the yardbirds stuff sounds pretty apalling nowadays.

Since then, I think his work pretty much speaks for itself. Obviously not to some people. But if his uniqueness was dependant on a single guitar tone, I don't think he would have enjoyed the career he has.

Clapton is a man of intelligence and imagination, though you wouldn't guess it from the recent autobiography. What the book does do is take you through his various achievements - and they are considerable. More than I had realised.