BOB DYLAN LIVED IN A TENT OUTSIDE THE STUDIO—THEN BROUGHT CLAPTON “SIGN LANGUAGE”

In March 1976, Eric Clapton was making No Reason to Cry at Shangri-La, The Band’s studio in Malibu. The sessions were anything but tightly controlled. Clapton later described them as a party, with visitors drifting through and musicians falling into long jams. 🎸

One visitor had an unusual commute.

Bob Dylan was living in a tent at the bottom of the studio garden. ⛺️ He would occasionally appear, have a drink and disappear again. Accounts from the period also describe him slipping into the studio to see what was happening. 🚪

Then, during one of those visits, Dylan offered Clapton a new song called “Sign Language.”

Clapton recalled Dylan saying he had written it in a single sitting without understanding exactly what it was about. That did not trouble Clapton. He loved the words, melody and chord sequence. ✍️

The recording refused to settle into one fixed shape.

Clapton was accustomed to performing a song one way. Dylan was not. He altered his approach, and they recorded “Sign Language” three different ways. Clapton’s response was simple: “I’ll just go as loose as he is.” 🎙️

That looseness survived on the album. The released track placed Clapton and Dylan together at the microphones, singing a Dylan composition that had not appeared on one of Dylan’s own records.

Years later, Clapton singled out “Sign Language” as his favorite track on No Reason to Cry.

Not bad for a song delivered by a guest who could vanish back into the garden at any moment. 🎶

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