Backless

Last updated

Backless
Eric Clapton Backless.jpg
Studio album by
Eric Clapton
ReleasedNovember 1978
Recorded1978
Studio Olympic, London [1]
Genre Rock
Length41:01
Label RSO
Producer Glyn Johns
Eric Clapton chronology
Slowhand
(1977)		Backless
(1978)		 Just One Night
(1980)
Singles from Backless
  1. "Promises"
    Released: September 1978
  2. "If I Don't Be There by Morning"
    Released: March 1979 [2]

Backless is the sixth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released in November 1978. Produced by Glyn Johns, and released by RSO Records, Backless reached no. 8 on the pop charts. While the single "Promises" only reached no. 37 on the UK Singles Chart, it was a much bigger success in the US, reaching no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, "Watch Out for Lucy", was the B-side of "Promises", but reached no. 40 on the Billboard 100 on its own merit. Later in 1980 "Tulsa Time" was #30 on the Billboard 100 with the 1977 song "Cocaine" as B-side. It was Clapton's last studio album to feature his longtime bassist Carl Radle, who died in 1980.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Christgau's Record Guide B− [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]

The Globe and Mail noted that "there is none of the old spectacular playing—the emphasis is definitely on mellow funkiness—but the duet he plays on 'Roll It' with singer Marci Levy has some eloquent licks all the same." [6]

Track listing

  1. "Walk Out in the Rain" (Bob Dylan, Helena Springs) – 4:16
  2. "Watch Out for Lucy" (Eric Clapton) – 3:26
  3. "I'll Make Love to You Anytime" (J. J. Cale) – 3:23
  4. "Roll It" (Clapton, Marcy Levy) – 3:42
  5. "Tell Me That You Love Me" (Clapton) – 3:31
  6. "If I Don't Be There by Morning" (Dylan, Springs) – 4:38
  7. "Early in the Morning" (Traditional, arranged by Clapton) – 5:25 (LP)/7:58 (CD)
  8. "Promises" (Richard Feldman, Roger Linn) – 3:04
  9. "Golden Ring" (Clapton) – 3:32
  10. "Tulsa Time" (Danny Flowers) – 3:28

Singles

Personnel

Production

Charts

Chart (1978-1979)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [7] 16
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [8] 24
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [9] 6
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [10] 22
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [11] 28
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [12] 53
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [13] 22
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [14] 2
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [15] 28
UK Albums (OCC) [16] 18
US Billboard 200 [17] 8

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [18] Platinum100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [19] Silver60,000^
United States (RIAA) [20] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>461 Ocean Boulevard</i> 1974 studio album by Eric Clapton

461 Ocean Boulevard is the second solo studio album by English musician Eric Clapton. It was released in late July 1974 by RSO Records, after the record company released the hit single "I Shot the Sheriff" earlier in the month. The album topped various international charts and sold more than two million copies.

<i>No Reason to Cry</i> 1976 studio album by Eric Clapton

No Reason to Cry is the fourth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released by RSO Records on 27 August 1976. The album was recorded in Malibu and Los Angeles between December 1975 to May 1976. The record went silver in the U.K.

<i>Slowhand</i> 1977 studio album by Eric Clapton

Slowhand is the fifth solo studio album by Eric Clapton. Released on 25 November 1977 by RSO Records, and titled after Clapton's nickname, it is one of his most commercially and critically successful studio albums. Slowhand produced the two hit singles "Lay Down Sally" and "Wonderful Tonight", reached various international music charts and was honoured with numerous awards and recording certifications. In 2012, a deluxe edition was released to celebrate the album's 35th anniversary.

<i>Just One Night</i> (Eric Clapton album) 1980 live album by Eric Clapton

Just One Night is a 1980 double album by Eric Clapton, recorded live at the Budokan Theatre in Tokyo, Japan, in December 1979 when Clapton was touring to support Backless, his latest record at that time. The album reached No. 2 in the US and No. 3 in the UK, and was certified gold by RIAA.

<i>Journeyman</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Eric Clapton

Journeyman is the eleventh solo studio album by Eric Clapton. Heralded as a return to form for Clapton, who had struggled with alcohol addiction and recently found sobriety, the album has a 1980s electronic sound, but it also includes blues songs like "Before You Accuse Me", "Running on Faith", and "Hard Times." "Bad Love" was released as a single, reaching the No. 1 position on the Album Rock Chart in the United States, and being awarded a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1990. "Pretending" had also reached the No. 1 position on the Album Rock Chart the previous year, remaining at the top for five weeks.

<i>Unplugged</i> (Eric Clapton album) 1992 live album by Eric Clapton

Unplugged is a 1992 live album by Eric Clapton, recorded at Bray Studios, England in front of an audience for the MTV Unplugged television series. It includes a version of the successful 1992 single "Tears in Heaven" and an acoustic version of "Layla". The album itself won three Grammy awards at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993 and became the bestselling live album of all time, and Clapton's bestselling album, selling 26 million copies worldwide.

<i>Timepieces: The Best of Eric Clapton</i> 1982 greatest hits album by Eric Clapton

Timepieces: The Best of Eric Clapton is a greatest hits album by British musician Eric Clapton. The album was originally released by RSO/Polydor Records in April 1982. The following year a second volume, Time Pieces Vol.II Live in the Seventies, was released by the label. The album has been reissued several times and has been awarded certifications in several regions. Billboard reported the album sold more than 13,400,000 copies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonderful Tonight</span> 1977 single by Eric Clapton

"Wonderful Tonight" is a ballad written by Eric Clapton. It was included on Clapton's 1977 album Slowhand which is his most popular album. Clapton wrote the song on his 1974 Martin D-28 guitar about Pattie Boyd. The female vocal harmonies on the song are provided by Marcella Detroit and Yvonne Elliman. The song is his most popular download on Spotify with more than 480,000,000 streams.

<i>Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton</i> 1999 greatest hits album by Eric Clapton

Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton is a compilation album by English guitarist Eric Clapton featuring his hits from the 1980s and 1990s. The album was released on 12 October 1999 by the Duck / Reprise Records label. Two new songs are included on the disc, "Blue Eyes Blue" which was previously released as a single and "(I) Get Lost" which Clapton wrote for the soundtrack to the film The Story of Us.

<i>Eric Clapton</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is the debut solo studio album by English rock musician Eric Clapton, released in August 1970 by Atco and Polydor Records.

<i>Behind the Sun</i> (Eric Clapton album) 1985 studio album by Eric Clapton

Behind the Sun is the ninth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released on 11 March 1985 by Duck Records / Warner Bros. Records. It is Clapton's first collaborative project with Phil Collins who co-produced the album and played on some of the tracks. While recording the album Clapton temporarily split with his wife.

<i>Money and Cigarettes</i> 1983 studio album by Eric Clapton

Money and Cigarettes is the eighth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, recorded after his first rehabilitation from alcoholism. Produced by Clapton and Tom Dowd with, apart from Albert Lee, a new backing band of veteran session musicians including Donald "Duck" Dunn, Roger Hawkins, and Ry Cooder. The album was moderately successful commercially, reaching Top 20 chart positions in several countries. Critical reception was lukewarm.

<i>Theres One in Every Crowd</i> 1975 studio album by Eric Clapton

There's One in Every Crowd is the third solo studio album by Eric Clapton. Recorded shortly after 461 Ocean Boulevard, the album features a style similar to its predecessor but did not enjoy similar commercial success.

<i>Blues</i> (Eric Clapton album) 1999 compilation album by Eric Clapton

Blues is a blues rock compilation album by Eric Clapton released in 1999. The release features songs from Clapton's 1970s RSO albums, as well as some unreleased material from the same era. The second disc features live recordings.

<i>The Cream of Clapton</i> 1995 greatest hits album by Eric Clapton

The Cream of Clapton is an Eric Clapton compilation album released in 1995. Additionally, the European and U.S.-versions have a different track listings. The European version had already been released as The Best of Eric Clapton in 1991, though without the track "I Can't Stand It".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lay Down Sally</span> 1977 single by Eric Clapton

"Lay Down Sally" is a song performed by Eric Clapton, and written by Clapton, Marcy Levy, and George Terry. It appeared on his November 1977 album Slowhand, and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<i>Backtrackin</i> 1984 compilation album by Eric Clapton

Backtrackin' is a two-disc compilation album by Eric Clapton spanning the years 1966 to 1980. It was released in 1984. The compilation contains all of Clapton's best known songs with Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, and his solo 1970s work through his 1980 live album Just One Night. This compilation album is made in Germany and is only available in the United States as an import. It was originally released by Starblend Records, and has since been reissued by Polydor Records. This 2 CD compilation is currently out of print in some markets while still available in some form in others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Promises (Eric Clapton song)</span> 1978 single by Eric Clapton

"Promises" is a song written by Richard Feldman and Roger Linn and recorded by British singer and guitarist Eric Clapton in September 1978. It appears on Clapton's studio album Backless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watch Out for Lucy</span> 1978 single by Eric Clapton

"Watch Out for Lucy" is the B-side of the single "Promises" released by the British rock musician Eric Clapton in September 1978 of his studio album Backless.

<i>I Still Do</i> 2016 studio album by Eric Clapton

I Still Do is the twentieth solo studio album by English musician Eric Clapton. It was released in 2016 through the independent Bushbranch Records/Surfdog Records label. The album is a combination of new material written by Clapton and classic songs, contemporary tunes, and influences interpreted in his own style.

References

  1. ↑ "Olympic Studios Records - Archive". Olympicstudiosrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. ↑ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 36.
  3. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Eric Clapton - Backless". AllMusic.
  4. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved 23 February 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  5. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 135, 136.
  6. ↑ "Backless Eric Clapton". The Globe and Mail. 15 November 1978. p. F9.
  7. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  8. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Eric Clapton – Backless" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0102a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – Backless" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Eric Clapton". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 48.
  12. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  13. ↑ "Charts.nz – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Eric Clapton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". Music Canada . Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  19. ↑ "British album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  20. ↑ "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 1 January 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.