 | Eric ClaptonA Retrospective: 1963-1999 |
Overview:He was born Eric Patrick Clapton on March 30, 1945 in Ripley, England. His father was a Canadian airman named Edward Fryer who met Pat Clapton at one of his dance-band gigs. The married Fryer had an affair with her and she got pregnant. When the war was over, Fryer went back home to Canada and his wife. She was 16 when Eric was born. JR-1 When he was only 2, his mom left him with her mother and stepfather and met another Canadian serviceman, married him, and moved to Canada. JR-2 In his youth, Clapton was swept up by American rock-and-roll, especially a Jerry Lee Lewis performance of “Great Balls of Fire” in 1958, via television. Clapton’s grandparents bought him a guitar for his 13th birthday. JR-3 He became more enamored with the blues artists who inspired rock and roll, namely Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red Whittaker, and Robert Johnson. JR-5-6 He would go on to work with the Roosters, the Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Delaney & Bonnie, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos. He launched a solo career in 1970. Over the next eighteen years, Clapton released ten studio albums as a solo artist, including the celebrated 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974) and Slowhand (1977) albums. He delivered memorable covers of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff,” Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” and a pair of J.J. Cale songs with “After Midnight” and “Cocaine.” He also penned album rock staples like “Lay Down Sally,” “Wonderful Tonight,” “Promises,” and “I Can’t Stand It.” Bands:
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The Studio Albums:Hover over an album cover to see its title and year of release. Click on the album to go to its dedicated DMDB page. 
Compilations:
Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to singles charts. |
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The Yardbirds For Your Love (1965): As a teen, Clapton started playing in “clubs in Surrey towns and in the West End, first in a guitar duo and then in a five-piece band…called the Roosters” JR-9 in 1963. He “made an impression on the Yardbirds with cocksure and vocal critiques of their gigs around Kingston. He told them that he was a better lead guitarist than anyone they had tried, and in October 1963, they hired him.” JR-9
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (1966): Clapton disagreed with the choice of “For Your Love” as a single (which he said was dominated by session players), wanting instead to release a cover of an Otis Redding song called “Your One and Only Man.” He told them he was quitting, which was fine with them since they’d already decided to hire Jeff Beck. JR-11 Within two weeks he accepted a job with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. JR-11
Cream Fresh Cream (1966): After one album with the Bluesbreakers, Clapton formed a new group with Jack Bruce, who’d played bass with the Bluesbreakers, and drummer Ginger Baker. Their time together was only 2 ½ years. Clapton “felt from the start that his devotion to the blues and ambition to sing were always being…thwarted.” JR-14 He also said, “There was a constant battle between Ginger and Jack…They loved one another’s playing but couldn’t stand the sight of each other. I was the mediator and getting tired of that.” JR-18
Cream Disraeli Gears (1967):
Cream Wheels of Fire (1968):
Cream Goodbye (1969):
Blind Faith Blind Faith (1969): After Clapton left Cream, he “jumped right back into another overhyped supergroup.” JR-25 Cream drummer Ginger Baker came along with Clapton in the pair’s merger with former Traffic alums Steve Winwood (vocals, keyboards) and Rich Grech (bass).
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends On Tour with Eric Clapton (1970): Delaney & Bonnie & Friends toured with Blind Faith as their opening act. Clapton befriended Delaney Bramlett and ended up doing this one-off project with the group.
Eric Clapton Eric Clapton (1970): When the sidemen (keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle, and drummer Jim Gordon) who worked with Delaney & Bonnie were either fired or quit, Clapton scooped them up for his first solo endeavor. They also worked together on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass album.
Derek and the Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970): The same players on Clapton’s solo album returned for this supergroup project with one important addition – guitarist Duane Allman from the Allman Brothers.
Eric Clapton 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974):
Eric Clapton There’s One in Every Crowd (1975):
Eric Clapton No Reason to Cry (1976):
Eric Clapton Slowhand (1977):
Eric Clapton Backless (1978):
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TimepiecesEric Clapton |
| Released: May 22, 1982 Recorded: 1970-1978 Peak: 101 US, 20 UK, -- CN, 28 AU Sales (in millions): 7.0 US, -- UK, 13.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock |
Tracks: (1) I Shot the Sheriff (2) After Midnight (3) Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (4) Wonderful Tonight (5) Layla (6) Cocaine (7) Lay Down Sally (8) Willie and the Hand Jive (9) Promises (10) Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (11) Let It Grow Total Running Time: 44:52 |
Rating:  4.156 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)
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About Timepieces: This compilation gathered songs from Clapton’s six solo albums from 1970 to 1978 as well as “Layla” from his one-off album with Derek and the Dominos. It also included his cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” not previously featured on a Clapton solo effort. Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
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Eric Clapton Another Ticket (1981):
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The Cream of ClaptonEric Clapton |
| Released: March 7, 1995 Recorded: 1966-1981 Peak: 80 US, 3 UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.9 UK, 7.0 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock |
Tracks: (1) I Feel Free (2) Sunshine of Your Love (3) White Room (4) Crossroads (live) (5) Badge (6) Presence of the Lord (7) Blues Power (8) After Midnight (9) Let It Rain (10) Bell Bottom Blues (11) Layla (12) I Shot the Sheriff (13) Let It Grow (14) Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (15) Hello Old Friend (16) Cocaine (17) Wonderful Tonight (18) Promises (19) I Can’t Stand It Total Running Time: 78:00 (U.S. version) |
Rating:  4.499 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)
Awards: (Click on award to learn more).
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About The Cream of Clapton: This compilation essentially served as an expanded edition of Timepieces, omitting “Willie and the Hand Jive” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” in favor of five songs from Cream (I Feel Free, Sunshine of Your Love, White Room, Crossroads, and Badge), one from Blind Faith (Presence of the Lord), and another Derek and the Dominos’ cut (Bell Bottom Blues). The collection also added solo songs Blues Power, Hello Old Friend, and I Can’t Stand It. |
Eric Clapton Money and Cigarettes (1983):
Eric Clapton Behind the Sun (1985):
Eric Clapton August (1986):
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CrossroadsEric Clapton |
| Recorded: 1963-1987 Released: April 18, 1988 Peak: 34 US, -- UK, -- CN, 68 AU Sales (in millions): 3.0 US, -- UK, 4.0 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock |
Tracks: Disc 1: (1) Boom Boom (2) Honey in Your Hips (3) Baby What’s Wrong (4) I Wish You Would (5) A Certain Girl (6) Good Morning, School Girl (7) I Ain’t Got You (8) For Your Love (9) Got to Hurry (10) Lonely Years (11) Bernard Jenkins (12) Hide Away (13) All Your Love (14) Ramblin’ on My Mind (15) Have You Ever Loved a Woman (live) (16) Wrapping Paper (17) I Feel Free (18) Spoonful (19) Lawdy Mama (live at the BBC) (20) Strange Brew (21) Sunshine of Your Love (22) Tales of Brave Ulysses (23) Steppin’ Out (live at the BBC)” Disc 2: (1) Anyone for Tennis (2) White Room (3) Crossroads (live) (3) Badge (4) Presence of the Lord (5) Can’t Find My Way Home (6) Sleeping in the Ground (7) Coming Home (8) Blues Power (9) After Midnight (10) Let It Rain (11) Tell the Truth (12) Roll It Over (13) Layla (14) Mean Old World (15) Key to the Highway (live)” (16) Crossroads (live)” Disc 3: (1) Got to Get Better in a Little While (2) Evil (3) One More Chance (4) Mean Old Frisco (5) Snake Lake Blues (6) Let It Grow (7) Ain’t That Lovin’ You (8) Motherless Children (9) I Shot the Sheriff (live) (10) Better Make It Through Today 11) The Sky Is Crying (12) I Found a Love (13) (When Things Go Wrong) It Hurts Me Too (14) Whatcha Gonna Do (15) Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (16) Someone Like You Disc 4: (1) Hello Old Friend (2) Sign Language (3) Further on Up the Road (live) (4) Lay Down Sally (5) Wonderful Tonight (6) Cocaine (7) Promises (8) If I Don’t Be There by Morning (9) Double Trouble (live) (10) I Can’t Stand It (11) The Shape You’re In (12) Heaven Is One Step Away (13) She’s Waiting (14) Too Bad (15) Miss You (16) Wanna Make Love to You (17) After Midnight (re-recording) Total Running Time: 293:03 |
Rating: 4.745 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings) Quotable: “No other Clapton album accurately explains why the guitarist was so influential, or demonstrates exactly what he accomplished.” – Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Awards: (Click on award to learn more).
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About Crossroads: Eric Clapton’s career was perfect for a box-set treatment. At this point, he had a 25-year run which included stints with the Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, Derek and the Dominos, and his solo work. The box set touched on all of them, while including live cuts and rarities along the way. “Crossroads manages to sum up Clapton’s career succinctly and thoroughly, touching upon all of his hits and adding a bevy of first-rate unreleased material (most notably selections from the scrapped second Derek and the Dominos album.” AMG While “none of his work as a session musician or guest artist is included…every truly essential item he recorded is present.” AMG “No other Clapton album accurately explains why the guitarist was so influential, or demonstrates exactly what he accomplished.” AMG Fans and critics alike responded well. Bob Dylan’s Biography had been successful two years earlier, but Crossroads was “a bona fide blockbuster.” AMG It was the fastest-selling box set ever released at the time, racking up nearly a quarter million in sales in its first few weeks and ultimately four million worldwide. WK It also scooped up a couple of Grammys. Billboard noted the production work and that “compiler Levenson has unearthed some superb rarities for the set, and Anthony DeCurtis contributes intelligent annotation. Classy package and bounty of unheard material will attrack Slowhand’s legion of fans.” WK Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
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Journeyman (1989):
Unplugged (live, 1992):
From the Cradle (1994):
Pilgrim (1998):
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ChroniclesEric Clapton |
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Released: October 12, 1999 Covers: 1985-1999 Peak: 20 US, 6 UK, 6 CN, 16 AU Sales (in millions): -1.78 US, 0.6 UK, 7.8 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock |
Tracks: (1) Blue Eyes Blue (2) Change the World (3) My Father’s Eyes (4) Tears in Heaven (5) Layla (Unplugged Version) (6) Pretending (7) Bad Love (8) Before You Accuse Me (9) It’s in the Way That You Use It (10) Forever Man (11) Running on Faith (Unplugged Version) (12) She’s Waiting (13) River of Tears (14) I Get Lost Total Running Time: 67:19 |
Rating: 4.209 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)
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About Chronicles: Chronicles essentially picked up where The Cream of Clapton left off, covering the years of 1985 to 1999. Within that period, Clapton released his huge-selling, Grammy-winning Unplugged album as well as major hits like “Tears in Heaven” and “Change the World.” The collection shows his transition from an album rock artist to adult contemporary. Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
Resources and Related Links:
First posted 11/18/2020; last updated 11/9/2021. |
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