Behind the Sun (Eric Clapton album)

Last updated

Behind the Sun
BehindTheSun.jpg
Studio album by
Eric Clapton
Released11 March 1985
Recorded1984
Studio
Genre
Length50:17
Label Duck / Warner Bros.
Producer Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Ted Templeman, Lenny Waronker
Eric Clapton chronology
Backtrackin'
(1984)		Behind the Sun
(1985)		 Edge of Darkness
(1985)
Singles from Behind the Sun
  1. "Forever Man"
    Released: March 1985
  2. "See What Love Can Do"
    Released: June 1985 (US)
  3. "She's Waiting"
    Released: July 1985 (UK) [1]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

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.

Contents

Background and recording

After nearly a decade of Clapton's guitar playing taking a backseat to his singing/songwriting, this album contains several guitar solos. The album includes synthesizers and drum machines played by Phil Collins, Ted Templeman, Peter Robinson, Michael Omartian, James Newton Howard, Chris Stainton and Greg Phillinganes, as well as Clapton's Roland guitar synthesizer on "Never Make You Cry". Bassists Donald "Duck" Dunn from Booker T. & the MG's and Nathan East (later of the smooth jazz quartet Fourplay) also played on the sessions.

In his autobiography, Clapton remembers the 1984 session pleasantly: "The whole thing is going so great, I hope it never stops." However, his troubled marriage with Pattie Boyd became the subject matter for most of his original material: "She's Waiting", "Same Old Blues" and "Just Like a Prisoner" all contain extended guitar solos from Clapton. It was during this period that Boyd left him and "it was eventually decided that we should have a trial separation". Clapton assuaged his pain by writing the song "Behind the Sun", featuring only his guitar and vocals along with Phil Collins' synthesizer, as the final song on the album.

This was Clapton's first collaboration with songwriter Jerry Lynn Williams. Warner Brothers looked critically at this follow-up to the Money and Cigarettes album, Clapton's first for the label, which did not sell well. The Collins-produced Behind the Sun first submitted in the fall of 1984 was rejected by the label, insisting that he record several new songs written by Williams, backed by Los Angeles session players. The label put the project under the auspices of veteran company producers Lenny Waronker and Ted Templeman. Warner Brothers then emphasised the new tracks, releasing two of them, "Forever Man" (which reached the Top 40) and "See What Love Can Do," as singles. Clapton agreed to their terms, but asked them to provide some "hits" and record the songs with their own producer and musicians: "They sent me three songs by a Texas songwriter – "Forever Man", "Something's Happening" and "See What Love Can Do" – and they were good." The sessions featured Toto guitarist Steve Lukather and then-drummer Jeff Porcaro, as well as Clapton's long-time collaborators, drummer Jamie Oldaker, bassist Nathan East and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes.

Promotion

The Behind the Sun tour was featured at the first Live Aid concert in 1985 where "She's Waiting" was performed along with "White Room" and "Layla". The video for "Forever Man" became an MTV favorite, featuring an accident where one of the cameras falls off the dolly. "Same Old Blues" was resurrected for the 25th Anniversary world tour and the Montserrat charity show in 1988 and 1997, with Mark Knopfler on rhythm guitar; Clapton resurrected "She's Waiting" for his 1992 world tour. Clapton came to sit in with Paul Shaffer to promote the album on Late Night with David Letterman in 1985. Letterman was impressed by the songs on the album joking to Clapton if it would be alright for him if Letterman would sing "Forever Man". [3]

Reception

Deborah Frost, in a contemporary review for Rolling Stone , felt the album was "slick but inconsistent", and was concerned that Clapton's move into commercial ballads would eventually see him turn his back on his rock fans, instead playing his greatest hits on the Vegas circuit. [4] Robert Christgau in his Village Voice Consumer Guide described the album as "[s]ad [a]nd also bad" because Clapton was simply following commercial market fashion. [5]

In a retrospective summary for AllMusic, William Ruhlmann feels that the album is "somewhat schizophrenic" due to the tinkering of the record label, who were concerned that the original version of the album contained no hits and was too downbeat, so brought in new writers and producers. Ruhlman concludes that despite some effective guitar work the album is competent rather than exciting, and is not among Clapton's best. [6]

Cash Box said that the second single "See What Love Can Do" "plays off a reggae/gospel theme and provides an excellent showcase for some tasteful guitar playing." [7] Cash Box also praised its "tight background vocals and rhythm section." [7] Billboard said of that song that it has "moody groundwells of texture in a many-layered rock ballad." [8]

Track listing

  1. "She's Waiting" – 4:55 (Eric Clapton, Peter Robinson)
  2. "See What Love Can Do" – 3:58 (Jerry Lynn Williams)
  3. "Same Old Blues" – 8:15 (Clapton)
  4. "Knock on Wood" – 3:19 (Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper)
  5. "Something's Happening" – 3:23 (Williams)
  6. "Forever Man" – 3:13 (Williams)
  7. "It All Depends" – 5:05 (Clapton)
  8. "Tangled in Love" – 4:11 (Marcy Levy, Richard Feldman)
  9. "Never Make You Cry" – 6:06 (Clapton, Phil Collins)
  10. "Just Like a Prisoner" – 5:29 (Clapton)
  11. "Behind the Sun" – 2:13 (Clapton)

Some tracks were recorded for the album, but not included.

  1. "Loving Your Lovin'" (Jerry Williams) Produced by Templeman/Waronker – Released on the Wayne's World movie soundtrack
  2. "Heaven Is One Step Away" (Eric Clapton) Produced by Phil Collins – Released on the Back to the Future movie soundtrack and later on Crossroads Box Set
  3. "Too Bad" (Eric Clapton) Produced by Phil Collins – Released as the B-side to "Forever Man" and then later on the Crossroads Box Set
  4. "Jailbait" (Eric Clapton) Produced by Phil Collins – Released as B-Side of "She's Waiting" Single
  5. "You Don't Know Like I Know" (Eric Clapton) Produced by Phil Collins – Released in Australia only
  6. "One Jump Ahead of the Storm" – Unissued

Personnel

Production

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [24] Gold35,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway) [25] Silver25,000 [25]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [26] Gold25,000^
United States (RIAA) [27] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Backless</i> 1978 studio album by Eric Clapton

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.

<i>August</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Eric Clapton

August is the tenth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released in 1986 by Duck Records/Warner Bros. Records. Described as a "hard R&B" album, it was primarily produced by Phil Collins, in association with longtime Clapton associate Tom Dowd.

<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, Tokyo, Japan, December 1979 when Clapton was touring to support Backless, his latest record at that time. The sleeve contains a Japanese painting by Ken Konno. The album reached No. 2 in the U.S. 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>From the Cradle</i> 1994 studio album of cover songs by Eric Clapton

From the Cradle is the twelfth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released on 12 September 1994 by Warner Bros. Records. A blues cover album and Clapton's follow-up to his successful 1992 live album, Unplugged, it is his only UK number-one album to date.

<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>Minute by Minute</i> 1978 studio album by the Doobie Brothers

Minute by Minute is the eighth studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers, released on December 1, 1978, by Warner Bros. Records. It was their last album to include members John Hartman and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.

<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>Hits</i> (Phil Collins album) 1998 greatest hits album by Phil Collins

Hits, is the first greatest hits album by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released on 5 October 1998 in the UK, and one day later in the United States. The collection included fourteen top 40 hits, including seven American number one songs, spanning from the albums Face Value (1981) through Dance into the Light (1996). One new Collins recording, a cover of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors", also appeared on the collection and was a popular song on adult contemporary stations. Hits was also the first Phil Collins album to include four songs originally recorded for motion pictures as well as his popular duet with Philip Bailey, "Easy Lover".

<i>Contact</i> (Pointer Sisters album) 1985 studio album by Pointer Sisters

Contact is the eleventh studio album by the American vocal group The Pointer Sisters, released in 1985 by RCA Records.

<i>Reptile</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Eric Clapton

Reptile is the 14th solo studio album by Eric Clapton. The album was produced by Eric Clapton with Simon Climie and is Clapton's first album to include keyboard work by Billy Preston and background vocals by the Impressions. The album reached the Top 10 in 20 countries, topping the national album charts in three of them. In total, the album sold more than 2.5 million copies and gained several certification awards around the globe. To help promote album sales, music network VH1 streamed the album in full on TV.

<i>Rush</i> (soundtrack) 1992 soundtrack album by Eric Clapton

Rush is the soundtrack album for the 1991 film of the same name. Written and performed by Eric Clapton, the soundtrack album includes the song "Tears in Heaven," which won three Grammy awards in 1993.

<i>24 Nights</i> 1991 live album by Eric Clapton

24 Nights is a live album by Eric Clapton, compiled from 42 concerts performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, in 1990 and 1991. It was released on 8 October 1991. The cover illustration is by Peter Blake. It was reissued in June 2023 as The Definitive 24 Nights in a limited edition box set containing songs which were not included in the original release. The reissue contains 35 previously unreleased performances and the collection is divided into three sets: Rock, Blues, and Orchestral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Love (Eric Clapton song)</span> 1990 single by Eric Clapton

"Bad Love" is a song recorded by English singer and guitarist Eric Clapton, who co-wrote it with Foreigner's lead guitarist Mick Jones. The track was released in the UK in January 1990 as the first single from Clapton's 1989 studio album Journeyman.

<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.

<i>Tommy</i> (soundtrack) 1975 soundtrack album by The Who

Tommy is a soundtrack album by The Who with contributions from numerous artists. The soundtrack was used in the 1975 Tommy film that was based on the original album that was released by The Who in 1969. Pete Townshend oversaw the production of this double-LP recording that returned the music to its rock roots, and on which the unrecorded orchestral arrangements he had envisaged for the original Tommy LP were realised by the extensive use of synthesiser.

<i>Clapton</i> (2010 album) 2010 studio album by Eric Clapton

Clapton is the eighteenth solo studio album by English rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Eric Clapton. It was released on 27 September 2010 in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States.

<i>Old Sock</i> 2013 studio album by Eric Clapton

Old Sock is the nineteenth solo studio album by Eric Clapton. It includes the two new compositions "Gotta Get Over" and "Every Little Thing", as well as covers. Several notable musicians were involved in the album, including Steve Winwood, JJ Cale and Paul McCartney.

<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. ↑ "Eric Clapton singles".
  2. ↑ "Behind the Sun - Eric Clapton | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. ↑ "05-07-1985 Letterman Fred Willard, Beverly D'Angelo, Eric Clapton". The Last Show with David Letterman. YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2015.[ dead YouTube link ]
  4. ↑ Frost, Deborah (11 April 1985). "Album Review: Eric Clapton – Behind the Sun". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  5. ↑ Christgau, Robert (30 April 1985). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Music section. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  6. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Behind the Sun – Eric Clapton: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: AllMusic". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 22 June 1985. p. 9. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  8. ↑ "Reviews". Billboard. 22 June 1985. p. 67. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  9. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  10. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Eric Clapton – Behind the Sun" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0526". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – Behind the Sun" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – Behind the Sun" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Hits of the World > Japan" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 97 (17). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 63 27 April 1985. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  16. ↑ "Charts.nz – Eric Clapton – Behind the Sun". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – Behind the Sun". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Eric Clapton – Behind the Sun". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – Behind the Sun". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Eric Clapton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1985". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  23. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  24. ↑ "ARIA Gold Sales Award – "Behind the Sun"". Equipboard, Inc. 10 March 2024.
  25. 1 2 "IFPI Norway Silver Sales Award – "Behind the Sun"". Equipboard, Inc. 10 March 2024.
  26. ↑ "IFPI Switzerland Gold Sales Award – "Behind the Sun"". Equipboard, Inc. 10 March 2024.
  27. ↑ "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – Behind the Sun". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 11 February 2016.

Further reading

Templeman, Ted; Renoff, Greg (2020). Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life In Music. Toronto: ECW Press. pp. 374–84. ISBN   9781770414839. OCLC   1121143123.

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.