely smoking vocal work, along with co-writing several tunes on the album. (Check out the pure soul of Fowler and Wood’s shared vocal on “I Gotta See”.)

From the opening midrange-rich Faces-sounding guitar sweetness of “Why You Wanna Go And Do A Thing Like That For” to the total butt-funk cover of Willie Dixon’s “Spoonful” (you never heard it this nasty –trust me) Wood and company never slack up. The great thing is, it never sounds forced or that they’re trying too hard – they simply play and sing like they mean it. Old co-conspirators Ian McLagan (keys) and drummer Jim Keltner share in the fun on I Feel Like Playing, along with a couple of Keef’s X-Pensive Winos: Ivan Neville (keys) and Waddy Wachtel (guitar). Even Darryl Jones – an invisible Stone since 1993 – sits in on bass for a few numbers, including the reggae romp “Sweetness My Weakness”. (Wood has always been a dead-nuts-on reggae player – go figure.)

The big guns who sit in do it in a manner that compliments rather than grandstands. Flea’s greasy bass work on “Spoonful” is just what the doctor ordered, while Billy Gibbons’ duel with Wood on “Thing About You” is just plain fun – no cutting, just friendly pushing. Even Slash – he of the top hat and ever-present dangling cigarette – minds his manners and turns in some guitar moments that add color without detracting.

What you have here is a prime example of an older rocker still sounding like he means it. There are modern-day studio gimmicks that will sweeten tone and tweak pitch – but they can’t add heart.

Ronnie Wood’s I Feel Like Playing is loaded with heart.