Santana hit #1 with "Smooth" for first of 12 weeks

Smooth Santana with Rob Thomas

Writer(s): Itaal Shur, Rob Thomas (see lyrics here) First Charted: June 26, 1999 Peak: 112 US, 17 RR, 11 AC, 125 A40, 113 AA, 10 AR, 24 MR, 3 UK, 11 CN, 4 AU, 5 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.7 US, 0.4 UK, 2.24 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 355.13 video, 281.24 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: When Santana hit #1 on the pop charts with “Smooth” it marked the 30th anniversary of his chart debut on the Billboard Hot 100 and the longest span in chart history between an artist’s chart debut and first trip to #1. SF In October 1969, “Jingo” became Carlos’ first hit, albeit it a minor one with a peak at #56. Over the next few years, he had notable hits with “Evil Ways” (#9), “Black Magic Woman” (#4), and Oye Como Va” (#13). He regularly landed top 40 hits during the 1970s, but by the 1980s, his success with singles had dwindled. He landed only five songs on the Hot 100 during the entire decade, although “Winning” and “Hold On” were top 20 hits. Arista Records’ chief Clive Davis, who had worked with Santana at Columbia Records, signed him to record an album with an all-star guest roster. Santana had been fronted by many lead singers over the years, but this was a new approach. Among those lending their aid to Santana’s comeback were Eric Clapton, Cee-Lo Green, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Dave Matthews, and Rob Thomas. Thomas was one of the hottest names around as the front man of pop-rock group Matchbox 20. His co-writing and singing on “Smooth” launched one of the most impressive career resurgences in chart history. Itaal Shur, a songwriter and producer who had worked with Jewel and Maxwell, brought a song called “Room One Seven” to Arista. They liked the instrumental, but thought his lyrics were too sexual and tapped Thomas for a rewrite. SF Inspired by his wife’s Puerto Rican descent, Thomas crafted the new song with the Spanish-flavored lyrics. WK Thomas envisioned George Michael singing the song, but recorded a demo to play for Santana. WK With “Smooth”, Santana didn’t just land the biggest hit of his career, but the biggest pop single of 1999. WHC In its 2008 run-down of the biggest hits in the fifty-year history of the Hot 100, Billboard magazine named it the #2 all-time song on that chart. BB “Smooth” spent a dozen weeks at the chart pinnacle and a grand total of 30 weeks in the top 10. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Rob Thomas BB Billboard (9/08). “All-Time Hot 100” SF Songfacts WHC Joel Whitburn (1999). A Century of Pop Music. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc. WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 10/23/2011; last updatd 10/22/2022.

Marillion Marillion.com released

Marillion.com Marillion

Released: October 18, 1999 Peak: -- US, 53 UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: neo-progressive rock

Tracks: Song Title [time] (single release) A Legacy [6:16] (10/99, promo sampler) Deserve [4:23] (10/99, promo sampler) Go! [6:11] Rich [5:42] (10/99, promo sampler) Enlightened [4:59] Built-in Bastard Radar [4:52] Tumble Down the Years [4:33] Interior Lulu [15:14] House [10:15] Lyrics by Steve Hogarth and John Helmer; music by Marillion (Hogarth/ Kelly/ Mosley/ Rothery/ Trewavas). Total Running Time: 62:28 The Players: Steve Hogarth (vocals, percussion) Steve Rothery (guitar) Pete Trewavas (bass) Mark Kelly (keyboards) Ian Mosley (drums)

Rating: 3.014 out of 5.00 (average of 23 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: After being dropped by the EMI label in 1995, Marillion released three albums which were distributed through Castle Communications. Marillion.com was the last of those albums before the group became independent. WK Their commercial clout continued to drop and no official singles were released to promote the album, although Deserve was a promo single and Rich was a radio single in Brazil. WK Those songs and A Legacy were released on a three-track sampler in October 1999. Tumble Down the Years and Interior Lulu were actually recorded during sessions for Radiation, WK which may account for the band “seeming to maintain some of the alternative pop style of its predecessor.” AMG However, “this album also seems to hark back to an older Marillion era while still reaching into the future…It is a very entertaining album that really grows on you.” AMG One track, House, even “features a dance (trip hop) influence.” WK It had the working title of “The Massive Attack Song.” WK Even as they seem intent on “creating a new niche for itself in a more modern rock field…[they are] still pulling in some of its legacy. Among the influences that appear on this disc are such diverse artists as Jellyfish, Yes, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, and ELP.” AMG Marillion were certainly ahead of the game when it came to connection and promotion with fans. The title came from the band’s “then-new approach in using the Internet to communicate with their fans.” WK The band had used crowdfunding to finance a North American tour in 1997 and, from the next album forward, would lean heavily on that tool for financing the recording of their new albums via pre-orders.

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Marillion AMG All Music Guide rfeview by Gary Hill WK Wikipedia Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/14/2008; last updated 8/7/2021.

Creed hit #1 with Human Clay: October 16, 1999

Originally posted October 16, 2012.

“Creed burst out of Florida with 1997’s My Own Prison, a dark but commercial debut reminiscent of the early-‘90s Seattle sound. Creed’s moody guitar grunge and ardent lyrics, coupled with singer Scott Stapp’s passionate vocals, helped My Own Prison sell millions.” ^KT Human Clay proved even more successful, debuting at #1 in the U.S. and selling 17 million copies worldwide.

The first single, Higher, “is typical Creed – safe, emotive guitar rock for the masses, but with a slight edge.” ^KT It spent a then-record 17 weeks atop the album rock tracks chart. The third single, With Arms Wide Open, reached even higher, going all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a rare occurrence for a rock band at a time when boy bands ruled the charts.



The group didn’t mess with the success of their first album, turning out a “a sophomore outing rife with evocative moodiness, soaring guitars, and a dark, roiling, intense vibe.” ^KT “Nobody could figure out why this group managed to not just survive, but thrive…After all, at the time, not only were post-grunge bands dying, but so were such grunge heavyweights as Pearl Jam and Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell.” ^STE

When one listens to the album, though, “a realization sets in: Unlike their influences – from Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains to Stone Temple Pilots – Creed is happy to be a rock band.” ^STE “Their music may not be particularly joyous and they may even favor foreboding, heavy riffs, but they’re not trying to stretch into political causes or worldbeat like Pearl Jam; they’re not reveling in dark psychedelia like Soundgarden; nor are they attempting a glam Abbey Road like Stone Temple Pilots.” ^STE This “a straightforward grunge and hard rock band, embracing everything that goes along with that.” ^STE “They might not have as strong an identity as their forefathers, but they’re not faceless.” ^STE It makes “Human Clay at once compelling and effectively redundant.” ^KT

---

Awards:

• one of the top 1000 albums of all time by Dave’s Music Database
  
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame/NARM’s Definitive Albums
  
• one of the top 100 albums of the 1990s
  

Resources and Related Links:

• Creed’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry
  
• the DMDB page for Human Clay
  
• ^STE Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
  
• ^KT Katherine Turman, Amazon.com
  

---

Eric Clapton: A Retrospective, 1963-1999

Eric Clapton A 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: The Roosters (1963) The Yardbirds (1963-65) John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (1965-66) Powerhouse (66) Cream (1966-69) Blind Faith (1969) Delaney & Bonnie (1969) Plastic Ono Band (1970) Derek + the Dominos (1970) On the Web: EricClapton.com (official site) Facebook Wikipedia Lists: Eric Clapton: Top 67 Songs Eric Clapton: Top 10 Albums

Awards:

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: TP Timepieces (covers 1970-78, released 1982) CC The Cream of Clapton (covers 1966-81, released 1995) CR Crossroads (covers 1963-87, released 1988) CH Chronicles (covers 1983-99, released 1999) 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.

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 A Certain Girl (Naomi Neville) [2:17] (5/64, --) CR Good Morning, School Girl (H.G. Demarais) [2:45] (10/64, 18 CL, 44 UK) CR I Ain’t Got You (Calvin Carter) [1:59] (10/64) CR For Your Love (Graham Gouldman) [2:29] (2/28/65, 6 US, 6 CB, 4 HR, 4 CL, 3 UK, 1 CN, 22 AU) CR Got to Hurry (Oscar Rasputin) [2:35] (2/28/65, --) CR 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 Ramblin’ on My Mind (Robert Johnson) [3:07] CR Hide Away (instrumental) (Freddie King/Sonny Thompson) [3:14] CR All Your Love (Willie Dixon/Otis Rush) [3:34] CR 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 I Feel Free (Jack Bruce/Pete Brown) [2:52] (12/15/66, 6 CL, 11 UK, 53 AU) CC, CR Spoonful (Willie Dixon) [6:30] (8 CL) CR Cream Disraeli Gears (1967): Strange Brew (Clapton, Felix Pappalardi, Gail Collins Pappalardi) [2:46] (6/10/67, 5 CL, 17 UK, 23 AU) CR Sunshine of Your Love (Clapton, Bruce, Brown) [4:10] (1/6/68, 5 US, 6 CB, 4 HR, 1 CL, 25 UK, 3 CN, 18 AU) CC, CR Tales of Brave Ulysses (Clapton, Martin Sharp) [2:46] (10 CL, 23 AU) CR Cream Wheels of Fire (1968): White Room (Bruce, Brown) [4:56] (9/28/68, 6 US, 5 CB, 7 HR, 1 CL, 28 UK, 2 CB, 1 AU) CC, CR Crossroads (live) (Robert Johnson) [4:14] (1/25/69, 28 US, 17 CB, 17 HR, 2 CL, 13 CN, 45 AU) CC, CR Cream Goodbye (1969): Badge (Clapton, George Harrison) [2:43] (3/29/69, 60 US, 65 CB, 56 HR, 4 CL, 18 UK, 49 CN, 43 AU) CC, CR 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). Presence of the Lord (Clapton) [4:48] (8 CL) CC, CR Can’t Find My Way Home (Steve Winwood) [3:15] (4 CL) CR 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. Coming Home (Bonnie Bramlett) [3:13] (12/20/69, 84 US, 74 CB, 73 HR, 20 CL, 16 UK) CR 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. After Midnight (J.J. Cale) [3:17] (10/10/70, 18 US, 13 CB, 16 HR, 2 CL, 10 CB, 51 AU) TP, CC, CR Let It Rain (Clapton, Bramlett) [5:01] (9/16/72, 48 US, 57 CB, 52 HR, 5 CL, 42 CB, 99 AU) CC, CR Blues Power (Clapton, Leon Russell) [3:06] (live: 11/8/80, 76 US, 9 CL) CC, CR 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. Tell the Truth (Clapton, Bobby Whitlock) [3:23] (8/70, --) CR Layla (Clapton, Jim Gordon) [7:07] (3/20/71, 10 US, 14 CB, 12 HR, 8 AC, 1 CL, 9 AR, 4 UK, 9 CB, 100 AU) TP, CC, CR “Bell Bottom Blues (Clapton) [5:02] (2/13/71, 78 US, 95 CB, 91 HR, 5 CL, 100 AU) CC Key to the Highway (live) (Big Bill Broonzy, Charlie Segar) [6:27] (1970, original studio recording) CR Eric Clapton 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974): I Shot the Sheriff (live) (Bob Marley) [7:48] (studio version: 7/13/74, 1 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 1 RR, 33 RB, 1 CL, 9 UK, 1 CN, 11 AU) TP, CC, CR Willie and the Hand Jive (Johnny Otis) [3:28] (10/26/74, 26 US, 40 CB, 44 HR, 15 CL, 31 CN) TP Let It Grow (Clapton) [4:56] TP, CC, CR Motherless Children (traditional) [4:51] (15 CL) CR Eric Clapton There’s One in Every Crowd (1975): Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (traditional, arranged by Clapton) [3:29] (5/10/75, 25 CL, 19 UK) TP Better Make It Through Today (Clapton) [4:05] CR The Sky Is Crying (Elmore James) [3:57] CR Eric Clapton No Reason to Cry (1976): Hello Old Friend (Clapton) [3:34] (10/16/76, 24 US, 28 CB, 56 HR, 15 CL, 37 CB, 54 AU) CC, CR Double Trouble (live) (Rush) [8:01] (original studio recording: 1976) CR Sign Language” (with Bob Dylan) (Dylan) [2:56] CR Eric Clapton Slowhand (1977): Lay Down Sally (Clapton, Marcy Levy, George Terry) [3:50] (12/13/77, 3 US, 3 CB, 8 HR, 3 RR, 25 AC, 2 CL, 39 UK, 3 CN, 57 AU) TP, CR Wonderful Tonight (Clapton) [3:42] (5/13/78, 16 US, 24 CB, 25 HR, 39 AC, 2 CL, 30 UK, 15 CB, 53 AU) TP, CC, CR Cocaine (Cale) [3:35] (6/14/80, 30 US, 36 CB, 35 HR, 1 CL, 3 CB, 57 AU) TP, CC, CR Eric Clapton Backless (1978): Promises (Richard Feldman, Roger Linn) [3:00] (10/14/78, 9 US, 11 CB, 18 HR, 14 RR, 6 AC, 4 CL, 37 UK, 7 CN, 26 AU) TP, CC, CR If I Don’t Be There by Morning (Dylan, Helen Springs) [4:34] CR

Timepieces Eric 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)

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: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan) [4:21] (8/16/75, 9 CL, 38 UK, 99 AU) TP, CC, CR

Eric Clapton Another Ticket (1981): I Can’t Stand It (Clapton) [4:09] (2/27/81, 10 US, 13 CB, 13 HR, 8 RR, 6 CL, 1 AR, 15 CN) CC, CR

The Cream of Clapton Eric 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).

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): The Shape You’re In (Clapton) [4:09] (4/23/83, 75 UK) CR Eric Clapton Behind the Sun (1985): Forever Man (Jerry Lynn Williams) [3:11] (3/9/85, 26 US, 24 CB, 19 RR, 12 AR, 26 UK, 75 CN, 92 AU) CH She’s Waiting (Clapton, Peter Robinson) [4:55] (3/30/85, 11 AR) CR, CH Eric Clapton August (1986): It’s in the Way That You Use It (Clapton, Robbie Robertson) [4:11] (11/8/86, 11 AR, 34 AU) CH Miss You (Clapton, Greg Phillinganes, Bobby Columby) [5:05] (1/24/87, 9 AR) CR

Crossroads Eric 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).

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: The Yardbirds Boom Boom (John Lee Hooker) [2:25] (3/63, --) CR Yardbirds Honey in Your Hips (Keith Relf) [2:18] (3/63, --) CR Yardbirds Baby What’s Wrong (Jimmy Reed) [2:40] (1963) CR Yardbirds I Wish You Would (Billy Boy Arnold) [2:19] (5/64, --) CR John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers Lonely Years (John Mayall) [3:17] (1965) CR John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers Bernard Jenkins (Eric Clapton) [3:47] (1965) CR John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers Have You Ever Loved a Woman (live) (Billy Myles) [6:41] (recorded 4/30/66, 18 CL) CR Cream Wrapping Paper (Jack Bruce/Pete Brown) [2:21] (10/20/66, 34 UK) CR Cream Lawdy Mama (live at the BBC) (traditional) [1:50] (recorded 1966) CR Cream Steppin’ Out (live at the BBC) (James Bracken) [3:31] (recorded 1966) CR Cream Anyone for Tennis (Clapton, Sharp) [2:37] (5/11/68, 64 US, 83 CB, 59 HR, 33 CL, 40 UK, 37 CN, 64 AU) CR Blind Faith Sleeping in the Ground (Sam Myers) [2:50] CR Derek and the Dominos Roll It Over (Clapton, Whitlock) [4:29] (8/70, --) CR Eric Clapton with Duane Allman Mean Old World (Walter Jacobs) [3:50] (recorded 10/2/70) CR Derek and the Dominos Crossroads (live) (Johnson) [8:17] (recorded 10/23/70) CR Derek and the Dominos Got to Get Better in a Little While (Clapton) [5:31] (recorded 5/31/71) CR Derek and the Dominos Evil (Dixon) [4:25] (recorded 5/31/71) CR Derek and the Dominos One More Chance (Clapton) [3:17] (recorded 5/31/71) CR Derek and the Dominos Mean Old Frisco (Arthur Crudup) [4:02] (recorded 5/31/71) CR Derek and the Dominos Snake Lake Blues (Clapton, Whitlock) [3:33] (recorded 5/31/71) CR Eric Clapton Ain’t That Lovin’ You (Jimmy Reed) [5:26] CR Eric Clapton I Found a Love (Leon Russell) [3:38] (recorded 9/30/74) CR Eric Clapton Whatcha Gonna Do (Peter Tosh) [3:01] (recorded 9/30/74) CR Eric Clapton When Things Go Wrong It Hurts Me Too (Mel London) [5:34] (recorded 9/30/74) CR Eric Clapton Further on Up the Road (live)” (Joe Medwich Veasey, Don D. Robey) [6:18] (recorded 6/25/75) CR Eric Clapton Someone Like You (Arthur Louis) [4:30] (8/16/75, 99 AU) CR Eric Clapton Heaven Is One Step Away (Clapton) [4:09] (1985, from Back to the Future soundtrack) CR Eric Clapton Too Bad (Clapton) [2:37] (2/85, --) CR Eric Clapton Wanna Make Love to You (Jerry Lynn Williams) [5:43] (recorded 1/31/87) CR Eric Clapton After Midnight (re-recording) (Cale) [4:05] (4/30/88, 4 AR) CR

Journeyman (1989): Pretending (Jerry Lynn Williams) [4:43] (11/11/89, 55 US, 50 CB, 16 AR, 24 CN, 85 AU) CH Bad Love (Eric Clapton, Mick Jones) [5:14] (11/25/89, 88 US, 73 CB, 13 AR, 25 UK) CH Before You Accuse Me (Elias McDaniel) [3:57] (5/5/90, 9 AR) CH Unplugged (live, 1992): Layla (Eric Clapton, Jim Gordon) [4:37] (9/5/92, 12 US, 7 CB, 7 RR, 8 AC, 9 AR, 45 UK, 11 CN, 7 AU) CH Running on Faith (Jerry Lynn Williams) [6:26] (3/5/93, 28 AC, 15 AR) CH From the Cradle (1994): I’m Tore Down (Sonny Thompson) [3:02] (9/10/94, 5 AR) Motherless Child (Robert Hicks) [2:57] (10/15/94, 81 CB, 23 AR, 63 UK, 9 CN) Pilgrim (1998): My Father’s Eyes (Eric Clapton) [5:24] (2/20/98, 16 US, 16 RR, 2 AC, 7 A40, 17 AA, 26 AR, 33 UK, 10 CN, 77 AU) CH River of Tears (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie) [7:21] CH

Chronicles Eric Clapton

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)

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: Tears in Heaven (Clapton, Will Jennings) [4:33] (1/8/92, 2 US, 11 CB, 3 RR, 13 AC, 9 AR, 5 UK, 12 CN, 37 AU) CH Change the World (Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick) [3:55] (6/14/96, 5 US, 4 CB, 2 RR, 113 AC, 17 A40, 11 AA, 54 RB, 18 UK, 15CH Blue Eyes Blue (Diane Warren) [4:42] (8/21/99, 4 AC, 29 A40, 30 CN) CH I Get Lost ( Clapton) [4:21] CH Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Eric Clapton DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Yardbirds DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Cream DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Blind Faith DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Derek & the Dominos AMG All Music Guide review of Crossroads JR Jan Reid (2006). Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos. Rodale Inc.: New York, NY. WK Wikipedia page for Crossroads WK-CH Wikipedia page for Chronicles First posted 11/18/2020; last updated 11/9/2021.