Clapton Chronicles (The Best Of Eric Clapton) - Eric Clapton > Reviews > Chronicles of genius

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	It really is rather good
Disadvantages:	You do not get 5 boys with no instruments revealing their hairless chests while doing a dance routine

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Eric Clapton is one of those musicians who, while revered, has turned out some pretty poor stuff between the magic stretching from the mid sixties until today.

This 1999 compilation focuses on a period in his life where, if all that is read is to be believed, he came to the end of his serious drug problems, endured the horrific death of his young child and put out some of the best material of his career.

As if to outline the quality of this album, "Behind The Mask" doesn't make it to the final cut! This makes listening essential to anybody who can tolerate music using outrageous equipment such as a piano, a bass and a guitar, together with real drums!!

As well as being perhaps the world's most accomplished guitarist, Clapton chooses to work with the world's best musicians and record producers.

The opening track was, at release, new material. "Blue Eyes Blue" is a beautifully lilting acoustic ballad written by the prolific Diane Warren (dig out any compilation CD from your collection - I bet you've got at least one track written by her on it). "It was you who broke my heart in pieces; it was you who made by blue eyes blue" sums up the mood.

"Change The World", often featured on the VH1 music TV channel, is another pleasant acoustic ballad erring on optimism, while the Simon Climie (yes! Climie Fisher!) produced "In My Father's Eyes" is a reminder to us all to bury petty family feuds before it's too late.

Clapton's son Connor died tragically, falling 80 floors from a New York apartment window. The self-penned "Tears From Heaven" captures the pain and loss of a father who saw little of his boy due to relationship difficulties and professional commitments. "Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven ... I must be strong and carry on because I know I don't belong here in heaven" always brings a tear to my eye.

Most of us know the dynamic "Layla", but its acoustic twin appears here from his Unplugged recordings with MTV. It is a truly brilliant interpretation of his own rock standard, and is exceptional in that it finds an intimacy with the huge arena audiences Clapton regularly entertains.

Moving up tempo and into the revered electric blues that Clapton is renowned for, "Pretending" is a driving rock track, followed by the magnificent guitar opening of "Bad Love", featuring the likes of Phil Collins on drums and Alan Clark (Dire Straits) on keyboards.

Bo Diddley's "Before You Accuse Me" is my favourite offering here though. A long forgotten blues track highlighting the difficulties of infidelity on both sides of a relationship, but, more excitingly for me, featuring Robert Cray's wonderful guitar and a tremendous solo in the middle.

"It's In The Way That You Use It" was a 1986 hit, while "Forever Man" is remembered by me for its contribution to Knebworth's 1990 Silver Clef concert where the sheer intensity of the performance stood out ahead of the likes of Elton John and Genesis!

The pace of the album slows into the blues again with the moving and memorable "Running On Faith", before picking up again with the dramatic Phil Collins produced "She's Waiting".

Seven and a half minutes of "Rivers Of Tears" can chill out the most stressed of us, and while it sits uneasily at this point of the album, as a track by itself it is akin to any relaxation moment you can find in your collection. It also features some wonderful orchestral string arrangements and a great vocal performance from Clapton. If you've got this album and forgotten this track, dig it out and play it.

While "I Get Lost" does include Paul Weller somewhere amongst the instruments, it's my least favourite track, but has the benefit of preceding "Wonderful Tonight", which from memory was recorded live during one of his residencies at the Royal Albert Hall in the early nineties.

With the likes of Ray Cooper (the bald bloke at the
back on the bongos who often plays live with Elton John too) and Nathan East, the bass player with the huge grin, Clapton certainly surrounds himself with the best musicians the rock world offers. But the 15 tracks on this masterpiece confirm that above all, it is Eric Clapton who is the greatest of all those present.

A truly joyous listen.