[clapton78]

okay, can anyone confirm for certain if Eric Clapton actually recorded a version of "Classical Gas" or not? I keep hearing about his alleged version of it, but as far as I know, there isn't one... I'm quite familiar with the original Mason Williams version, and I've heard the crappy "orchestral" version that Mason re-recorded many years after the original.... but I've never in my life heard an Eric Clapton version.... and I'm seriously doubting whether or not there actually is one.

Here's the reasons I doubt the existence of it:

1) I've been a huge EC fan for many years and have quite an in-depth knowledge of his entire career, all the way from his days from with the Yardbirds right up until his modern-day material... and not once have I ever heard of him recording his own version of Classical Gas. I can tell you with 100% certainty that none of his albums contain that song, and as far as I know, it's not a B-side or unreleased track or anything like that either.

2) I've heard downloads of the supposed EC version (from places like kazaa and other music-sharing sites), and it's always just the original Mason Williams version, mistakenly labelled as Eric Clapton. I own the original recording, so I know it when i hear it, and I can tell you that the "Clapton version" that i heard online is NOT clapton, but in fact Mason's original version. A buddy of mine even downloaded the apparent "Clapton version" right in front of me so I could hear it, and it was NOT Clapton, it was the Mason original.

3) all the tabs for the "Clapton version" that i've seen online are just copies of the tab(s) for the original Mason Williams version, simply with the name changed to Eric Clapton. They're carbon-copies of the same tab, note for note.

All this evidence leads me to believe that there is NOT an Eric Clapton version in existence, but that simply some inaccurate information circulating online has mistakenly led people to think he has his own version of the song. If anyone can prove me wrong, please do so... if there is in fact an EC recording of Classical Gas, I'd love to hear it.... but until someone can prove it to me, I'm remaining skeptical.

[evileye]

The original has a full orchestra in it, does it not? The version which is labeled as Claptons is solo. I'm pretty sure he did, the versions are not the same.

[clapton78]

The original has a full orchestra in it, does it not? The version which is labeled as Claptons is solo. I'm pretty sure he did, the versions are not the same.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The original version of Classical Gas (from 1968 album "The Mason Williams Phonograph Record") was simply Mason and his guitar alone, and nothing else.... a complete solo performance.
The song was later re-done as an orchestral version in 1987 by Mason Williams & Manheim Steamroller.
The song has been covered by countless other artists over the years, but those are the two most well-known versions.

Check out these websites for more info:
http://www.masonwill...e.com/home.html
http://www.classicalgas.com/home.html

I think part of the confusion about Eric Clapton may have started when the song was included on the 1999 soundtrack "The Story of Us".... most of the soundtrack consists of acoustic instrumental pieces performed by Clapton, so people might have heard Classical Gas on there and just assumed that it was Clapton playing that particular track as well.
(Even though the track listing clearly says "Classical Gas - Mason Williams")

This post has been edited by clapton78: 16 December 2004 - 01:26 PM

[grzegorz_panek]

Personally I like Chet's version most of them all. Clapton certainly covered classical gas, I also know it just off kazaa, haven't got it on any album.

[clapton78]

Clapton certainly covered classical gas, I also know it just off kazaa, haven't got it on any album.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Like I said, I think the recordings on Kazaa and other music-sharing sites are just labelled incorrectly. The download I heard was marked as being Eric Clapton but when I listened to it, it was clearly the original Mason Williams version from 1968.

[wolfnuts16]

Eric Clapton has never released a version of Classical Gas. You are right in saying that everything out there labeled as Clapton is just the origonal Mason Williams version. It's just an urban legend of the internet music world. I can assure you that it does not exist.

Somebody had an MP3 of Classical Gas with no label and guessed that it was Eric Clapton and was terribly wrong. From there it just spread on the internet and nobody was any the wiser because Mason Williams is not well known to the average person.

p.s. was cream before or after the yardbirds? after, right?

[goldrush]

Yeah, it went Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, work with Derek and the Dominoes (w/ Duane Allmann), in that order. Clapton remained solo after that.

The best rock concert I've ever been to was in 1989 at the Shoreline in Mountain View, CA. It was Eric Clapton in concert with Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits fame) on rhythm guitar.....absolutely remarkable.

I agree with you clapton78, I've never heard of Clapton covering "Classical Gas". I just assumed there was a version our there I was unaware of (I'm not as knowledgeable about Clapton as I am, say, of the Rolling Stones), but I can see where the confusion may have happened.

[grzegorz_panek]

It's interesting. As I read different things on the net I read that it was published on The Story Of Us soundtrack produced by Clapton. But apparently he only produced and edited Williams's record, adding some non-guitar sounds, allegedly Sting's voice.

[wolfnuts16]

Never seen Clapton in concert but I've heard he puts on a great show.

[KaZu]

Classical Gas has its own website
clapton78, you are totally correct.

[Zed Leppelin]

Tommy Emmanuel's version is best IMO.

[clapton78]

Well, I'm glad we finally got this cleared up. I knew it had to be just a case of mistaken information circulating around on the internet.

So does this mean the Classical Gas tabs on GTU marked as being by "Eric Clapton" should be removed? The more that this false info stays on the net, the more the rumour will continue to spread, and people will continue to be misled.

[wolfnuts16]

Well, I'm glad we finally got this cleared up. I knew it had to be just a case of mistaken information circulating around on the internet.

So does this mean the Classical Gas tabs on GTU marked as being by "Eric Clapton" should be removed? The more that this false info stays on the net, the more the rumour will continue to spread, and people will continue to be misled.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Technically, yes. But it will never happen. In 2000 years this will be one of the questions to baffle scientists. "Did Eric Clapton ever record a version of Classical Gas?"

I think the best way to solve this would be to get Clapton to record a version and get it out on the net labled as Mason Williams - Classical Gas.

[dadfad]

A saw Clapton do it on a concert video. For sure. I have a copy of it myself. (I forget the name of it). I'm no humungus Clapton fan by any means but he did it fairly well.

(If anyone is REALLY interested, and I mean REALLY interested, I suppose I could copy the audio part of the VHS to my music CD copier through the analog input and temporarily put it up at like Soundclick or something. Like I said, I hate to waste the time digging up the video (I have nearly a thousand videos I've collected over the years. On shelves, in boxes, in closets, attic, basement, etc), etc. As I mentioned, I'm no big Clapton fan, and his solo version was nothing that special or anything. But I could do this if there's some "Clapton-Is-God" fanatic out there who won't have a decent night's sleep until he hears it. )

[okiejohn]

Umm, who is this Clapton fella that you guys keep talkin bout?

[BaasLian]

Umm, who is this Clapton fella that you guys keep talkin bout?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[jtown]

Does anyone know where I can download a copy of this song for free? Thanks in advance.

[mrnoodleface]

I have definatly seen the video, i beleive it was a big unplugged thing, possibly mtv as odd as it seems...

but yes, clapton does do classical gas, i've only heard it on a live recording, and it's pretty sick. I havn't been able to find the video on kazaa or anything, but i watched it in a music class in school.

it's the version i learned it from, good stuff.

[mattwatt]

Very true, the files are incorrectly labeled.

Rename your file "Mason Williams (NOT ERIC CLAPTON) - Classical Gas.mp3" and maybe 6 years from now it will filter out all those Eric Clapton ones

P.S I think Tommy Emmanuel's version is the best..... though not the mp3 with the crappy orchestra, but the video (why do they always try to add an orchestra and ruin that song)

[mojomaniac]

Sorry but I think you're mistaken. I can't be certain as of yet whether it was Clapton who did the solo performance of Classical Gas, but I do know that the first recorded version on Williams '68 release did have an orchestra.

Mason Williams on allmusic.com

If you have a look through the above link you'll see many references to Williams' release. You'll also see that "Although it took six months for the single ['Classical Gas'] to become a chart-topping smash, it went on to win Grammy awards as Best Instrumental (Theme) Composition and Best Instrumental (Theme) Performance, as well as a Best Instrumental Orchestral Arrangement award for arranger Mike Post....

And if you find your way to Williams' discography and onto the 'Mason Williams Phonograph Record' page (Mason's first release of Classical Gas), and click the sound sample, you can definately hear the orchestra in the piece.

I'm gonna scout allmusic.com and see if I can find any evidence of Clapton doing the song.