Eric Clapton: Artist Essentials

First released: 1992 (year verified)

The selected acoustic live performance was first publicly released in the original 1992 Unplugged cycle. The January recording session is not used as a release day, and the 1970 Derek and the Dominos studio recording retains its distinct credit and identity.

Recording: Original 1992 Unplugged acoustic live performance
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Unplugged
Original live album performance; the later rehearsals and alternate takes are separate.

Unplugged - original 1992 performance and later alternates
Label explicitly states that the original live album was released in 1992 and identifies its acoustic Layla performance, alongside distinct live Tears in Heaven, Running on Faith and Old Love. It separates the original album from 2013 outtakes and rehearsals, including early My Fathers Eyes performances. Only year precision is used; the stated broadcast day is not adopted as an earliest global day. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1992 (year verified)

The original studio soundtrack/single recording was released in 1992. The 1991 studio session and the separate 1992 Unplugged live performance are not substituted for its recording release.

Recording: Original 1992 Rush studio soundtrack recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Rush

Rush - original Eric Clapton soundtrack release
Licensed original soundtrack metadata identifies Eric Clapton and a 1992 release. The artist timeline separately identifies Tears in Heaven as a studio recording made for Rush; recording-session dates are not used as public release dates. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official original album chronology
Original album sections explicitly place 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974, No Reason to Cry in 1976, Slowhand in 1977, Backless in 1978, Another Ticket in 1981, Rush and Unplugged in 1992. These original entries are separate from remasters, compilations and concert releases; chart and session years are not substituted. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official 1990s recording and release timeline
Identifies the Rush studio work including Tears in Heaven, and explicitly documents the 1996 Change the World single and Phenomenon association. The 1997 Babyface Unplugged performance is a separate event. The 1991 sessions and 1992 Unplugged recording session do not themselves establish public release dates. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official career biography
Stable career history: work with the Yardbirds, John Mayalls Bluesbreakers, Cream and Derek and the Dominos; the 1970 solo debut; the vocal-led 1974 direction; 1992 Unplugged and Tears in Heaven; the 1994 From the Cradle blues album. Later album dates and unspecific superlatives in this biography are not used as recording-release evidence. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1977 (year verified)

Original 1977 recording on Slowhand. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Slowhand

Slowhand - original album recordings on licensed distributor
The original nine-track program is dated 1977 and its narrative explicitly identifies Cocaine, Lay Down Sally and Wonderful Tonight. The 2012 phonogram and the expanded bonus edition are not the original release year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official original album chronology
Original album sections explicitly place 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974, No Reason to Cry in 1976, Slowhand in 1977, Backless in 1978, Another Ticket in 1981, Rush and Unplugged in 1992. These original entries are separate from remasters, compilations and concert releases; chart and session years are not substituted. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1977 (year verified)

Original 1977 recording on Slowhand. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Slowhand

Slowhand - original album recordings on licensed distributor
The original nine-track program is dated 1977 and its narrative explicitly identifies Cocaine, Lay Down Sally and Wonderful Tonight. The 2012 phonogram and the expanded bonus edition are not the original release year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official original album chronology
Original album sections explicitly place 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974, No Reason to Cry in 1976, Slowhand in 1977, Backless in 1978, Another Ticket in 1981, Rush and Unplugged in 1992. These original entries are separate from remasters, compilations and concert releases; chart and session years are not substituted. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1974 (year verified)

Original 1974 recording on 461 Ocean Boulevard. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: 461 Ocean Boulevard

461 Ocean Boulevard - official original studio program
The original ten-track studio program includes Willie and the Hand Jive, I Shot the Sheriff and Let It Grow. The separate official chronology establishes 1974; this current CD store listing is used for track identity, not as a new first-release date. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official original album chronology
Original album sections explicitly place 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974, No Reason to Cry in 1976, Slowhand in 1977, Backless in 1978, Another Ticket in 1981, Rush and Unplugged in 1992. These original entries are separate from remasters, compilations and concert releases; chart and session years are not substituted. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1970 (year verified)

Original 1970 solo album recording in the Tom Dowd mix program. Later Clapton/Bramlett alternate mixes and the She Rides alternate are separately documented and are not assigned this first-release year.

Recording: Original 1970 studio recording, Tom Dowd album mix
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton - original 1970 album and separate mixes
Label history explicitly dates the solo debut to August 1970 and supplies the original Tom Dowd mix program, including After Midnight, Blues Power and Let It Rain. Separate Eric Clapton and Delaney Bramlett mixes, session outtakes and the She Rides alternate are identified by their later issue histories; those versions are not dated as original 1970 releases. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1977 (year verified)

Original 1977 recording on Slowhand. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Slowhand

Slowhand - original album recordings on licensed distributor
The original nine-track program is dated 1977 and its narrative explicitly identifies Cocaine, Lay Down Sally and Wonderful Tonight. The 2012 phonogram and the expanded bonus edition are not the original release year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official original album chronology
Original album sections explicitly place 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974, No Reason to Cry in 1976, Slowhand in 1977, Backless in 1978, Another Ticket in 1981, Rush and Unplugged in 1992. These original entries are separate from remasters, compilations and concert releases; chart and session years are not substituted. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1996 (year verified)

The artist timeline explicitly documents the original 1996 single and its Phenomenon soundtrack association. The later Babyface Unplugged live performance is separate; the single day is not promoted to an exact earliest global date.

Recording: Original 1996 Phenomenon studio single recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original single: Change the World
Original studio release associated with the Phenomenon soundtrack.

Eric Clapton - official 1990s recording and release timeline
Identifies the Rush studio work including Tears in Heaven, and explicitly documents the 1996 Change the World single and Phenomenon association. The 1997 Babyface Unplugged performance is a separate event. The 1991 sessions and 1992 Unplugged recording session do not themselves establish public release dates. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1985 (year verified)

Original 1985 recording on Behind the Sun. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Behind the Sun

Eric Clapton - original Reprise studio albums and programs
Original Behind the Sun (1985) year and numbered studio program in the label collection announcement. Later rarities and remixes are separately identified and not assigned the original year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1998 (year verified)

Original 1998 studio recording in the Pilgrim release cycle. The early Unplugged performances were excluded from the original album and broadcast and later issued among 2013 outtakes; they do not redate this studio recording.

Recording: Original 1998 Pilgrim studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Pilgrim

Eric Clapton - original Reprise studio albums and programs
Original Pilgrim (1998) year and numbered studio program in the label collection announcement. Later rarities and remixes are separately identified and not assigned the original year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Unplugged - original 1992 performance and later alternates
Label explicitly states that the original live album was released in 1992 and identifies its acoustic Layla performance, alongside distinct live Tears in Heaven, Running on Faith and Old Love. It separates the original album from 2013 outtakes and rehearsals, including early My Fathers Eyes performances. Only year precision is used; the stated broadcast day is not adopted as an earliest global day. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1970 (year verified)

Original 1970 solo album recording in the Tom Dowd mix program. Later Clapton/Bramlett alternate mixes and the She Rides alternate are separately documented and are not assigned this first-release year.

Recording: Original 1970 studio recording, Tom Dowd album mix
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton - original 1970 album and separate mixes
Label history explicitly dates the solo debut to August 1970 and supplies the original Tom Dowd mix program, including After Midnight, Blues Power and Let It Rain. Separate Eric Clapton and Delaney Bramlett mixes, session outtakes and the She Rides alternate are identified by their later issue histories; those versions are not dated as original 1970 releases. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1970 (year verified)

Original 1970 solo album recording in the Tom Dowd mix program. Later Clapton/Bramlett alternate mixes and the She Rides alternate are separately documented and are not assigned this first-release year.

Recording: Original 1970 studio recording, Tom Dowd album mix
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton - original 1970 album and separate mixes
Label history explicitly dates the solo debut to August 1970 and supplies the original Tom Dowd mix program, including After Midnight, Blues Power and Let It Rain. Separate Eric Clapton and Delaney Bramlett mixes, session outtakes and the She Rides alternate are identified by their later issue histories; those versions are not dated as original 1970 releases. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1974 (year verified)

Original 1974 recording on 461 Ocean Boulevard. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: 461 Ocean Boulevard

461 Ocean Boulevard - official original studio program
The original ten-track studio program includes Willie and the Hand Jive, I Shot the Sheriff and Let It Grow. The separate official chronology establishes 1974; this current CD store listing is used for track identity, not as a new first-release date. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official original album chronology
Original album sections explicitly place 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974, No Reason to Cry in 1976, Slowhand in 1977, Backless in 1978, Another Ticket in 1981, Rush and Unplugged in 1992. These original entries are separate from remasters, compilations and concert releases; chart and session years are not substituted. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1974 (year verified)

Original 1974 recording on 461 Ocean Boulevard. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: 461 Ocean Boulevard

461 Ocean Boulevard - official original studio program
The original ten-track studio program includes Willie and the Hand Jive, I Shot the Sheriff and Let It Grow. The separate official chronology establishes 1974; this current CD store listing is used for track identity, not as a new first-release date. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official original album chronology
Original album sections explicitly place 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974, No Reason to Cry in 1976, Slowhand in 1977, Backless in 1978, Another Ticket in 1981, Rush and Unplugged in 1992. These original entries are separate from remasters, compilations and concert releases; chart and session years are not substituted. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1976 (year verified)

Original 1976 recording on No Reason to Cry. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: No Reason to Cry

No Reason to Cry - label original album history
Explicit 1976 release and the Hello Old Friend album/single association. The separately described Bob Dylan duet Sign Language is not selected under an unqualified solo credit. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1978 (year verified)

Original 1978 recording on Backless. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Backless

Backless - label original album tracklist
The original program includes Promises. The title identifies the original 1978 album, corroborated by the separate artist chronology; the current SHM-CD edition is not the first release. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official original album chronology
Original album sections explicitly place 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974, No Reason to Cry in 1976, Slowhand in 1977, Backless in 1978, Another Ticket in 1981, Rush and Unplugged in 1992. These original entries are separate from remasters, compilations and concert releases; chart and session years are not substituted. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1981 (year verified)

Original 1981 recording on Another Ticket. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Another Ticket

Another Ticket - label original album tracklist
The original nine-track program includes I Cant Stand It. The original 1981 album year is independently established in the artist chronology; modern product availability and recording sessions are not release evidence. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Eric Clapton - official original album chronology
Original album sections explicitly place 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974, No Reason to Cry in 1976, Slowhand in 1977, Backless in 1978, Another Ticket in 1981, Rush and Unplugged in 1992. These original entries are separate from remasters, compilations and concert releases; chart and session years are not substituted. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1983 (year verified)

Original 1983 recording on Money and Cigarettes. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Money and Cigarettes

Eric Clapton - original Reprise studio albums and programs
Original Money and Cigarettes (1983) year and numbered studio program in the label collection announcement. Later rarities and remixes are separately identified and not assigned the original year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1985 (year verified)

Original 1985 recording on Behind the Sun. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Behind the Sun

Eric Clapton - original Reprise studio albums and programs
Original Behind the Sun (1985) year and numbered studio program in the label collection announcement. Later rarities and remixes are separately identified and not assigned the original year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1989 (year verified)

Original 1989 recording on Journeyman. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Journeyman

Eric Clapton - original Reprise studio albums and programs
Original Journeyman (1989) year and numbered studio program in the label collection announcement. Later rarities and remixes are separately identified and not assigned the original year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1989 (year verified)

Original 1989 recording on Journeyman. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Journeyman

Eric Clapton - original Reprise studio albums and programs
Original Journeyman (1989) year and numbered studio program in the label collection announcement. Later rarities and remixes are separately identified and not assigned the original year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1989 (year verified)

Original 1989 recording on Journeyman. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day. The later Unplugged performance is a separate recording.

Recording: Original 1989 Journeyman studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Journeyman

Eric Clapton - original Reprise studio albums and programs
Original Journeyman (1989) year and numbered studio program in the label collection announcement. Later rarities and remixes are separately identified and not assigned the original year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Unplugged - original 1992 performance and later alternates
Label explicitly states that the original live album was released in 1992 and identifies its acoustic Layla performance, alongside distinct live Tears in Heaven, Running on Faith and Old Love. It separates the original album from 2013 outtakes and rehearsals, including early My Fathers Eyes performances. Only year precision is used; the stated broadcast day is not adopted as an earliest global day. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1989 (year verified)

Original 1989 recording on Journeyman. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day. The later Unplugged performance is a separate recording.

Recording: Original 1989 Journeyman studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Journeyman

Eric Clapton - original Reprise studio albums and programs
Original Journeyman (1989) year and numbered studio program in the label collection announcement. Later rarities and remixes are separately identified and not assigned the original year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Unplugged - original 1992 performance and later alternates
Label explicitly states that the original live album was released in 1992 and identifies its acoustic Layla performance, alongside distinct live Tears in Heaven, Running on Faith and Old Love. It separates the original album from 2013 outtakes and rehearsals, including early My Fathers Eyes performances. Only year precision is used; the stated broadcast day is not adopted as an earliest global day. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1994 (year verified)

Original 1994 recording on From the Cradle. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: From the Cradle

Eric Clapton - original Reprise studio albums and programs
Original From the Cradle (1994) year and numbered studio program in the label collection announcement. Later rarities and remixes are separately identified and not assigned the original year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 2001 (year verified)

Original 2001 recording on Reptile. Year precision is retained; the album association is not an assertion of an exact first-release day.

Recording: Original studio recording
Credit: Eric Clapton
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Reptile

Reptile - label original 2001 album program
The label explicitly dates Reptile to 2001 and lists Believe in Life in its original studio program. Later remaster and rarities publication dates are separate. | Reviewed 2026-10-18