Eric Clapton No Reason To Cry CD

Personnel includes: Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ron Wood, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Georgie Fame, Richard Manuel, Marcy Levy, Jesse Ed Davis, Yvonne Elliman, Carl Radle, Wah Wah Watson.
Engineers: Ralph Moss, Ed Anderson, Nat Jeffrey.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Chris Jagger, Sandy Castle, Marcy Levy, Yvonne Elliman, Bob Dylan (vocals); Robbie Robertson (guitar, keyboards); George Terry, Jesse Ed Davis , Ron Wood, Wah Wah Watson (guitar); Garth Hudson (saxophone, keyboards); Bobby Ellis (trumpet); Albhy Galuten (piano); Dick Sims, Georgie Fame, Billy Preston (keyboards); Jamie Oldaker, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel (drums); Terry Danko, Sergio Rodriguez, Ralph Moss (percussion).
Liner Note Author: Tom Nikosey.
Recording information: Shangri-la Studios; Village Recorder.
Photographer: Ed Caraeff.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Roger Forrester; Wilton Spears; Dominic Lumetta; Mickey Turner; Geoff Harrison; Dick Lapalm; Larry Samuels; Dread Lever; Brains Bradley; Konrad Kramer; Joseph M. Palmaccio.
Arranger: Eric Clapton.
When he gave a speech inducting the Band into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Eric Clapton said that after he heard their debut album, Music from Big Pink, he wanted to join the group, the fact that they already had a guitarist in Robbie Robertson notwithstanding. In the winter of 1975-1976, when he cut No Reason to Cry at the Band's Shangri-La Studio in Malibu, CA, he came as close as he ever would to realizing that desire. Clapton is a musical chameleon; though some of No Reason to Cry is identifiable as the kind of pop/rock Clapton had been making since the start of his solo career (the best of it being "Hello Old Friend," which became his first Top 40 single in two years), the most memorable music on the album occurs when Clapton is collaborating with members of the Band and other guests. He duets with Band bassist Rick Danko on Danko's "All Our Past Times," and with Bob Dylan on Dylan's "Sign Language," as Robertson's distinctive lead guitar is heard rather than Clapton's. As a result, the album is a good purchase for fans of Bob Dylan and the Band, but not necessarily for those of Eric Clapton. [The CD reissue adds a bonus track, "Last Night," which is a traditional 12-bar blues song credited to Clapton.] ~ William Ruhlmann
In the spirit of all-star get-togethers endemic to that part of the '70s, 1976's NO REASON TO CRY became Eric Clapton's recorded version of the Rolling Thunder Tour. Joining Clapton in the studio were Bob Dylan, Ron Wood, Georgie Fame and Band-mates Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko & Richard Manuel (Clapton returned the favor later in the year by appearing in The Last Waltz, the Band's last live show). Clapton's buddies also contributed material, including Dylan's "Sign Language," the Danko/Manuel composition "Beautiful Thing" and Danko's country-flavored "All Our Past Times."
At this point in his solo career, Clapton was taking a more languid and low-key approach towards playing, with more emphasis on presenting songs and less on soloing. Songs such as the wistful "Hello Old Friend" and the aching "Innocent Times," featuring Marcy Levy's gospel-flavored vocals, reflect Slowhand's countryish leanings of the time. Clapton's love of the blues, however, was undiminished, and when he tackles both Otis Rush's "Double Trouble" and Little Walter's "Last Night," he shines despite any stylistic changes.

Remastered

Q (11/96, p.147) - 2 Stars (out of 5) - ".... A huddle of superstar chums (including Bob Dylan, whose `Sign Language' is the outstanding new song) play some `tasty licks,'..."