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Backless

Eric Clapton - Backless Audio CD

A fair review of the Eric Clapton "Backless" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Eric Clapton reviews here, or go back to the Eric Clapton tabs.

Band: Eric Clapton
Title: Backless
Rating:

Release Date: 1996-09-10
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Walk Out in the Rain 2: Watch Out for Lucy 3: I'll Make Love to You Anytime 4: Roll It 5: Tell Me That You Love Me 6: If I Don't Be There by Morning 7: Early in the Morning 8: Promises 9: Golden Ring 10: Tulsa Time

Brilliant album from the seventies
I was first attracted to the album by Eric's cover of Tulsa time (noticeably different from the equally brilliant original by Don Williams) but the whole album is brilliant. I originally bought this album on vinyl soon after its original release and I've always liked it. It isn't quite my favorite among Eric's albums (that would be 461 Ocean Boulevard) but it comes close.

Supported by Dick Sims (keyboards), Marcy Levy (backing vocals), George Terry (guitar), Carl Radle (bass guitar and backing vocals), Jamie Oldaker (drums, percussion and backing vocals), Eric sings and plays guitar on ten songs, four of which (Watch out for Lucy, Roll it, Tell me that you love me, Golden ring) he wrote or co-wrote. Bob Dylan co-wrote two of the others (Walk out in the rain, If I don't be there by morning) while J J Cale wrote I'll make love to you anytime. Perhaps the best of the lot is Promises (written by Richard Feldman and Roger Linn) while the traditional Early in the morning is another excellent song.

Overall, this is a fairly mellow album although the tempo picks up here and there. Other s may tell you that this is not one of Eric's most important albums but it remains one of my favorites.

not Claptons' Finest
Just One Night is also a better option as it contains several live versions of songs from Backless. Not one of EC's best, the 1977 album, Slowhand is much stronger if one wants to hear some Clapton from this era.

BACKLESS COULD HAVE BEEN MORE!

A problem that has plagued Clapton his entire career plagues him moreso here and that problem is too much filler fills out this album. Coming one year later after what was probably his most commercial album, "Backless" finds Clapton searching long and hard for material and, despite two Dylan penned tunes in the countryish opener "Walk Out in the Rain" and the bouncy rocker "If I Don't Be There By Morning", this recording still comes up short of the goal line. Covering JJ Cale has been a good career move for Clapton in the past ("Cocaine", "After Midnight") but this seems to prove 3rd time unlucky as his cover of "I'll Make Love To You Anytime" just doesn't compare to the original. Clapton's own originals, which on his previous release "Slowhand" were some of his strongest material, are a letdown for sure. "Watch Out For Lucy", "Golden Ring" and "Tell Me That You Love Me" are non-offensive but also rather stale and forgettable.

On the good side his own "Roll It" with Marcy Levy on vocals shows some punch, "Tulsa Time" is an energetic rocker and "Early in the Morning" (restored on the remaster to it's full 8 minute version) is a sweet slice of Clapton blues. Also included is the melodic pop rock hit "Promises".

"Backless" was a letdown coming off the heels of "Slowhand". It's not a complete washout but Clapton IS treading water a bit too much on this release. It is one of those borderline CD's that should be approached with caution. A few more great songs and this is as close to classic as Clapton gets, but listening to the material here, it's also very close to being a total loss. Die-hards only.

Thirty years ago
Thus is the case with this title from Eric Clapton. Funny how some music you thought was so good at the time turns out to be almost forgetable. I'm a music junkie but even junkies reflect and reevaluate. I love his other titles like the stripped down Unplugged, the dueling guitar duet blues of The Road to Escondido and the superb 461 Ocean Blvd. [Deluxe Edition] but this one doesn't have enough of what makes Clapton, Clapton. You know, smoky vocals, reminisent of old time blues players and guitar licks that have lots of feelings. This is not a bad disc but not one of his best either. It's like he's going through the motions on some tracks. Favorite tracks are few but here are a few worth a drop to my (your) I-Pod. Here they are. "Roll It" features the guttural vocals of Marcy Levy that is straight out of the old r&b tradition, coupled with multiple sweet guitars and a driving , infectious beat that sounds like muscle schoals revisited; nice slide guitar too. "I'll make love to you" is vintage Clapton at his finest, simple lyrics, dark, brooding vocals that matches his bluesy guitar. For some straight up blues, try "Early in the morning. " This song sounds like circa 1950 Jimmy Reed, complete with harmonica and slide guitar, a down trodden sack-'o-woes bag of lyrics and you've gotta case of the blues. It has that "Hoochie Coochie Man" feel to it too as a bonus. If you want something melancholy but a little more poppy try "Promises. " It's a catchy tune , the type you want to sing along with after a few listens; it has that instantly familiar quality. Good stuff. That's it folks. For die hard Clapton fans only. For the rest of us, try some of the aforementioned discs for your introduction to old slow hand.

(1.5 stars) There's a good chance this is his worst
"Promises" is one-third of Clapton's "axis of evil" - that is, three big, grating soft-rock hits from the period (the other two are "Blunderful Tonight" and "I've Got a Soft-Rock-Cheesier-Than-Foreigner-MOR Heart and I am Now Writing Songs That Make Me Seem Like I've Never Played Rock or Blues or Any Music with Emotion in My Life" - the rest of the population knows them as "Wonderful Tonight" and "I've Got a Rock `n' Roll Heart"), and it could very well be the worst of the three. Pointless, Meaningless and Substanceless would've all been more appropriate titles - this makes no Reason to Cry seem like Disraeli frickin' Gears. And while one bad song can't ruin an album, seven or eight can - "Golden Ring" has an accordion, for the love whatever's holy anymore! And really, Clapton, why all the ubermellow, not-even-remotely-tasteful-or-interesting country-rock? ("Walk Out in the Rain", "Watch Out for Lucy", "Roll It", "Tell Me That You Love Me")? Oh yeah, because he's a greedy superstar willing to jump on anything that can possibly make him money. Forgot about that. . . anyway, fans of his bluesier work will want to hear "Early in the Morning" and "Tulsa Time", but this should be near the bottom of your Clapton buying list. Unless you're on crack. Actually, I don't know what being on crack would have to do with you enjoying this album. I just threw that in there to scare your parents. Did it work?.

You can see a complete list of all Eric Clapton discography, or go back to the Eric Clapton tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.