A KOOL Day for Music

A cover song that was recorded in 1974 by an English musician that was written and first recorded by a Jamaican singer-songwriter, musician a year earlier that became very popular for audiences around the world.

Eric Clapton

I Shot The Sheriff

First recorded by Bob Marley and the Wailers in 1973. It was one of Eric Clapton’s band members who was so excited about the Bob Marley song, that he played Clapton the whole album and convinced him that they record this song.

Eric heard the hit potential but originally want to keep the song off his new album, 461 Ocean Boulevard, because it might seem to be disrespectful to Marley. It was Clapton’s management and band members who had to convince him to call Marley personally.

In an interview, Clapton said that he spoke to him about the song’s meaning, “but couldn’t understand much of what Bob was saying.”

Clapton kept much of the original reggae sound, but made it more of a rock and roll song which Bob later said he approved of the new version.

If you listen closely, you may be able to pick out Yvonne Elliman, the female vocalist who would go on to hit number one with ‘If I Cant Have You.’