The Top 100 Eric Clapton Songs/Studio Albums Ranked

Eric Clapton Top 100 Songs/ Studio Albums Ranked

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.” Click here to see other best-of lists from performers and here to see other best-of lists from songwriters and/or producers.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. DMDB Top 1%: 1. Layla (Derek & the Dominos, 1970) 2. Tears in Heaven (1992) 3. Wonderful Tonight (1977) 4. Sunshine of Your Love (Cream, 1967) DMDB Top 2%: 5. Change the World (1996) 6. White Room (Cream, 1968) 7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Beatles, 1968) 8. I Shot the Sheriff (1974) 9. For Your Love (Yardbirds, 1965) DMDB Top 5%: 10. Badge (Cream, 1969) 11. Cocaine (1977) 12. Layla (Unplugged, 1992) 13. Lay Down Sally (1977) 14. After Midnight (1970) 15. Crossroads (Cream, live, 1968) 16. I Feel Free (Cream, 1966) 17. My Father’s Eyes (1998) 18. Can’t Find My Way Home (Blind Faith, 1969) DMDB Top 10%: 19. Strange Brew (Cream, 1967) 20. Promises (1978) 21. Bell Bottom Blues (Derek & the Dominos, 1970) 22. Forever Man (1986) 23. I”ve Got a Rock and Roll Heart (1983) 24. Let It Rain (1970) 25. Anyone for Tennis? (Cream, 1968) DMDB Top 20%: 26. I Can’t Stand It (1981) 27. Pretending (1989) 28. Spoonful (Cream, 1966) 29. Presence of the Lord (Blind Faith, 1969) 30. I’ts Probably Me (with Sting, 1992) 31. Tales of Brave Ulysses (Cream, 1967) 32. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1975) 33. Willie and the Hand Jive (1974) 34. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (1975) 35. Hello Old Friend (1976) 36. Bad Love (1989) 37. Tulsa Time (1978) 38. Coming Home (Delaney & Bonnie, 1969) 39. Blues Power (1970) 40. It’s in the Way That You Use It (1986) 41. Circus Left Town (1992) 42. Motherless Child (1994) 43. Riding with the King (with B.B. King, 2000) 44. Watch Out for Lucy (1978) 45. Running on Faith (1989) 46. Blue Moon (with Rod Stewart, 2004) 47. Tearing Us Apart (with Tina Turner, 1986) 48. SWLABR (Cream, 1967) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 49. All of Me (with Paul McCartney, 2013) 50. Good Morning Little School Girl (Yardbirds, 1964) 51. Crossroads (Derek & the Dominos, live, 1970) 52. Wrapping Paper (Cream, 1966) 53. Before You Accuse Me (1989) 54. Only You Know and I Know (Delaney & Bonnie, 1970) 55. Little Wing (Derek & the Dominos, 1970) 56. She’s Waiting (1985) 57. Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, 1966) 58. I’m Tore Down (1994) 59. My Back Pages (live with Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, & George Harrison, 1992) 60. Let It Grow (1974) 61. After Midnight (1988) 62. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? (Derek & the Dominos, 1970) 63. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (with Randy Crawford & David Sanborn, 1989) 64. Miss You (1986) 65. Ramblin’ on My Mind (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, 1966) 66. See What Love Can Do (1985) 67. No Alibis (1989) 68. N.S.U. (Cream, 1966) 69. Key to the Highway (Derek & the Dominos, 1970) 70. Blue Eyes Blue (1999) 71. Runaway Train (with Elton John, 1992) 72. The Usual (with Bob Dylan, 1987) 73. Superman Inside (2001) 74. Goodnight Irene (2013) 75. Another Ticket (1981) 76. Further on Up the Road (live, 1975) 77. She’s Gone (1998) 78. I’m So Glad (Cream, 1966) 79. The Core (1977) 80. Stone Free (1993) 81. Motherless Children (1974) 82. Come Rain or Come Shine (with B.B. King, 2000) 83. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out (Derek & the Dominos, 1970) 84. Born Under a Bad Sign (Cream, (1968) 85. Lawdy Mama (Cream, 1966) 86. Fight (No Matter How Long) (The Bunburys, 1988) 87. I’ll Be Seeing You (2016) 88. The Sky Is Crying (1975) 89. Run (1986) 90. Politician (Cream, 1968) 91. Sea of Joy (Blind Faith, 1969) 92. Help Me Up (1992) 93. Revolution (2005) 94. Keep on Growing (Derek & the Dominos, 1970) 95. Tell the Truth (Derek & the Dominos, 1970) 96. Travelin’ Light (2001) 97. Boom Boom (Yardbirds, 1963) 98. Don’t’ Think Twice, It’s Alright (live, 1992) 99. Rita Mae (1981) 100. Ride the River (with J.J. Cale, 2006) Eric Clapton: Studio Albums Ranked Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by album’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, critics’ ratings, and awards. Also factored in are the status of each album’s songs in Dave’s Music Database for songs. Note: In addition to Eric Clapton’s studio albums, this includes works with the Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, Delaney & Bonnie, and Derek & the Dominos. Also, although they are live albums, Delaney & Bonnie’s On Tour with Eric Clapton and Eric Clapton’s Grammy-winning Unplugged have been included on this list because they consisted largely of material not previously on Eric Clapton studio releases. 1. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (Derek and the Dominos, 1970) 2. Disraeli Gears (Cream, 1967) 3. Unplugged (1992) 4. Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, 1966) 5. Blind Faith (Blind Faith, 1969) 6. 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974) 7. Wheels of Fire (Cream, studio/live, 1968) 8. Slowhand (1977) 9. From the Cradle (blues covers, 1994) 10. Riding with the King (with B.B. King, 2000) 11. Me and Mr. Johnson (Robert Johnson covers, 2004) 12. Journeyman (1989) 13. Fresh Cream (Cream, 1966) 14. Eric Clapton (1970) 15. Reptile (2001) 16. Pilgrim (1998) 17. Backless (1978) 18. Another Ticket (1981) 19. On Tour with Eric Clapton (Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, 1970) 20. Back Home (2005) 21. The Road to Escondido (with J.J. Cale, 2006) 22. For Your Love (Yardbirds, 1965) 23. No Reason to Cry (1976) 24. There’s One in Every Crowd (1975) 25. Money and Cigarettes (1983) 26. Goodbye (Cream, studio/live, 1969) 27. Behind the Sun (1985) 28. August (1986) 29. Clapton (2010) 30. Old Sock (2013) 31. The Breeze: An Appreciation of J.J. Cale (with various artists, 2014) 32. I Still Do (2016) 33. Happy Xmas (Christmas songs, 2018) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Performers” Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Songwriters and/or Producers” DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Eric Clapton DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Yardbirds DMDB Encyclopedia entry for John Mayall DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Cream DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Blind Faith DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Delaney & Bonnie DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Derek & the Dominos JR Jan Reid (2006). Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos. Rodale Inc.: New York, NY. First posted 3/30/2012; updated 11/11/2021.

Eric Clapton “Wonderful Tonight” released

Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton

Writer(s): Eric Clapton (see lyrics here) Released: March 10, 1978 First Charted: May 13, 1978 Peak: 16 US, 24 CB, 23 GR, 25 HR, 39 AC, 2 CL, 30 UK, 15 CN, 53 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.6 UK, 2.68 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 7.0 radio, 296.24 video, 331.86 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: This was the third single from Slowhand, Eric Clapton’s fifth solo outing. The album reached #2 in the United States and sold three million copies. His only studio album to match it in sales was 1994’s From the Cradle although his 1992 Unplugged live album did sell ten million copies in the U.S. Clapton wrote “Wonderful Tonight” about Pattie Boyd. While the song is celebrated for its romantic expression of love and become “a fixture at proms and weddings,” SF the back story isn’t so sweet. Clapton met the international model when she was married to the Beatles’ George Harrison (he wrote the Beatles’ 1969 hit “Something” about her). Even though Clapton and Harrison became close friends, Clapton fell for her and pursued her. She rebuffed his advances and he wrote the Derek and the Dominos’ 1970 classic rock hit “Layla” about his longing for her. After a three-year self-imposed exile and heroin addiction, Clapton pursued Boyd again in 1974. They began a relationship while she was still married to Harrison, who she eventually divorced in 1977. She married Clapton in 1979 but she divorced him in 1989, citing alcoholism, abuse, and infidelity. Clapton wrote the song on September 7, 1976 while waiting for Boyd to get ready for an annual Buddy Holly party hosted by Paul and Linda McCartney. WK As she said, Eric “was sitting round playing his guitar while I was trying on dresses upstairs. I was taking so long and I was panicking about my hair, my clothes, everything, and I came downstairs expecting him to really berate me but he said, ‘Listen to this!’” SF Cashbox said his “singing is superbly understated; the guitar work is simple and evocative.” WK Billboard described itas “perhaps Clapton’s prettiest and mellowest love ballad in some time.” WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Eric Clapton SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 12/24/2022; last updated 12/26/2022.