Album Description
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THE CREAM OF CLAPTON includes songs released between 1966 and 1981 by Cream, Blind Faith, Derek And The Dominos and Eric Clapton as a solo performer.
Personnel includes: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar).
Producers include: Robert Stigwood, Felix Pappalardi, Jimmy Miller, Delaney Bramlett, Tom Dowd.
Compilation producers: Chris Griffin, Bill Levenson, George McManus.
Includes liner notes by Ray Coleman.
Digitally remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio.
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar).
Liner Note Author: Ray Coleman.
Eric Clapton was contracted to Polydor Records from 1966 to 1981, first as a member of Cream, then Blind Faith, and later as a solo artist and as the leader of Derek and the Dominos. The 19-track, 79-minute Cream of Clapton disc surveys his career, presenting an excellent selection from the period, including the Cream hits "Sunshine of Your Love," "White Room," and "Crossroads"; "Presence of the Lord," Clapton's finest moment with Blind Faith; "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Layla" from Derek and the Dominos; and 11 songs from Clapton's solo work, among them the hits "I Shot the Sheriff," "Promises," and "I Can't Stand It." The selection is thus broader and better than that found on 1982's Time Pieces collection, and with excellent sound and liner notes by Clapton biographer Ray Coleman, The Cream of Clapton stands as the single-disc best-of to own for Clapton's greatest recordings. [Not to be confused with the popular 1987 Polydor (U.K.) compilation The Cream of Eric Clapton.] ~ William Ruhlmann
If you only have the funds or shelf space to own one Eric Clapton album, THE CREAM OF ERIC CLAPTON is the one to get. Featuring 19 songs that span from Cream's 1966 hit "I Feel Free" to Clapton's 1981 single, "I Can't Stand It," this ample collection of career highlights from the legendary English guitarist is essential classic rock. The album opens with five tracks by Cream, the psychedelic-blues power trio that Clapton led in the sixties. The heavy riff-rocker "Sunshine of Your Love" and "Badge," his 1968 collaboration with Beatle George Harrison, feature some of his best playing ever.
Clapton's post-Cream bands, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos (his 1970 supergroup with Duane Allman) are also represented with such remarkable blues-rock performances as "Presence of the Lord," Bell Bottom Blues" and the timeless rock classic, "Layla." The remainder of the album is devoted to Clapton's seventies solo hits like "After Midnight," I Shot The Sheriff," "Cocaine" and "Wonderful Tonight." Though this collection does not include latter-day Clapton hits like "Tears in Heaven," it's safe to say that the spectacular performances on this album are truly THE CREAM OF ERIC CLAPTON.
