I Still Do

Last updated

I Still Do
I Still Do Album Cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released20 May 2016 (2016-05-20)
Studio British Grove Studios
Genre
Length54:07
Label Bushbranch/Surfdog
Producer Glyn Johns
Eric Clapton chronology
Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall
(2015)
I Still Do
(2016)
Live in San Diego
(2016)

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. [1] The album is a combination of new material written by Clapton and classic songs, contemporary tunes, and influences interpreted in his own style. [2] [3]

Contents

The album was produced by Glyn Johns who had worked with Clapton on Slowhand (1977) and Backless (1978). The album's artwork is a painting of Clapton by Peter Blake who also previously worked with Clapton. [4] It is the follow-up to Clapton's global hit album The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale , released in the summer of 2014, [5] his compilation album Forever Man , released in the spring of 2015 [6] and also his commercially successful concert film and live album Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall released in late 2015.

Production

The album was produced by Glyn Johns, who had been producer on Clapton's successful albums Slowhand (1977) [7] and Backless (1978). [8] [9]

The album cover consists of a portrait of Clapton by Peter Blake who had previously designed multiple pages of artwork for Clapton's 1991 album 24 Nights as well as a photo book, [10] containing all of his drawings of Clapton, his band and the Royal Albert Hall in which the album was recorded from 1990 to 1991. [11]

Media interest was aroused by the listing of Angelo Mysterioso as contributing to "I Will Be There" as it is similar to L'Angelo Misterioso, a pseudonym used occasionally by George Harrison. [12] [13] [14] After Clapton refused to make an official statement, the media began to speculate whether it might be Dhani Harrison playing on the new release. [15] A spokesman for Clapton told Examiner.com on 2 March 2016 that neither Clapton himself nor his management or Clapton's record companies will be revealing the actual identity of "Angelo Mysterioso". In a brief statement, the spokesman wrote: "We aren't going to be saying who it is. Now or ever [...]". Also, it was never officially approved or denied if Dhani Harrison appears on the release. [16] Ed Sheeran joined Clapton on stage at the Nippon Budokan Tokyo, Japan on 13 April 2016 for "I Will Be There", leading to speculation that he is in fact Angelo Mysterioso. Sheeran also sang "Cypress Grove" and "Sunshine State" at the same concert. Since then, Sheeran's album ÷ was released, also crediting 'Angelo Mysterioso' with a guitar solo, leading to speculation of an arrangement between the two. Speaking to People magazine, Sheeran confirmed the collaboration. [17]

Release and promotion

I Still Do was announced on 18 February 2016. [18] The album is available as a digital download, on gramophone record (two vinyl discs, each with three songs per side and played at 45RPM for better audio) and on compact disc. There is also a limited edition vacuum tube shaped USB and CD release in a denim box with bonus materials. The bonuses include two exclusive tracks "Lonesome" and "Freight Train" plus 45 minutes of video featuring intimate interviews, behind the scenes clips of recording sessions, live performances and more, and 10 behind the scenes polaroid photo prints. Clapton's independent Bushbranch and Surfdog Records labels distribute the album to worldwide territories. [19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.2/10 [20]
Metacritic 74/100 [21]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [22]
American Songwriter Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [23]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [24]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [25]

Jon M. Gilbertson, indicating in a review from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , opines, "'I Still Do' is not a dramatic statement, but it is sturdy enough to earn another alternate title: 'I'm Still Here.'" [26]

Andy Gill of The Independent praised the album, stating:

Reuniting him with Slowhand/Backless producer Glyn Johns for the first time in four decades, I Still Do is Eric Clapton’s most assured album in ages, its understated poise and refinement reflecting the influence of his late compadre JJ Cale... [24]

Track listing

Standard version [27]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Alabama Woman Blues" Leroy Carr 5:06
2."Can't Let You Do It" J. J. Cale 3:50
3."I Will Be There" (featuring Angelo Mysterioso) Paul Brady, John O'Kane4:37
4."Spiral" Eric Clapton, Andy Fairweather Low, Simon Climie 5:04
5."Catch the Blues" Eric Clapton 4:51
6."Cypress Grove" Skip James 4:49
7."Little Man, You've Had a Busy Day" Maurice Sigler, Mabel Wayne, Al Hoffman 3:11
8."Stones in My Passway" Robert Johnson 4:03
9."I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" Bob Dylan 4:02
10."I'll Be Alright" Traditional 4:23
11."Somebody's Knockin'" J. J. Cale 5:11
12."I'll Be Seeing You" Irving Kahal, Sammy Fain 5:00
Limited Edition "Denim Box" version – Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Lonesome" 
14."Freight Train" 

Personnel

Production

Charts

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>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

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<i>Pilgrim</i> (Eric Clapton album) 1998 studio album by Eric Clapton

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Layla</span> 1970 song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon

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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.

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

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