Eric Clapton: The Life and Times of “Slowhand” part 5

Clapton was less popular during the first part of the 1980’s, mostly because of his many problems in the 1970’s, and his three albums, Money and Cigarettes, Behind the Sun and August did not reveal anything new. He toured and worked with musicians Steve Winwood and Phil Collins during this time, further honing his style and abilities after a hiatus and deciding which direction to take next. The release of a box set of his greatest songs Crossroads seemed to re-inspired fans and the artist himself, and his Journeyman release in November 1989 showed a return and a reinvention of himself. His last new studio album for five years, Journeyman was a triumph even in the midst of Clapton’s own personal crisis. The songs on the album ranged in style from jazz to blues and pop and included contributions by longtime friend George Harrison and others. On March 20, 1991, his four year-old son was killed in a tragic fall and he released a live album 24 Nights to help move him through his mourning period. He also helped prepare a movie soundtrack for the film Rush, released in 1992, featuring a song he wrote for his lost son “Tears in Heaven” that brought him back to the singles chart.

By March 1992, Clapton seemed to be back in form, recording a concert for the show “MTV Unplugged” that ended up as his best-selling record of all time when it was released that August. He also released From the Cradle, a blues covers album that took him back to his roots and reminded fans and the music world that he was still an electric guitar and blues master. 1997 saw him experimenting with musical forms when he adopted the pseudonym “x-sample” and joined keyboardist Simon Climie in a new age/trip-hop project called T.D.F. They released Retail Therapy early that year and were greeted with lukewarm reviews.

Enjoying the rapport he had with Climie, he worked with him to create an album of new material, Pilgrim. Released in 1998, the album was popular but was not considered a consistent effort by many critics, though it produced the single “My Father’s Eyes.” In 2000 Clapton worked with B.B. King on Riding with the King with many other singers and songwriters. The solo album Reptile came quickly afer in 2001, and in 2004, to honor Mississippi blues legend Robert Johnson, he released Me and Mr. Johnson. His latest effort, Back Home displays a genuine maturing of the artist with songs about the joy of fatherhood. Clapton still tours regularly and continues to work on new material.

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