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Backless
1978 studio album by Eric Clapton

Backless is the sixth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released in November 1978. Produced by Glyn Johns, and released by RSO Records, Backless reached no. 8 on the pop charts. While the single "Promises" only reached no. 37 on the UK Singles Chart, it was a much bigger success in the US, reaching no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, "Watch Out for Lucy", was the B-side of "Promises", but reached no. 40 on the Billboard 100 on its own merit. Later in 1980 "Tulsa Time" was #30 on the Billboard 100 with the 1977 song "Cocaine" as B-side. It was Clapton's last studio album to feature his longtime bassist Carl Radle, who died in 1980.

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Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic1
Christgau's Record GuideB−2
The Rolling Stone Album Guide3

The Globe and Mail noted that "there is none of the old spectacular playing—the emphasis is definitely on mellow funkiness—but the duet he plays on 'Roll It' with singer Marci Levy has some eloquent licks all the same."4

Track listing

  1. "Walk Out in the Rain" (Bob Dylan, Helena Springs) – 4:16
  2. "Watch Out for Lucy" (Eric Clapton) – 3:26
  3. "I'll Make Love to You Anytime" (J. J. Cale) – 3:23
  4. "Roll It" (Clapton, Marcy Levy) – 3:42
  5. "Tell Me That You Love Me" (Clapton) – 3:31
  6. "If I Don't Be There by Morning" (Dylan, Springs) – 4:38
  7. "Early in the Morning" (Traditional, arranged by Clapton) – 5:25 (LP)/7:58 (CD)
  8. "Promises" (Richard Feldman, Roger Linn) – 3:04
  9. "Golden Ring" (Clapton) – 3:32
  10. "Tulsa Time" (Danny Flowers) – 3:28

Singles

Personnel

Production

  • Producer and engineer – Glyn Johns
  • Assistant engineer – Jon Astley
  • Art direction and design – David Stewart and Nello
  • Photography – Nello
  • Additional photography – Rob Fraboni, Andy Seymour and Laura K. Sims.

Charts

Chart (1978-1979)Peakposition
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)516
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)624
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)76
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)822
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)928
Japanese Albums (Oricon)1053
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)1122
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)122
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)1328
UK Albums (OCC)1418
US Billboard 200158

Certifications

RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)16Platinum100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)17Silver60,000^
United States (RIAA)18Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Ruhlmann, William. "Eric Clapton - Backless". AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/album/backless-mw0000189372 ↩

  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 23 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com. 089919026X ↩

  3. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 135, 136. ↩

  4. "Backless Eric Clapton". The Globe and Mail. 15 November 1978. p. F9. ↩

  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. 0-646-11917-6 ↩

  6. "Austriancharts.at – Eric Clapton – Backless" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Eric+Clapton&titel=Backless&cat=a ↩

  7. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0102a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0102a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0102a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0102a ↩

  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – Backless" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Eric+Clapton&titel=Backless&cat=a ↩

  9. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Eric Clapton". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 48. https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=48 ↩

  10. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9. 4-87131-077-9 ↩

  11. "Charts.nz – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Eric+Clapton&titel=Backless&cat=a ↩

  12. "Norwegiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Eric+Clapton&titel=Backless&cat=a ↩

  13. "Swedishcharts.com – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Eric+Clapton&titel=Backless&cat=a ↩

  14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19781203/7502/ ↩

  15. "Eric Clapton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Eric-Clapton/chart-history/TLP ↩

  16. "Canadian album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". Music Canada. Retrieved 1 January 2016. https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Backless%20Eric+Clapton ↩

  17. "British album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 January 2016. https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/676-3230-2 ↩

  18. "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 1 January 2016. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Eric+Clapton&ti=Backless&format=Album&type=#search_section ↩