Clapton Chronicles

Does the world need another Eric Clapton compilation? No, no, no, I hear a thousand people shriek. Especially those who, like myself, hate the saccharine soulessess of Clapton-thinks-he’s-Chris-De-Burgh songs like ‘Wonderful Tonight.’

Even so, if you number yourself among those one-time Clapton fans who lost interest in the man as soon as the fire seemed to fade from his voice, this just may be the album to restore your faith.

Of course it’s not Clapton, graduate of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers or even Clapton the guitar “God”– it’s EC pop star. But for every slice of aural tissue paper like ‘Blue Blues Eyes’ there are truly moving ruminations on life and death such as ‘My Father’s Eyes’ and ‘Tears In Heaven’ (the latter, of course, was Clapton’s response to the death of his son).

‘Before You Accuse Me’, which has the man at least trying to get down-and-dirty, again, has Clapton playing brilliant acoustic guitar as he slides back into the blues that gave him artistic life.

As for ‘Layla’, no, we don’t need even a relatively new ‘live’ reading of a song that now sounds almost as familiar as the worst form of muzak.

Overall, a decent album for anyone who likes Clapton (but not enough to buy the last half dozen albums) and wants their best tracks on one CD.