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 Strings, Organ (Hammond), ?, Sequencing, Synthesizer, Keyboards Alexandra Sarapase Conomos Assistant Producer Arif Mardin Arranger, String Arrangements Ben Fowler Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer, Engineer Carol Steele Conga, Percussion, Tambourine Cecil Womack Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, ? Chaka Khan ?, Vocals (Background) Darryl Jones Bass, ? Daryl Hall Vocal Harmony Dave O'Donnell Engineer Dave Wittman Engineer David "Fathead" Newman Sax (Tenor), ? David Sanborn Sax (Alto), ? Eric Clapton ?, Vocals, Design, Guitar Gary Burton Vibraphone Gary Wright Mixing George Harrison Vocal Harmony, ?, Guitar Greg Phillinganes Synthesizer, Keyboards, Piano, ?, Vocals (Background) Hank Crawford ?, Sax (Alto) Jack Joseph Puig Engineer Jeff Bova Programming, Drum Programming, Synthesizer, Synthesizer Horn, ? Jerry Williams Vocal Harmony, Vocals (Background), ?, Guitar Jill Dell'Abate Producer Jim Keltner Tambourine, Drums, Percussion, Drum Programming, ? Jimmy Bralower ?, Drum Programming John Tropea Guitar (Rhythm) Jon Faddis Trumpet, Horn Lani Groves Vocals (Background) Larry Alexander Engineer Linda Womack Vocals Lou Solof Trumpet Michael O'Reilly Engineer Nathan East Bass, ?, Vocals (Background) Phil Collins Vocal Harmony, ?, Drums, 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, Keyboards, Harmonica, Synthesizer, ?, Vocoder Robert Cray ?, Guitar Roger Forrester Barking, Photography Ronnie Cuber Sax (Baritone) Russ Titelman Producer, Mixing 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)