Eric Clapton - Complete Clapton

Disregard the title of this 2007 compilation: there is no way that any double-disc, 36-track set could be called The Complete Clapton, not when Eric Clapton has had a career that's spanned over four decades. This doesn't even attempt to cover as much ground as his landmark four-disc 1988 box set Crossroads, which began with his first band the Yardbirds and then followed his winding journeys through John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie, and Derek & the Dominos before settling into his solo records. Of course, The Complete Clapton covers the nearly 20 years that have elapsed since the release of Crossroads, a time frame which includes the blockbuster success of his 1992 Unplugged, its all-blues 1994 follow-up From the Cradle, and many soft adult contemporary hits from the late '90s. All these phases are touched upon on The Complete Clapton, but the set lops off all of Clapton's earliest recordings, beginning with five Cream staples ("I Feel Free," "Sunshine of Your Love," "White Room," "Crossroads," "Badge") and Blind Faith's "Presence of the Lord" before delving into his solo career. This turns The Complete Clapton into a portrait of Clapton the classic rocker, as it focuses almost entirely on radio staples -- including tracks like "I've Got a Rock & Roll Heart," "Forever Man," and "It's in the Way That You Use It" that didn't make the cut on Crossroads -- that still are played frequently years after their original release. As such, this set doesn't pack many surprises, but it does hit the obvious highlights well and serves as a good hits package for the casual and curious fan, and in that sense, it works as a good companion piece to Clapton's autobiography, which was published the same week this was released in October 2007. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adrian Barber Remixing, Engineer Alan Clark Synthesizer Horn, Organ (Hammond), Bass, Keyboards Alan Douglas Engineer, Mixing Albert Lee Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar (Acoustic) Albhy Galuten Arp, Producer, Piano Alex Haas Mixing Andy Fairweather Low Guitar Andy Johns Mixing, Engineer B.B. King Guitar, Vocals Babyface Producer Barrie Wentzell Photography Barry Feinstein Photography Bill Halverson Engineer Billy Preston Piano, Organ (Hammond) Bobby Whitlock Organ Bonnie Bramlett Vocals Brad Gilderman Engineer Carl Radle Producer, Bass Carl Studna Photography Carol Steele Conga Chaka Khan Vocals (Background) Chris Blackwell Arranger Chris Stainton Organ (Hammond), Piano, Synthesizer, Keyboards Chuck Kirkpatrick Vocals (Background) Chuck Leavell Keyboards Chyna Vocals (Background) Damon Lyon-Shaw Engineer Dave Bronze Guitar (Bass) Dave O'Donnell Engineer Dave Wittman Engineer David Gahr Photography David W. Bargeron Trombone Delaney Bramlett Producer, Vocals, Guitar Dick Sims Organ, Keyboards Dominos Arranger, Producer Donald "Duck" Dunn Guitar (Bass) Doyle Bramhall II Guitar Ed Cherney Engineer, Mixing Eric Clapton Vocals, Guitar, Vocals (Background), Dobro, Slide Guitar, Producer, Arranger, Soloist, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Rhythm) Felix Pappalardi Producer Gary Brooker Keyboards, Vocals Gary Wright Mixing Gayle Levant Celtic Harp George Terry Guitar, Vocals Gered Mankowitz Photography Glyn Johns Producer Greg Phillinganes Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Piano Greg Ross Package Design Henry Spinetti Drums J.J. Cale Mixing, Producer Jack English Photography Jack Joseph Puig Engineer Jamie Oldaker Drums JayDee Mannes Pedal Steel Jeff Bova Synthesizer, Synthesizer Horn Jeff DeMorris Engineer Jeff Porcaro Drums Jerry Allison Vocals Jerry Portnoy Harmonica Jerry Williams Vocal Harmony, Guitar, Vocals (Background) Jim Barton Engineer Jim Keltner Drums Jim W. Gordon Drums Jimmy Bralower Drum Machine, Drum Programming Jimmy Miller Mixing, Producer Joe Sample Wurlitzer, Piano John Jacobs Engineer John Sambataro Vocals (Background) John Timperly Engineer Jon Faddis Trumpet Joseph M. Palmaccio Digital Remastering Katie Kissoon Vocals (Background) Kevin Mazur Photography Laurence Cottle Bass Lee Herschberg Engineer Lenny Castro Percussion, Conga Lenny Waronker Producer Leon Pendarvis Horn Arrangements Leon Russell Piano Magic Moreno Engineer Marcy Levy Vocals Mark Linett Mixing Michael Brecker Saxophone Michael Carnevale Engineer Michael Omartian Synthesizer Michael Putland Photography Mick Guzauski Mixing Nathan East Bass, Guitar (Bass), Vocals (Background) Nick Launay Mixing, Engineer Nigel Williamson Liner Notes Norman Watson Photography, Inlay Photography Paul Gommersall Engineer Paul Waller Drum Programming Peter Hefter Engineer Peter Manning Robinson Synthesizer Phil Collins Harmony, Drums (Snare), Producer, Mixing, Drums, Vocals (Background), Simmons Drums, Percussion Phil Palmer Guitar Pino Palladino Bass Randy Brecker Trumpet Randy Kerber Synthesizer Ray Cooper Percussion Richard Cottle Synthesizer Rita Coolidge Vocals Rob Eaton Mixing Rob Fraboni Producer Robert Stigwood Arranger, Producer Roddy Lorimer Trumpet Roger Hawkins Drums Russ Titelman Mixing, Producer Ry Cooder Slide Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Shaun Murphy Vocals (Background) Simon Clarke Sax (Baritone) Simon Climie Producer, Keyboards Sonny Curtis Vocals Stephen Chase Engineer Stephen Stills Guitar, Vocals Steve "Barney" Cahse Engineer Steve Boyer Mixing Steve Ferrone Drums Steve Gadd Drums Steve Lukather Guitar (Rhythm) Susannah Melvoin Vocals (Background) Ted Templeman Timbales, Producer Terry O'Neill Photography Tessa Niles Vocals (Background) Tim Carmon Organ (Hammond) Tim Sanders Sax (Tenor) Tom Bernfield Vocals Tom Dowd Executive Producer, Engineer, Producer, Associate Producer Tom Sweeney Assistant Engineer Wendy Melvoin Vocals (Background) Yvonne Elliman Vocals