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Eric Clapton gained the nickname “Slowhand” from Giorgio Gomelsky in the 1960s, once recalling that the impresario and Yardbirds manager coined it “as a good pun. He kept saying I was a fast player, so he put together the ‘slow handclap’ phrase [when a restless audience claps slowly hoping the performer will arrive onstage] into ‘Slowhand’ as a play on words.”  Clapton fully embraced the name in 1977 as the title of his fifth studio album as a solo artist, following stints in the Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, and Derek and the Dominos.  Recorded for Robert Stigwood’s RSO Records, Slowhand yielded three hit singles and a No. 2 berth on the Billboard 200.  One of Clapton’s most beloved albums, Slowhand will receive the super deluxe box set treatment from Polydor on November 26 internationally, and in the U.S. on December 4.

Produced by Glyn Johns, Slowhand was recorded at London’s Olympic Studios in May 1977.  Released that November, it became Clapton’s most successful studio album of the decade, and eventually spent 74 weeks on the U.S. albums chart after five weeks at No. 2.  “Lay Down Sally,” “Cocaine” and “Wonderful Tonight,” the latter written for Clapton’s then-partner (and ex-Mrs. George Harrison) Pattie Boyd, all became hit singles.  Slowhand contained a number of songs written or co-written by Clapton (“Wonderful Tonight,” “Lay Down Sally” with Marcy Levy and George Terry, “Peaches and Diesel” with Albhy Galuten) alongside compositions by J.J. Cale (“Cocaine”), John Martyn (“May You Never”), Don Williams (“We’re All the Way”), and Arthur Crudup (“Mean Old Frisco”).  The blend of blues, rock, country and pop was arguably Clapton’s strongest assembly of songs by that point.

Slowhand will be available in five different formats.  Both the Super Deluxe Edition (3 CDs, 1 DVD and 1 LP) and Deluxe Edition (2 CDs) feature four session outtakes, three of which are previously unreleased: “Looking at the Rain,” “Alberta”, “Greyhound Bus” and “Stars, Strays and Ashtrays.”  Both editions feature selections from Clapton’s Hammersmith Odeon concert, recorded just one week before sessions began for the new album.  The complete, 14-track performance of April 27, 1977 is included on the Super Deluxe Edition on two CDs, while 9 highlights appear on one disc of the Deluxe Edition.  The Super Deluxe Edition adds the album on audio DVD in high-resolution stereo and surround, and on vinyl.  (It remains to be seen whether the surround mix will be a new one or has been derived from the existing SACD.)  Slowhand will also be available as a single-disc album-only remaster, a vinyl LP and digital download.

After the jump: exactly what will you find on each edition?  We have all of the specs, plus a complete track listing and pre-order links!

3-CD/1-DVD/1-LP Super Deluxe Edition:
• Slowhand remastered from the original Olympic Studios 1/4″ flat analog master tapes, plus four album session outtakes. The unreleased tracks have been newly mixed from the original Olympic Studios 2″ analog masters by Kevin Reeves at Sterling Sound.
• Complete Live at Hammersmith Odeon, recorded on April 27, 1977, on 2 CDs.  Containing 14 tracks, 10 of which are previously unreleased, Hammersmith Odeon has been newly mixed from the original 2″ analog masters by Reeves.
• Slowhand remastered in 24/96 Hi-Resolution Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound.  (Audio DVD)
• Slowhand remastered original LP on 180g vinyl.
• Includes 3 replica tour programs and a new book.

2-CD Deluxe Edition:
• Slowhand remastered from the original Olympic Studios 1/4″ flat analog master tapes, plus four album session outtakes.  (Identical to CD 1 in the Super Deluxe box set.)
• Live at the Hammersmith Odeon (Highlights) – 9 tracks, 5 of which are previously unreleased.

Single CD:
•Slowhand remastered from the original analog masters.

Vinyl LP:
• Slowhand remastered from the original analog masters.

Digital Album:
• Remastered original album plus the four session outtakes.

Slowhand arrives internationally on November 26 and in the U.S. on December 4.  You can pre-order the Super Deluxe Edition below; other links are still forthcoming!

Eric Clapton, Slowhand: 35^th Anniversary Edition – Super Deluxe Box Set (Polydor, 2012)

CD 1: The Original Album plus bonus tracks

1. Cocaine
2. Wonderful Tonight
3. Lay Down Sally
4. Next Time You See Her
5. We’re All the Way
6. The Core
7. May You Never
8. Mean Old Frisco
9. Peaches and Diesel
10. Looking at the Rain  (Previously Unreleased Bonus Track)
11. Alberta (Bonus Track) (previously released on Blues, Polydor, 1999)
12. Greyhound Bus (Previously Unreleased Bonus Track)
13. Stars, Strays and Ashtrays (Previously Unreleased Bonus Track)

Audio DVD – Slowhand Hi-Res Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound

1. Cocaine
2. Wonderful Tonight
3. Lay Down Sally
4. Next Time You See Her
5. We’re All the Way
6. The Core
7. May You Never
8. Mean Old Frisco
9. Peaches and Diesel

CD 2 – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon April 27, 1977 (Disc 1)

1. Hello Old Friend
2. Sign Language
3. Alberta
4. Tell the Truth (previously released on Crossroads 2, Polydor, 1996)
5. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (previously released on Crossroads 2, Polydor, 1996)
6. Steady Rolling Man
7. Can’t Find My Way Home
8. Further On Up the Road (previously released)
9. Stormy Monday (previously released on Crossroads 2, Polydor, 1996)

CD 4 – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon April 27, 1977 (Disc 2)

1. Badge
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out
3. I Shot the Sheriff
4. Layla
5. Key to the Highway

Vinyl LP: The Original Album

Side 1

1. Cocaine
2. Wonderful Tonight
3. Lay Down Sally
4. Next Time You See Her
5. We’re All the Way

Side 2

1. The Core
2. May You Never
3. Mean Old Frisco
4. Peaches and Diesel

Eric Clapton, Slowhand: 35^th Anniversary Edition – Deluxe Edition (Polydor, 2012)

CD 1: The Original Album plus Bonus Tracks

1. Cocaine
2. Wonderful Tonight
3. Lay Down Sally
4. Next Time You See Her
5. We’re All the Way
6. The Core
7. May You Never
8. Mean Old Frisco
9. Peaches and Diesel
10. Looking at the Rain  (Previously Unreleased Bonus Track)
11. Alberta (Bonus Track) (previously released on Blues, Polydor, 1999)
12. Greyhound Bus (Previously Unreleased Bonus Track)
13. Stars, Strays and Ashtrays (Previously Unreleased Bonus Track)

CD 2 – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon April 27, 1977 (Highlights)

1. Tell the Truth (previously released on Crossroads 2, Polydor, 1996)
2. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (previously released on Crossroads 2, Polydor, 1996)
3. Steady Rolling Man
4. Can’t Find My Way Home
5. Further On Up the Road (previously released)
6. Stormy Monday (previously released on Crossroads 2, Polydor, 1996)
7. Badge
8. I Shot the Sheriff
9. Layla

Original album released in the U.K. as RSO LP 2394-196 and in the U.S. as RSO LP 8T-1-3030, 1977.