Eric Clapton (album)

chronology
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton's studio album
Publication ; (s)	August 1, 1970 (LP, MC) / October 25, 1990 (CD)
Label (s)	RSO, Polydor , PolyGram
Format (s)	LP, MC, CD
Genre (s)	Rock , blues
Title (number)	11
running time	36:41
occupation	Eric Clapton - guitar, vocals; Rita Coolidge - vocals; Jim Price - Trumpet; Bob Keys - saxophone; Bobby Whitlock - Hammond organ , vocals; Leon Russell - piano; Sonny Curtis - vocals; Jim Gordon - drums; Bonnie Bramlett - vocals; Delaney Bramlett - rhythm guitar; Carl Radle - bass; Jerry Allison - vocals; John Simon - piano; Stephen Stills - guitar, vocals; Tex Johnson - percussion;
production	Delaney Bramlett

Eric Clapton is the first solo album by British rock musician Eric Clapton . It was released in August 1970.

Cover and instruments

The album cover shows Clapton in a renovated room with carpets and a ladder and chair. Clapton is sitting in a chair with a cigarette in his right hand and his Fender Stratocaster brownie . Clapton tested the Stratocaster for the first time on this album; he still uses this guitar model today. Brownie was the prototype for the Blackie guitar .

background

After numerous successes with the Yardbirds , Bluesbreakers , Cream and Blind Faith , Clapton recorded his debut album in 1970. Recordings began in January 1970 at the Village Recorders Studio in West Los Angeles . Further recordings took place in March 1970 at Island Studios in London . The band had previously played together in November 1969 at the Olympic Studio in London. Recordings of this first session were released later.

Most of the musicians involved had previously performed together with Delaney & Bonnie . This band appeared as the opening act for Blind Faith, which Clapton had joined after leaving Cream. Also in 1970, Clapton founded Derek and the Dominos , which also included Delaney & Bonnie musicians Carl Radle , Bobby Whitlock and Jim Gordon .

Track list

First published (1970)

The original release of the album had the following tracks (running times according to the label).

page A

Slunky (Clapton / Bramlett) - 3:40
Bad Boy (Clapton / Bramlett) - 4:17
Lonesome and a Long Way from Home (Russell / Bramlett) - 4:00
After Midnight (Cale) - 3:15
Easy Now (Clapton) - 2:55
Blues Power (Clapton / Russell) - 3:45

Side B

Bottle of Red Wine (Clapton / Bramlett) - 2:55
Lovin 'You Lovin' Me (Clapton / Bramlett) - 3:45
I've Told You for the Last Time (Bramlett / Bramlett / Cropper) - 2:30
Don't Know Why (Clapton / Bramlett) - 3:35
Let It Rain (Clapton / Bramlett) - 5:17

Deluxe version (2006)

In 2006 Polydor released a deluxe version with additional recordings as well as the mix originally intended for publication by Delaney Bramlett. The lengths of the pieces differ significantly from the first publication. Most of the bonus tracks on CD 1 had previously been released. Blues in A appeared on Eric Clapton's 1999 album : Blues . Teasin´ was a single by King Curtis as early as 1970, which was recorded with the cast of Curtis, Clapton, Bramlett, Radle and Gordon. Only She Rides was first published on the deluxe version. The recordings on CD 2, however, were mostly unknown before. Only After Midnight was known of the alternative mix by Delaney Bramlett , as it was included on the 4-CD box Crossroads . Comin 'Home and Groupie (Superstar) was released as a single by Delaney & Bonnie in 1969. Dave Mason can also be heard on guitar on these recordings . The remaining musicians were also involved in Eric Clapton .

CD 1
The Released Mix - Mixed by Tom Dowd

Slunky - 3:33
Bad Boy - 3:33
Lonesome and a Long Way from Home - 3:29
After Midnight - 2:51
Easy Now - 2:57
Blues Power - 3:08
Bottle of Red Wine - 3:06
Lovin 'You Lovin' Me - 3:19
I've Told You for the Last Time - 2:30
Don't Know Why - 3:10
Let It Rain - 5:02

Additional material

Blues in "A" (Clapton) - 10:25
Teasin ' (Bramlett / Ousley) - 2:14 ( King Curtis with Delaney Bramlett, Eric Clapton & Friends)
She Rides (Bramlett / Clapton) - 5:08 (unreleased original version of Let It Rain )

CD 2
The Previously Unreleased Original Mix - Mixed by Delaney Bramlett

Slunky - 3:33
Bad Boy - 3:41
Easy Now - 2:57
After Midnight - 3:17 am
Blues Power - 3:19
Bottle of Red Wine - 3:06
Lovin 'You Lovin' Me - 4:03
Lonesome and a Long Way from Home - 3:48
Don't Know Why - 3:43
Let It Rain - 5:03

Additional material

Don't Know Why - 5:12 (unreleased version from Olympic Studios)
I've Told You for the Last Time - 6:46 (unreleased version from Olympic Studios) ¹
Comin 'Home (Bramlett / Clapton) - 3:14 (Delaney & Bonnie and Friends featuring Eric Clapton)
Groupie (Superstar) (Bramlett / Russell) - 2:48 (Delaney & Bonnie and Friends featuring Eric Clapton)

¹ Singing: Delaney Bramlett

Reception and awards

Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded 4.5 out of five possible rating units for the album. He commented, “It's nice to see Clapton grow into a well-rounded musician, but the album would have needed longer guitar solos. The bottom line is that it needs a little more of Clapton's personality. ”The album reached number six on the British album charts and was ranked 13th on the Billboard 200 and 17th on the Norwegian charts.