Eric Clapton - Journeyman

For most of the '80s, Eric Clapton seemed rather lost, uncertain of whether he should return to his blues roots or pander to AOR radio. By the mid-'80s, he appeared to have made the decision to revamp himself as a glossy mainstream rocker, working with synthesizers and drum machines. Instead of expanding his audience, it only reduced it. Then came the career retrospective Crossroads, which helped revitalize his career, not only commercially, but also creatively, as Journeyman -- the first album he recorded after the success of Crossroads -- proved. Although Journeyman still suffers from an overly slick production, Clapton sounds more convincing than he has since the early '70s. Not only is his guitar playing muscular and forceful, his singing is soulful and gritty. Furthermore, the songwriting is consistently strong, alternating between fine mainstream rock originals ("Pretending") and covers ("Before You Accuse Me," "Hound Dog"). Like any of Clapton's best albums, there is no grandstanding to be found on Journeyman -- it's simply a laid-back and thoroughly engaging display of Clapton's virtuosity. On the whole, it's the best studio album he's released since Slowhand. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Clark Synthesizer Horn, Synthesizer, Organ (Hammond), Sequencing, Synthesizer Strings, Keyboards, ? Alexandra Sarapase Conomos Assistant Producer Arif Mardin String Arrangements, Arranger Ben Fowler Assistant Engineer, Engineer, Mixing Assistant Carol Steele Percussion, Tambourine, Conga Cecil Womack Vocals, Guitar (Acoustic), ? Chaka Khan Vocals (Background), ? Darryl Jones ?, Bass Daryl Hall Harmony Vocals Dave O'Donnell Engineer Dave Wittman Engineer David "Fathead" Newman Sax (Tenor), ? David Sanborn ?, Sax (Alto) Eric Clapton ?, Guitar, Main Performer, Design, Vocals Gary Burton Vibraphone Gary Wright Mixing George Harrison Harmony Vocals, Guitar, ? Greg Phillinganes Keyboards, ?, Piano, Vocals (Background), Synthesizer Hank Crawford ?, Sax (Alto) Jack Joseph Puig Engineer Jeff Bova ?, Synthesizer Horn, Programming, Drum Programming, Synthesizer Jerry Williams Vocals (Background), ?, Guitar, Harmony Vocals Jill Dell'Abate Producer Jim Keltner Drums, ?, Percussion, Tambourine, Drum Programming Jimmy Bralower Drum Programming, ? John Tropea Guitar (Rhythm) Jon Faddis Horn, Trumpet Lani Groves Vocals (Background) Larry Alexander Engineer Linda Womack Vocals Lou Solof Trumpet Michael O'Reilly Engineer Nathan East Bass, ?, Vocals (Background) Phil Collins ?, Drums, Harmony Vocals, Vocals (Background) Phil Palmer ?, Guitar Pino Palladino ?, Bass Richard Arnold Assistant Engineer Richard Tee Piano, Fender Rhodes, ? Rob Eaton Mixing Rob Mounsey ?, Synthesizer Robbie Kilgore Synthesizer Robbie Kondor ?, Drum Programming, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Vocoder, Harmonica Robert Cray ?, Guitar Roger Forrester Barking, Photography Ronnie Cuber Sax (Baritone) Russ Titelman Mixing, Producer Steve "Barney" Cahse Engineer, Mixing Steve Ferrone ?, Drums, Hi Hat Steve Rinkoff Engineer Tawatha Agee Vocals (Background), ? Ted Jensen Mastering Terry O'Neil Photography Tessa Niles Vocals (Background) UE Nastasi Assistant Engineer Vaneese Thomas Vocals (Background)