Eric Clapton Journeyman CD

Personnel includes: Eric Clapton, Jerry Williams (vocals, guitar); George Harrison (guitar, background vocals); Robert Cray (guitar); Robbie Kondor (harmonica, keyboards, vocoder, synthesizer, programming); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone); Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone); Jon Faddis, Lou Solof (trumpet); Richard Tee (piano, Fender Rhodes); Greg Phillinganes (piano, keyboards, synthesizer, background vocals); Alan Clark (Hammond organ, synthesizer, keyboards, programming); Gary Burton (vibraphone); Nathan East (bass, background vocals); Daryl Jones (bass); Phil Collins (drums, background vocals) Carol Steele (congas, tambourine, percussion); Chaka Khan (background vocals).
Recorded at The Town House, London, England and Power Station, Skyline Studios, New York, New York.
Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Cecil Womack (vocals, acoustic guitar); Linda Womack (vocals); Jerry Williams (guitar, background vocals); Phil Palmer, Robert Cray, George Harrison (guitar); Robbie Kondor (harmonica, keyboards, synthesizer, vocoder, drum programming); David Sanborn, Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone); Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone); Jon Faddis (trumpet, horns); Lou Solof (trumpet); Richard Tee (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Greg Phillinganes (piano, keyboards, synthesizer, background vocals); Alan Clark (keyboards, synthesizer, string synthesizer); Jeff Bova (synthesizer, programming, drum programming); Rob Mounsey, Robbie Kilgore (synthesizer); Gary Burton (vibraphone); Steve Ferrone (drums, hi-hat); Jim Keltner (drums, tambourine, percussion, drum programming); Phil Collins (drums, background vocals); Carol Steele (congas, tambourine, percussion); Jimmy Bralower (drum programming); Lani Groves, Nathan East, Tawatha Agee, Tessa Niles, Vaneese Thomas, Chaka Khan (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Steve "Barney" Cahse; Gary Wright; Rob Eaton; Russ Titelman.
Recording information: Power Station Studios, New York, NY; Skyline Studios, New York, NY; Town House, London, England.
Photographers: Roger Forrester; Terry O'Neil.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Darryl Jones; David "Fathead" Newman ; David Sanborn; Eric Clapton; Greg Phillinganes; Hank Crawford; Jeff Bova; Jerry Williams; Jim Keltner; Jimmy Bralower; Alan Clark; Nathan East; Phil Collins; Phil Palmer; Pino Palladino; Richard Tee; Rob Mounsey; Robert Cray; Tawatha Agee; George Harrison; Robbie Kondor; Steve Ferrone; Cecil Womack; Chaka Khan.
Arranger: Arif Mardin.
For most of the '80s, Eric Clapton seemed rather lost, uncertain of whether he should return to his blues roots or pander to AOR radio. By the mid-'80s, he appeared to have made the decision to revamp himself as a glossy mainstream rocker, working with synthesizers and drum machines. Instead of expanding his audience, it only reduced it. Then came the career retrospective Crossroads, which helped revitalize his career, not only commercially, but also creatively, as Journeyman -- the first album he recorded after the success of Crossroads -- proved. Although Journeyman still suffers from an overly slick production, Clapton sounds more convincing than he has since the early '70s. Not only is his guitar playing muscular and forceful, his singing is soulful and gritty. Furthermore, the songwriting is consistently strong, alternating between fine mainstream rock originals ("Pretending") and covers ("Before You Accuse Me," "Hound Dog"). Like any of Clapton's best albums, there is no grandstanding to be found on Journeyman -- it's simply a laid-back and thoroughly engaging display of Clapton's virtuosity. On the whole, it's the best studio album he's released since Slowhand. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
As the '80s drew to a close, Clapton's lifestyle included fraternizing with models and wearing designer suits to go with stylish haircuts. Amid all this jet-setting, Clapton released JOURNEYMAN, an album that found his songwriti