Clapton Chronicles: The Best Of Eric Clapton 1981-1999 Meadville PA

Clapton Chronicles: The Best Of Eric Clapton 1981-1999

Eric Clapton

Duck / Reprise Records, 1999

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/27/1999

I would love to hear the argument of someone who doesn't believethat Eric Clapton is overdue for a "greatest hits" collection --or, more correctly, a collection of his hits since he's been withReprise. After all, it's only been in this time that Claptonrevitalized his career (though, if he had it back, I'm sure hewould rather have had the son he lost than a song written about hisgrief) and raised him to the level of elder statesman in hisfield.

Clapton Chronicles, a 14-song collection of those hits since1981, does an admirable job of tracking Clapton's career, but ithas three small flaws: one a sin of omission, one a sin ofinclusion, and one mortal sin in music. More on these as we goalong.

There are two songs that absolutely shape this disc, simplybecause they're the songs that have shaped Clapton's career inrecent years. The first is "Tears In Heaven," a song written tomourn the loss of his son Conor, who died in an accidental fall.Anyone who is not moved by this song, even after severe overplay onthe radio, has to have ice water in their veins. (Wisely, whoevercompiled this disc chose to use the original version, which I thinkhas more punch than the Unplugged rendition.)

The second is the version of "Layla" from Unplugged; this song re-introduced a classic to a whole newaudience, and helped to bring new life to a track that is arguablyone of the best songs in rock & roll. This song deserves to beheld in high regard, as does the version featured on Clapton Chronicles.