Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Eric Clapton

• Artist: Eric Clapton
• Rating:
• Release Date: September 09, 2003
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

If you're looking for a career-encompassing Eric Clapton best-of collection, then the Clapton edition of the Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues series is not for you. But if a collection of Clapton's best blues-rock numbers from early in his career is what you desire, then this ten-track set fits the bill. Featuring tracks from such acclaimed Clapton-related artists as John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos (the latter of which also featured the late, great Duane Allman), you get a true representation of Clapton's roots. The Cream-era track, a live take of "Spoonful," shows how influential Clapton was on fellow Yardbirds alumni Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck (who would soon borrow the same heavy blues style for Led Zeppelin and the Jeff Beck Group, respectively), while a Derek and the Dominos-era cover of "Crossroads" shows that Clapton always managed to surround himself with the best blues-rock musicians around. One of the compilation's earliest Clapton recordings, "All Your Love" (from when he briefly served as a sideman for John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers), shows that the guitarist had his fluid "slow hand" style almost perfected early in the game. As evidenced by this Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues edition, it's clear once and for all how incredibly instrumental Clapton was in leading the blues renaissance in rock music. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
All Your Love	Willie Dixon, Otis Rush	Eric Clapton, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers	(3:35)
Steppin' Out	James C. Bracken	Eric Clapton, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers	(2:30)
Rollin' and Tumblin' (Lyrics)	Muddy Waters	Cream, Eric Clapton	(4:44)
I'm So Glad	Skip James	Cream, Eric Clapton	(4:01)
Spoonful [Live]	Willie Dixon	Cream, Eric Clapton	(16:46)
Sleeping in the Ground (Lyrics)	Sam Myers	Blind Faith, Eric Clapton	(4:47)
Rockin' Daddy	Willie Dixon, Chester Arthur Burnett	Howlin' Wolf, Eric Clapton	(3:48)
Have You Ever Loved a Woman	Sam Hopkins, B.B. King, Billy Myles	Eric Clapton, Derek & the Dominos	(6:54)
Mean Old World	Little Walter, Walter Jacobs	Duane Allman, Eric Clapton	(3:52)
Crossroads [Live]	Robert Johnson	Eric Clapton, Derek & the Dominos	(8:36)

Credits

John Almond (Sax (Baritone)), Amalie R. Rothschild (Photography), Steve Berkwoitz (Producer), Barry Wentzell (Photography), Alex Gibney (Series Producer), Chris Blackwell (Arranger), Dennis Healy (Trumpet), Jim Gordon (Drums), Hughie Flint (Drums), Norman Dayron (Producer), John McVie (Bass), John Jackson (Project Manager), Jack Bruce (Harmonica), Jim Gordon (Bass), Robert Stigwood (Arranger), Jeffrey Peisch (Series Producer), Charlie Watts (Drums), Jerry Rappaport (A&R), Bill Wyman (Guitar (Bass)), Jeff Jones (Executive Producer), Bill Levenson (Compilation Producer), Suha Gur (Mastering), Rick Grech (Bass), Darren Salmieri (Artist Coordination), Christopher Austopchuk (Art Direction), Steve Winwood (Vocals), Ulrich Felsburg (Executive Producer), Ginger Baker (Drums), Tom Dowd (Executive Producer), Steve Winwood (Piano), Hubert Sumlin (Guitar), Johnny Sandlin (Producer), Adam Owett (Art Direction), Ginger Baker (Vocals), Howlin' Wolf (Vocals), Martin Scorsese (Author), Phil Upchurch (Bass), Beth Stempel (Production Coordination), Patti Matheny (Artist Coordination), John Mayall (Organ), Jody Patton (Executive Producer), Margaret Bodde (Producer), Derek & the Dominos (Arranger), Elliott Landy (Photography), Martin Scorsese (Executive Producer), Pat Lawrence (Executive Producer), Andy McKaie (Producer), Darren Chansley (Artist Coordination), Michele Horie (Project Coordinator), Margery Greenspan (Design), Jack Bruce (Bass), Felix Pappalardi (Producer), Scott Schneider (Liner Notes), Eric Clapton (Guitar), Bobby Whitlock (Piano), John Mayall (Vocals), Eric Clapton (Vocals), Alex Gibney (A&R), Scott Hay (Design), Andy McKaie (A&R), Jimmy Miller (Producer), Salimah El Amin (Photo Research), Steve Berkwoitz (A&R), Derek & the Dominos (Producer), Jack Bruce (Vocals), Mike Vernon (Producer), Carl Radle (Bass), Rhonda Shields (Project Manager), Paul "PDA" Allen (Executive Producer), Richard Hutton (Producer), Alan Skidmore (Sax (Tenor)), Ian Stewart (Piano)