Clapton in the 90s…

Why it may have been his best decade…

For the majority of his career, Eric Clapton always did a great job of embracing popular music and making it his own.  Through the blues rock of the 60s, the folk/country of the 70s, and even the new wave of the 80s, Clapton always found a way to stay relevant.  But then came the 90s, and rather than jumping aboard the alternative/grunge movement (which I would love to have heard), he seems to have treated it more as a decade of reflection and celebration of his entire career. Here are a few reasons I believe the 90s was Clapton’s best decade:

1990-1991 – “24 Nights”

24 Nights is an absolute must-have for any Clapton fan.  Commemorating two history-making residencies at the Royal Albert Hall (18 nights in 1990 and 24 nights in 1991), the compilation of performances from these showcases Clapton’s ability to play in completely different band settings.  

• Bringing new energy to Cream classics in the 4-piece band
• Cutting through the standards in his Blues Band (featuring Robert Cray and Buddy Guy as his backing guitarists!)
• Showing an extremely disciplined and sensitive side when he was accompanied by an orchestra (lead by Michael Kamen)
• Celebrating his genius as a pop and rock god with the 9-piece band

Not a bad way to begin the decade.

 

 

1992 – “Unplugged”

If ‘90 and ‘91 were the years of retrospection, then ‘92 was the year of leaping into the unknown and that is best illustrated by his performance on MTV Unplugged.  Granted that acoustic blues may not have been new to him, but arrangements of “Layla” and “Old Love” along with the newly composed “Tears in Heaven” not only grew his fan base across the globe but brought him back to the spotlight in a big way.

 

1993 – “Bob Dylan – 30th Anniversary Show”

This may have been one show, of which he only performed a few songs, but they are performances that I believe he will always be remembered for.  His blues take on Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice it’s Alright” is probably what comes to mind for most people but my personal favorite is his performance alongside Neil Young, George Harrison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan himself on “My Back Pages”.  Not only did he play a perfect solo but he really showcased that he is also an incredible vocalist.

 

1994 – “From the Cradle”

Perhaps the decade was getting too out of hand with the renewed popularity and conquering of the pop charts and award shows alike that it was time to return to basics.  Enter “From the Cradle” the first all blues album recorded since the 60s (or arguably ever).

1995-1997 – Touring

The mid-90s saw Clapton tour the globe multiple times over and leave us with some incredible live recordings.  Perhaps most notable, from this period, is the “Live at Hyde Park” show recorded in 1996.  What I enjoy most about this period is that he still used a variety of guitars including multiple Gibson hollow and semi-hollow bodys (ES-335, ES-135).  I am a firm believer that Clapton is one of the best at playing these guitars and, to the best of my knowledge, once the 2000s hit, he became a Fender Stratocaster-only player.

1998 – “Pilgrim”

As the decade came closer to an end, there must have been something burning inside Clapton to embrace his love of popular music and out came “Pilgrim”.  On par with modern day soft rock (My Father’s Eyes, River of Tears) and even that with a touch of distortion (She’s Gone), this was an extremely accessible album for all generations.

1999 – “Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert”

On June 30, 1999, Eric Clapton may very well have played the best concert of his life.  Alongside friends including Bob Dylan, David Sanborn, Sheryl Crow & Mary J. Blige, Clapton ran through a career spanning setlist and brought incredible energy to each song.  This show was also the pre-cursor to the series of Crossroads Guitar Festivals that Clapton has hosted five times since (2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2019).

And so wraps up a decade for Clapton that started just as strong as it ended and never let up in between.  There is no question he had already achieved “legend” status, but the 90s showcased both a resurgence and incredible staying power.  It is a decade that deserves a lot more discussion in Clapton history.