Eric Clapton: Crossroads

A four-disc box set spanning Eric Clapton's entire career -- running from the Yardbirds to his '80s solo recordings -- Crossroads not only revitalized Clapton's commerical standing, but it established the rock & roll multi-disc box set retrospective as a commercially viable proposition. Bob Dylan's Biograph was successful two years before the release of Crossroads, but Clapton's set was a bonafide blockbuster. And it's easy to see why. Crossroads manages to sum up Clapton's career succinctly and thoroughly, touching upon all of his hits and adding a bevy of first-rate unreleased material (most notably selections from the scrapped second Derek & the Dominos album). Although not all of his greatest performances are included on the set -- none of this work as a session musician or guest artist is included, for instance -- every truly essential item he recorded is present on these four discs. No other Clapton album accurately explains why the guitarist was so influential, or demonstrates exactly what he accomplished.
-- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All-Music Guide

Robbie Robertson credited for his guitar work on the Clapton/Dylan duet "Sign Language" from No Reason to Cry.

Tracks

1. Boom Boom
2. Honey In Your Hips
3. Baby What's Wrong
4. I Wish You Would
5. A Certain Girl
6. Good Morning Little School Girl
7. I Ain't Got You
8. For Your Love
9. Got To Hurry
10. Lonely Years
11. Bernard Jenkins
12. Hide Away
13. All Your Love
14. Ramblin' On My Mind
15. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
16. Wrapping Paper
17. I Feel Free
18. Spoonful
19. Lawdy Mama
20. Strange Brew
21. Sunshine Of Your Love
22. Tales Of Brave Ulysses
23. Steppin' Out
24. Anyone For Tennis
25. White Room
26. Crossroads
27. Badge
28. Presence Of The Lord
29. Can't Find My Way Home
30. Sleeping In The Ground
31. Comin' Home
32. Blues Power
33. After Midnight
34. Let It Rain
35. Tell The Truth
36. Roll It Over
37. Layla
38. Mean Old World
39. Key To The Highway
40. Crossroads
41. Got To Get Better In A Little While
42. Evil
43. One More Chance
44. Mean Old Frisco
45. Snake Lake Blues
46. Let It Grow
47. Ain't That Lovin' You
48. Motherless Children
49. I Shot The Sheriff
50. Better Make It Through Today
51. The Sky Is Crying
52. I Found A Love
53. It Hurts Me Too
54. What'cha Gonna Do
55. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
56. Someone Like You
57. Hello, Old Friend
58. Sign Language
59. Further On Up The Road
60. Lay Down Sally
61. Wonderful Tonight
62. Cocaine
63. Promises
64. If I Don't Be There By Morning
65. Double Trouble
66. I Can't Stand It
67. Heaven Is One Step Away
68. Too Bad
69. After Midnight
70. Baby What's Wrong
71. I Feel Free
72. I Shot The Sheriff
73. Hide Away
74. I Ain't Got You
75. Honey In Your Hips
76. Blues Power
77. Snake Lake Blues
78. Let It Grow
79. The Shape You're In
80. She's Waiting
81. Miss You
82. Wanna Make Love To You
83. After Midnight

Sidemen

• Robbie Robertson, guitar

Eric Clapton - Crossroads - 294:12 - 1988 - Polygram 32561

AMG Rating: 9 (out of 9)