Eric Clapton at His Best


Eric Clapton at His Best is a two-LP compilation of Eric Clapton's work after he left his earlier band Cream, released in September 1972. It was concurrently released with a two-LP compilation of Cream tracks, Heavy Cream, along with "at His Best" solo retrospectives by Cream's other members Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker.

Overview

Although available in other territories as well, Eric Clapton at His Best was largely released to address the North American market, in order for Polydor Records to leverage Clapton's back catalog as, prior to 1972, Polydor had licensed Clapton's recordings to Atco/Atlantic Records for North American distribution. It was the first of two compilations of Clapton's early work that Polydor would issue; the second, Clapton, was released in mid-1973. Now out of print, Eric Clapton at His Best was available during the years 1972-76.
The album contains songs from Clapton's lone album with his 1969 band Blind Faith, his eponymous 1970 album, and from the lone studio album by Clapton's 1970-71 band Derek and the Dominos, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.

Chart performance

The album debuted on Billboard magazine's Top LP's & Tape chart in the issue dated October 14, 1972, and peaked at No. 87. In Cash Box magazine, the album reached No. 70 on its Top 100 Albums chart in the issue dated December 16, 1972.

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Bottle of Red Wine" - 3:06
  2. * From Eric Clapton. Produced by Delaney Bramlett.
  3. "Anyday" - 6:33
  4. * From Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Produced by The Dominos; executive producer Tom Dowd.
  5. "I Looked Away" - 3:02
  6. * From Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
  7. "Let It Rain" - 5:07
  8. * From Eric Clapton.
  9. "Lonesome and a Long Way from Home" - 3:43
  10. * From Eric Clapton.

Side two

  1. "Sea of Joy" - 5:23
  2. * From Blind Faith. Produced by Jimmy Miller by arrangement with Robert Stigwood and Chris Blackwell.
  3. "Layla" - 7:01
  4. * From Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
  5. "Blues Power" - 3:10
  6. * From Eric Clapton.
  7. "Bell Bottom Blues" - 5:00
  8. * From Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.

Side three

  1. "After Midnight" - 3:11
  2. * From Eric Clapton.
  3. "Keep On Growing" - 6:20
  4. * From Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
  5. "Little Wing" - 5:31
  6. * From Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
  7. "Presence of the Lord" - 4:48
  8. * From Blind Faith.

Side four

  1. "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?" - 4:41
  2. * From Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
  3. "Easy Now" - 2:58
  4. * From Eric Clapton.
  5. "Slunky" - 3:33
  6. * From Eric Clapton.
  7. "Key to the Highway" - 9:39
  8. * From Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.

Personnel

Charts

Chart Peak
position
US Top LP's & Tape 87
US Top 100 Albums 70