Journeyman (album)

Last updated

Journeyman
Eric Clapton Journeyman.jpg
Studio album by
Released6 November 1989 [1]
Recorded1989
Studio
Genre Rock, blues rock
Length56:59
Label Duck / Reprise
Producer Russ Titelman
Eric Clapton chronology
Crossroads
(1988)
Journeyman
(1989)
24 Nights
(1991)
Singles from Journeyman
  1. "Pretending"
    Released: November 1989 (US) [2]
  2. "Bad Love"
    Released: January 15, 1990 [3]
  3. "No Alibis"
    Released: March 1990 [4]
  4. "Running on Faith"
    Released: (EU)

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 ("Bad Love" had only stayed for three weeks).

Contents

The album reached number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and 16 on the US Billboard 200 chart, and it went on to become double platinum in the US. Clapton has said Journeyman is one of his favourite albums. [5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [6]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Christgau's Record Guide B− [8]
Classic Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
The Great Rock Discography 7/10 [11]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [12]
MusicHound 3/5 [13]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]

Reviewing in December 1989 for The Village Voice , Robert Christgau gave the album a B-minus and wrote of Clapton, "What did you expect him to call it – Hack? Layla and 461 Ocean Boulevard were clearly flukes: he has no record-making knack. So he farms out the songs, sings them competently enough, and marks them with his guitar. Which sounds kind of like Mark Knopfler's." [16] In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the album for its "convincing" vocals and "consistently strong" songwriting. [17]

Track listing

Side one
  1. "Pretending" (Jerry Lynn Williams) – 4:48
  2. "Anything for Your Love" (Jerry Lynn Williams) – 4:16
  3. "Bad Love" (Eric Clapton, Mick Jones) – 5:11
  4. "Running on Faith" (Jerry Lynn Williams) – 5:27
  5. "Hard Times" (Ray Charles) – 3:00
  6. "Hound Dog" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) – 2:26
Side two
  1. "No Alibis" (Jerry Lynn Williams) – 5:32
  2. "Run So Far" (George Harrison) – 4:06
  3. "Old Love" (Eric Clapton, Robert Cray) – 6:25
  4. "Breaking Point" (Marty Grebb, Jerry Lynn Williams) – 5:37
  5. "Lead Me On" (Cecil Womack, Linda Womack) – 5:52
  6. "Before You Accuse Me" (Ellas McDaniel) – 3:55

Outtakes

  1. "Forever" Unissued
  2. "Don't Turn Your Back" Unissued
  3. "Something About You" Unissued

Personnel

Musicians

Track numbers refer to CD and digital releases of the album.

Production

  • Produced by Russ Titelman
  • Engineered by Steve "Barney" Chase, Dave O'Donnell, Jack Joseph Puig and Dave Wittman.
  • Assistant Engineers – Richard Arnold, Paul Angelli, Mike Knowles and U.E. Natasi.
  • Additional engineering by Larry Alexander, Ben Fowler, Michael O'Reilly and Steve Rinkoff.
  • Recorded at The Power Station (NYC), Skyline Studios (NYC) and The Town House (London).
  • Mixing – Rob Eaton (tracks 1, 2, 4, 8); Gary Wright and Russ Titelman (tracks 3, 6, 7, 9-12); Steve Chase (track 5).
  • Recording and Mix Assistant – Ben Fowler
  • Mixed at The Power Station and The Town House.
  • Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, NYC.
  • Production Coordination – Jill Dell'Abate
  • Production Assistant – Alexandra Saraspe Conomos
  • Design – Bill Smith Studio
  • Original Design Concept – Eric Clapton
  • Photography – Terry O'Neill
  • Management, 'Road' Photography – Roger Forrester

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF) [41] Gold30,000^
Australia (ARIA) [42] Gold35,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [43] Platinum100,000^
France (SNEP) [44] Gold100,000*
Japan (RIAJ) [45] Gold100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [46] Gold50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [47] Gold7,500^
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [48] Gold50,000^
Sweden (GLF) [49] Gold50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [50] Gold25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [51] Platinum300,000^
United States (RIAA) [52] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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[1]

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