Today in Music (1865): Wagner's Tristan und Isolde opera premiered

Tristan and Isolde Richard Wagner (composer)

Recorded: 1857-1859 Premiered: June 10, 1865 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: classical > opera

Parts/Movements: Act I: Prelude "Hab acht, Tristan!" (Kurvenal) "Doch nun von Tristan!" (Isolde) "Wie lachend sie mir Lieer singen" (Isolde's Narrative and Curse) "So reihte sie die Mutter" (Brangane) "Begehrt, Herrin was ihr wunscht" (Tristan) Act II: Prelude a. "Isolde! Geliebte! Tristan! geliebter" (Tristan, Isolde) b. "O eitler Tagesknecht!" (Isolde) c. "O sink hernieder" (Beide) a. "Einsam wachend" (Brangane's Waming) b. "Lausch Geliebter!" c. "So sturben wir" (Tristan) d. "Lass' mich sterben!" (Isolde) "Tatest du's wirklich?" (King Marke's Monologue) "Konig... Wohin nun Tristan scheidet" (Tristan) Act III: Prelude "Die alte Weise - was weckt sie mich?" (Tristan) "Dunkt dich das?" (Tristan) "Wie sie selig" "O diese Sonne!" (Tristan) "Ha! Ich bin's, ich bin's" (Isolde) "Mild und leise" (Liebestod) (Isolde) "Prelude und Liebestod" (Concert version, arr. Humperdinck) Total Running Time: 222:30

Rating: 4.525 out of 5.00 (average of 2 ratings) Quotable: “One of the peaks of the operatic repertoire” – Wikipedia Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Work: “Wagner once explained it was his need to ‘vent his feelings musically’ that led him to compose Tristan und Isolde.” TM “This is a work of surprising sensuality – each bit of simmering musical tension becomes an integral part of the narrative.” TM He was inspired by his affair with Mathilde Wesendonck, his patron’s wife to whom he wrote poems which became the basis for five of the opera’s songs. JH The opera is largely based on Tristan, a 12th-century romance by Gottfried von Strassburg. Wagner “stated in his 1860 essay The Music of the Future, he wanted to compose an opera of more modest scale with a chance of being produced.” JH It premiered on June 10, 1865 at the Königliches Hof- und Nationaltheater in Munich with Hans von Bülow as the conductor. WK It “was notable for Wagner’s unprecedented use of chromaticism, tonal ambiguity, orchestral colour and harmonic suspension.” WK Many view Wagner’s opera as the onset of a movement away from “common practice harmony and tonality” WK which launched musical modernism and “the direction of classical music in the 20th century.” WK Wagner’s “libretto style and music” served as enormous influences on 19th and early 20th century symbolist poets as well as Western classical composers, proving inspirational to Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Karol Szymanowski, Alban Berg, Arnold Schoenberg and Benjamin Britten. WK “The harmonic language of Tristan…not only enacts musically the sexual tension between the opera’s two central characters, but also points to the liberation of dissonance from the constraints of tonality that Arnold Schoenberg and others in the twentieth century would champion. The Prelude to Tristan fully exemplifies Wagner’s forward-looking approach to both harmony and the issue of musical form – or, some would say, formlessness – that operates centrally in his music-dramas.” JH Wagner also used instrumental music to introduce “central motives which correspond with characters and ideas.” JH “The famed ‘love duet’ in the second act…is not just another memorable opera moment…It’s larger than life, a meeting of big voices that spirals into something of a marathon. When the first act ends, Tristan has ingested what he believes is a death potion, served up by the spiteful Isolde in a moment of vengeance. Unbeknownst to either, Isolde’s maid has swapped the cocktail for a love potion, and in Act 2 the pair marvel at and celebrate the circumstances that have brought them together.” TM

Resources and Related Links: JH Jennifer Hambrick, AllMusic.com TM Tom Moon (2008). 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. Workman Publishing Company, Inc.: New York, NY. Page 838. WK Wikipedia Related DMDB Links: Last updated 2/25/2026.

Louis Armstrong's The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings box set released

The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings Louis Armstrong

Recorded: 1926 to 1928 Released: August 22, 2000 Peak: -- US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Genre: jazz

Tracks, Disc 1: 1. Gut Bucket Blues 2. My Heart 3. Yes! I’m in the Barrel 4. Come Back Sweet Papa 5. Georgia Grind 6. Heebie Jeebies 7. Cornet Chop Suey 8. Oriental Strut 9. You’re Next 10. Muskrat Ramble 11. Don’t Forget to Mess Around 12. I’m Gonna Gitcha 13. Droppin’ Shucks 14. Who’s It 15. King of the Zulus 16. Big Fat Ma and Skinny Pa 17. Lonesome Blues 18. Sweet Little Papa 19. Jazz Lips 20. Skid-Dat-De-Dat 21. Big Butter and Egg Man 22. Sunset Café Stomp 23. You Made Me Love You 24. Irish Black Bottom 25. [Pause Track] Tracks, Disc 2: 1. Put ‘Em Down Blues 2. Ory’s Creole Trombone 3. Last Time 4. Struttin’ with Some Barbeque 5. Got No Blues 6. Once in a While 7. I’m Not Rough 8. Hotter Than That 9. Savoy Blues 10. He Likes It Slow 11. Gambler’s Dream 12. Sunshine Baby 13. Adam and Eve Had the Blues 14. Put It Where I Can Get It 15. Washwoman Blues 16. I’ve Stopped My Man 17. Georgia Bo Bo 18. Drop That Sack [Common Take] 19. Drop That Sake [Rare Take] 20. Cornet Chop Suey 21. [Pause Track] Tracks, Disc 3: 1. Willie the Weeper 2. Wild Man Blues 3. Alligator Crawl 4. Potato Head Blues 5. Melancholy 6. Weary Blues 7. Twelfth Street Rag 8. Keyhole Blues 9. S.O.L. Blues 10. Gully Low Blues 11. That’s When I’ll Come Back to You 12. Chicago Breakdown 13. Weary Blues 14. New Orleans Stomp 15. Wild Man Blues 16. Wild Man Blues 17. Melancholy 18. Melancholy 19. You’re a Real Sweetheart 20. Too Busy! 21. Was It a Dream? 22. Last Night I Dreamed You Kissed Me 23. [Pause Track] Tracks, Disc 4: 1. Fireworks 2. Skip the Gutter 3. Monday Date 4. Don’t Jive Me 5. West End Blues 6. Sugar Foot Strut 7. Two Deuces 8. Squeeze Me 9. Knee Drops 10. No, Papa, No 11. Basin Street Blues 12. No One Else But You 13. Beau Koo Jack 14. Save It, Pretty Mama 15. Muggles 16. Hear Me Talkin’ to Ya? 17. St. James Infirmary 18. Tight Like This 19. Weather Bird 20. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love [Common Take] 21. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love [Rare Take] 22. Mahogany Hall Stomp 23. Knockin’ a Jug 24. [Pause Track] The following songs from the box set charted. (Click for codes to singles charts.) Muskrat Ramble (7/17/26, 8 US) Big Butter and Egg Man (4/9/27, 13 US) Keyhole Blues (10/29/27, 16 US) Potato Head Blues (12/10/27, 12 US) Hotter Than That (5/12/28, 10 US) Struttin’ with Some Barbeque (7/14/28, 14 US) West End Blues (9/15/28, 8 US) A Monday Date (12/1/28, 19 US) St. James Infirmary (5/4/29, 15 US) Once in a While (1/8/38, 15 US) Basin Street Blues (10/29/38, 20 US)

Rating: 4.800 out of 5.00 (average of 5 ratings) Quotable: “Jazz starts here.” – Blender Magazine Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: “Jazz starts here.” BL “This 4-CD set represents the ‘Rosetta Stone of Jazz,’ the ultimate Louis Armstrong collection.” JM “Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings are jazz’s Holy Grail, a venerable guide for anyone with the desire to explore the roots of this now century old art.” MC Armstrong “was not the first great player in jazz, but he was the first to elevate the soloist’s art to a position of primacy.” KM “A typical band embellished a song, but Armstrong took long solos, causing near riots of excitement.” MC “Between 1925 and 1929, Armstrong invented scat singing, defined swing and introduced the jazz solo. He laid the foundations for America’s first indigenous art form – and had a ball doing it. No wonder he was our first global pop star.” BL “Music could never be the same again.” KM “He did so through the medium of the 78 rpm sides he cut for Okeh with his Hot Five and Hot Seven units. This was a genuine case of records creating history.” KM These recordings “ushered out the era of acoustic recording where the soloist played into a huge cone and ushered in the electric method utilizing microphones.” MC “This four-CD set brings together all the recordings made during the period of the Hot Five and Hot Sevens along with all the attendant recordings that Armstrong was involved in during this breakthrough period.” CK “Armstrong continually cuts through with a crystalline brilliance he was never to recapture.” KM “When he opens West End Blues with a trumpet solo followed by the klop-klop of cymbals and his ‘waa-waa-waa’ scat in response to Johnny Dodds’ clarinet one can imagine listeners falling-out with excitement.” MC “If the tragic grandeur of his playing on ‘West End Blues’ is the pinnacle, it is all but matched on a dozen others.” KM “There are plenty trumpet licks rendered to keep scholars and students busy for years.” MC “Although this material has been around the block several times before – and continues to be available in packages greatly varying in transfer quality – this is truly the way to go, and certainly the most deluxe packaging this material has ever received with the greatest sound retrieval yet employed.” CK “Sonically, graphically, and in terms of comprehensiveness, this is truly the definitive study of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings.” JM “Armstrong collectors will find everything from Armstrong’s Okeh record dates here, re-mastered, finally correctly according to many Armstrong scholars. Digitally re-mastered and pitch altered to the sound of Armstrong’s day. The music sound has significantly improved over previous Columbia/Legacy reissues.” MC “In addition to sounding better than the competition, it also sensibly lays out all the recordings Satchmo made during this period, grouping all the original Hot Five recordings from 1925 to 1927 (and all attendant material) together on the first two discs, all of the Hot Sevens on disc three, with the final disc devoted to the second coming of the Hot Five in 1928 along with the attendant material from the following year.” CK “Armstrong’s Hot Fives band comprised of his wife Lil’ Hardin Armstrong (piano/vocals), Kid Ory (trombone), Johnny Dodds (clarinet), and Johnny St. Cyr (banjo), were supplemented by tuba and drums to make the Hot Sevens. The last disc of the set features Armstrong and pianist Earl Hines, plus several big band recordings marketed under the popular Fives name.” MC “There are also several categories of ‘bonus tracks’ aboard this deluxe set, including the ‘Lil’s Hot Shots’ 1926 Hot Five Vocalion recordings, a 1927 Johnny Dodds session that became the prototype for the Hot Seven recordings that soon followed, and the only known alternate take of I Can’t Give You Anything but Love. You can’t have a Louis Armstrong collection without this historic set. Come to think of it, you can’t have any kind of respectable jazz collection without it, either.” CK Notes: Comes with an “extensive book with critical essays, photo galleries, full discographical info, includes Johnny Dodds’ & Lil Hardin’s rare sessions for the Vocalion and Brunswick labels, …main essay by grammy-nominated scholar Robert G. O'Meally, a personal reflection by producer George Avakian, and a collection of unrivaled historical value.” JM

Resources and Related Links: BL Blender Magazine’s 100 Greatest American Albums (10/08) MC Mark Corrota, AllAboutJazz.com (9/1/00) JM JazzByMail.com CK Cub Koda, All Music Guide KM Kenny Mathieson, The Wire. The Most Important Records Ever Made. (June 1992, issue 100). Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 8/4/2011; last updated 1/29/2022.

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.