Backless
Backless is the sixth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released in November 1978. Produced by Glyn Johns, and released by RSO Records, Backless reached no. 8 on the pop charts. While the single "Promises" only reached no. 37 on the UK Singles Chart, it was a much bigger success in the US, reaching no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, "Watch Out for Lucy", was the B-side of "Promises", but reached no. 40 on the Billboard 100 on its own merit. It was Clapton's last studio album to feature his longtime bassist Carl Radle, who died in 1980.
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| Backless | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Studio | Olympic, London[1] | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 41:01 | |||
| Label | RSO | |||
| Producer | Glyn Johns | |||
| Eric Clapton chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Backless | ||||
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Backless is the sixth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released in November 1978. Produced by Glyn Johns, and released by RSO Records, Backless reached no. 8 on the pop charts. While the single "Promises" only reached no. 37 on the UK Singles Chart, it was a much bigger success in the US, reaching no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, "Watch Out for Lucy", was the B-side of "Promises", but reached no. 40 on the Billboard 100 on its own merit. It was Clapton's last studio album to feature his longtime bassist Carl Radle, who died in 1980.
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [2] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B−[3] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
The Globe and Mail noted that "there is none of the old spectacular playing—the emphasis is definitely on mellow funkiness—but the duet he plays on 'Roll It' with singer Marci Levy has some eloquent licks all the same."[5]
Track listing
[edit]- "Walk Out in the Rain" (Bob Dylan, Helena Springs) – 4:16
- "Watch Out for Lucy" (Eric Clapton) – 3:26
- "I'll Make Love to You Anytime" (J. J. Cale) – 3:23
- "Roll It" (Clapton, Marcy Levy) – 3:42
- "Tell Me That You Love Me" (Clapton) – 3:31
- "If I Don't Be There by Morning" (Dylan, Springs) – 4:38
- "Early in the Morning" (Traditional, arranged by Clapton) – 5:25 (LP)/7:58 (CD)
- "Promises" (Richard Feldman, Roger Linn) – 3:04
- "Golden Ring" (Clapton) – 3:32
- "Tulsa Time" (Danny Flowers) – 3:28
Singles
[edit]- 1978 – "Promises" (No. 37 UK Singles Chart; No. 9 US Billboard Hot 100)
- 1978 – "Watch Out for Lucy" (No. 40 US Billboard Hot 100)
Personnel
[edit]- Eric Clapton – guitars, lead vocals
- Dick Sims – organ, piano
- George Terry – guitars
- Carl Radle – bass, backing vocals
- Jamie Oldaker – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Marcy Levy – backing vocals, lead vocals on "Roll It"
- Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle – backing vocals on "Golden Ring"
Production
[edit]- Producer and engineer – Glyn Johns
- Assistant engineer – Jon Astley
- Art direction and design – David Stewart and Nello
- Photography – Nello
- Additional photography – Rob Fraboni, Andy Seymour and Laura K. Sims.
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1978–1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[6] | 16 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[7] | 24 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[8] | 6 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] | 22 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] | 28 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[11] | 53 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[12] | 22 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[13] | 2 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[14] | 28 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[15] | 18 |
| US Billboard 200[16] | 8 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[17] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[18] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[19] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Olympic Studios Records - Archive". Olympicstudiosrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Eric Clapton - Backless". AllMusic.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 23 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 135, 136.
- ^ "Backless Eric Clapton". The Globe and Mail. 15 November 1978. p. F9.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Eric Clapton – Backless" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 0102a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – Backless" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Eric Clapton". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 48.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart on 3/12/1978 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Eric Clapton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". Music Canada. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- ^ "British album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 January 2016. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Backless Eric Clapton in the "Search:" field.
- ^ "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
