Change the World
Eric Clapton | Artist Essentials
First released: 1996 (year verified)
Original 1996 Phenomenon studio single recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: The acoustic guitar sits inside a carefully layered, gently syncopated arrangement.
YouTube opens a title-and-artist search. The selected recording and date are identified below.
Release evidence and recording details
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
In the yearly lists
These are listening-list appearances, separate from the first-release date.
The actual retained 1996 and 1997 entries share the original solo recording ID, and the earlier entry specifically identifies Phenomenon. The artist timeline documents its 1996 studio single separately from the later 1997 Babyface Unplugged performance.
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
About Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton emerged through British rhythm and blues groups including the Yardbirds and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, then developed a more expansive guitar role in Cream. His 1970 solo debut and Derek and the Dominos belonged to distinct recording projects. The solo albums that followed gave increasing weight to singing, ensemble interplay and compact songs, alongside electric blues. Unplugged offered an acoustic performance setting in 1992, while From the Cradle returned to blues repertoire in 1994. Collaborations and former bands remain separate parts of his career.
Artist background sources
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. | Retrieved 2026-10-18
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. | Retrieved 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. | Retrieved 2026-10-18
Eric Clapton - original Reprise studio albums and programs
Label gives original years and complete original programs for Money and Cigarettes 1983, Behind the Sun 1985, Journeyman 1989, From the Cradle 1994 and Pilgrim 1998. It separates later live tracks, outtakes and a new Pilgrim remix from the original studio programs. The box publication year is not assigned to original recordings. | Retrieved 2026-10-18
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-18. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
Continue listening
Recommended positions express one editorial listening sequence. They are not measured quality scores.
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.