Eric Clapton - Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton [Australia Bonus Tracks]

Clapton Chronicles ignores Eric Clapton's 1983 Reprise debut, Money and Cigarettes (which sounded more like an RSO album, anyway), starting with the pair of Phil Collins-produced mid-'80s albums, Behind the Sun and August. Though these had a pop sheen, they were album rock holdovers. Clapton didn't get the balance between hard rock and commercial gloss right until 1989's Journeyman, whose featured songs -- "Before You Accuse Me," "Bad Love," and "Pretending" -- form the heart of this compilation. Journeyman was overshadowed by the phenomenal success of "Tears in Heaven" and 1992's Unplugged. Not only did Unplugged go platinum ten times, it established a new public image -- classy, stylish, and substantial. That's the image that prevails on Clapton Chronicles. His triple-platinum blues album From the Cradle is written out of the picture, with songs from movie soundtracks taking its place. Apart from the Babyface-produced "Change the World," these tunes are a little too self-conscious and subdued, as are selections from 1998's Pilgrim. However, this deliberate move to paint Clapton's '80s and '90s recordings as adult contemporary fare is accurate. Clapton's musical journey from 1985 to 1999 was taken mostly in the middle of the road, and Clapton Chronicles certainly captures that journey, missing no major hits from the late '80s and '90s. Whether it's a necessary addition to a Clapton collection is a matter of taste. It's certainly an excellent compliment to Unplugged and Time Pieces, his two most popular and pop-oriented albums, but that might not be what every fan wants. [The Australian edition trades "Hard Times" for "Tearing Us Apart."] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Brown Engineer Alan Clark Bass, Synthesizer Horn, Organ (Hammond), Keyboards Alex Haas Mixing Allen Sides Engineer Andy Bradfield Mixing Brad Gilderman Engineer Carol Steele Conga Chaka Khan Vocals (Background) Chris Lord-Alge Mixing Chris Stainton Organ (Hammond) Chuck Leavell Keyboards Chyna Gordon Vocals (Background) Dave O'Donnell Engineer Dave Wittman Engineer Ed Cherney Mixing, Engineer Eric Clapton Vocals, Guitar, Dobro Gary Brooker Keyboards, Vocals Gayle Levant Celtic Harp Greg Curtis Programming, Keyboards, Vocals (Background) Greg Phillinganes Piano Henry Spinetti Drums Jack Joseph Puig Engineer Jamie Muhoberac Keyboards Jamie Oldaker Drums JayDee Mannes Pedal Steel Jeff Bova Synthesizer Organ, Mixing Jeff DeMorris Engineer Jeff Porcaro Drums Jim Barton Engineer, Producer Jim Keltner Drums Jimmy Bralower Drum Machine, Drum Programming Joe Sample Piano Jon Faddis Trumpet Katie Kissoon Vocals (Background) Laurence Cottle Bass Lee Dickson Guitar Technician Lee Herschberg Engineer Lenny Castro Percussion Lenny Waronker Producer Luis Conte Percussion Luis Jardim Percussion, Guitar Marc Shaiman String Arrangements Marcy Levy Vocals (Background) Mark Linett Mixing Michael Brecker Saxophone Mick Guzauski Mixing Mike Fasano Percussion Nathan East Guitar, Bass, Vocals (Background) Paul Waller Drum Programming Phil Collins Drums, Vocals (Background), Vocal Harmony Phil Palmer Guitar Pino Palladino Bass Randy Brecker Trumpet Randy Kerber Synthesizer Ray Cooper Percussion Richard Cottle Synthesizer Richard Tee Piano Rob Cavallo Producer Rob Eaton Mixing Robbie Kondor Synthesizer Robert Cray Guitar Russ Titelman Producer Scott Mabuchi Engineer Shaun Murphy Vocals (Background) Simon Climie Keyboards, Producer Stephen Chase Engineer Steve Boyer Mixing Steve Ferrone Drums Steve Gadd Drums Steve Lukather Mixing, Guitar (Rhythm) Ted Templeman Producer, Timbales Tessa Niles Vocals (Background) Tim Pierce Guitar Tina Turner Performer Tom Dowd Producer