Backless

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.

For the dress type, see Backless dress.

Backless
Studio album by
Eric Clapton
ReleasedNovember 1978
Recorded1978
StudioOlympic, London[1]
GenreRock
Length41:01
LabelRSO
ProducerGlyn Johns
Eric Clapton chronology
Slowhand
(1977)		 Backless
(1978)		 Just One Night
(1980)
Singles from Backless
  1. "Promises"
    Released: October 1978

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

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."[5]

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
  • 1978 – "Promises" (#37 UK Singles Chart; #9 US Billboard Hot 100)
  • 1979 – "Promises" (international)
  • 1979 – "Watch Out for Lucy" (#40 US Billboard Hot 100)
  • 1979 – "Walk Out in the Rain"

Personnel
  • Eric Clapton – guitars, lead vocals, arrangements on "Early In the Morning"
  • Dick Sims – organ, piano
  • George Terry – guitars
  • Carl Radle – bass, backing vocals
  • Jamie Oldaker – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Marcy Levy – backing vocals, lead vocals on "Roll It"
  • Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle – backing vocals on "Golden Ring"

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.

Chart performance
Chart (1978–1979) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[6] 24
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[7] 22
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[8] 28
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[9] 22
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[10] 2
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 28
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 18
US Billboard 200[13] 8

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[14] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Olympic Studios Records - Archive". Olympicstudiosrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. Ruhlmann, William. "Eric Clapton - Backless". AllMusic.
  3. 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.
  4. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 135, 136.
  5. "Backless Eric Clapton". The Globe and Mail. 15 November 1978. p. F9.
  6. "Austriancharts.at – Eric Clapton – Backless" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  7. "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – Backless" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  8. 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.
  9. "Charts.nz – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  10. "Norwegiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  11. "Swedishcharts.com – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  12. "Eric Clapton | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  13. "Eric Clapton – Backless – Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Coperation. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  14. "Canadian album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". Music Canada. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  15. "British album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  16. "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
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