Eric Clapton was a legend and one of rock’s greatest guitarists before he ever started making solo records. His albums with the Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream and Blind Faith influenced generations of guitarists (as did his work with Derek & the Dominoes — but their album came after Clapton’s debut album).
We’re celebrating his solo catalog, as well as a few collaborative efforts with a few other legends. From Eric Clapton to Happy Xmas, here are our favorite E.C. solo jams.
The Latest on Eric Clapton
Clapton was one of dozens of guitarists to take part in a new all-star recording helmed by Mark Knopfler.
As previously reported, Knopfler recruited a star-studded lineup of fellow guitarists for a charity single benefitting Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America.
The charity single is a new recording of “Going Home.” The track is an instrumental featured on the 1983 score for the film Local Hero, which also served as the film’s theme. Knopfler wrote the entire score of the film, which is considered his debut solo album and debut soundtrack album.
“Going Home” can be heard in its entirety below. Fans can purchase/download the song in a variety of formats at MarkKnopflersGuitarHeroes.com.
The re-recording of “Going Home” is billed as being by Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes. Among those heroes was Jeff Beck, who died suddenly in January 2023 at age 78 from bacterial meningitis. According to a press release, Beck’s contribution to the track is also the guitar icon’s final recording.
Knopfler said, in part, of Beck, ” … Jeff Beckâs contribution arrived and that was spellbinding. I think what weâve had is an embarrassment of riches, really.”
Beck, of course, was a close friend of Clapton’s. In fact, Clapton and Beck’s widow, Sandra, were the ones to organize a grand tribute concert honoring the late guitar icon back in May 2023.
50. âCall Me The Breezeâ – âThe Breeze (An Appreciation Of JJ Cale)â (2014)
ShareEric Clapton owed a lot to J.J. Cale, who died in 2013. Caleâs laid back bluesy style was hugely influential on Clapton in the â70s, and of course, Clapton had massive hits during that decade with Caleâs âAfter Midnightâ and âCocaine.â Clapton and Cale did an album together in 2006, but on âThe Breeze,â Clapton assembled an A-list group of guest stars to pay tribute to the man, shortly after his passing. Despite the legends guesting on the album (including Tom Petty and Willie Nelson) âCall Me The Breeze,â a Clapton solo performance, was the highlight.
49. âEveryday Will Be Like A Holidayâ – âHappy Xmasâ (2018)
ShareA song from Claptonâs Christmas album that works all year round; itâs a cover of a soul classic by R&B singer William Bell.
48. âRunaway Trainsâ – Eric Clapton and Elton John – âLethal Weapon 3â (1992)
ShareIn the â80s, Eric Clapton ventured into the world of film scores; he scored the first three âLethal Weaponâ films with composer/conductor Michael Kamel and jazz saxophonist David Sanborn. On âLethal Weapon 3,â he also contributed a duet with Elton John; Clapton and Elton brought their VH1-leaning A-games, and the song was a #10 hit on mainstream rock radio.
47. âOver The Rainbow (live)â – âOne More Car, One More Riderâ (2002)
ShareThe shows documented on this live album were part of what was billed as his final world tour. Of course, heâs logged many more miles since then. But there was something moving about Clapton ending the shows with Judy Gardlandâs 1939 classic from âThe Wizard Of Oz.â
46. âToo Badâ – âForever Manâ B-side (1985)
ShareEric Clapton started working with Phil Collins for 1985âs âBehind The Sun.â At the time, Collins was one of musicâs biggest hitmakers as the frontman of Genesis and as a bona fide solo star, and he brought some of that radio magic to the sessions. But on âToo Bad,â Clapton and Collins seemed to forget about the charts, and played for a late-night juke joint decades in the past. Phil Collins is playing drums here; Chris Stainton plays piano and Donald âDuckâ Dunn is on bass, and the four of them made a fine blues combo.
45. âWhatcha Gonna Doâ – (recorded during sessions for 1974âs âThereâs One In Every Crowd,â released on 1988âs âCrossroadsâ box set, and later on âGive Me Strength: The â74/â75 Recordings)
ShareEric Clapton was one of the artists who were instrumental in bringing the blues to a white audience in the â60s, along with the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds and Jimi Hendrix, among others. Everyone acknowledges this. But he also deserves credit for helping expose America to Jamaican reggae music. In 1974-1975, he recorded a bunch of reggae songs, and while this Peter Tosh cover wasnât the most successful one (weâll get to *that* song later), âWhatcha Gonna Doâ shows his love of the genre. The song features Tosh on guitar and vocals, giving it some added legitimacy. For some reason, it went unreleased for over a decade until it was included on Claptonâs 1988 âCrossroadsâ box set.
44. âHoochie Coochie Manâ – Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy – âThe Concert For NYCâ (2001)
ShareEric Clapton and Buddy Guy have performed together many times over the decades, but they were never more powerful than when they hit the stage of Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2001 at the Concert for New York City. They could have done any number of mournful blues jams (or Claptonâs âTears In Heavenâ), but instead, they went with the full-on swagger of Muddy Watersâ âHoochie Coochie Manâ (written by Willie Dixon).
43. âIâve Been Tryingâ – Eric Clapton and DâAngelo – âRock And Roll Hall of Fame Volume 5: 1998-1999)â (2011)
ShareIn the â90s, Curtis Mayfield was as big an influence on Eric Clapton as the blues; you can hear it all over 1998âs âPilgrimâ record. Sadly, when Mayfield was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, he was confined to a wheelchair, so Clapton and R&B star DâAngelo performed in his honor. This delicate and mournful performance of âIâve Been Trying,â saw Clapton stretching his soprano vocal to the limit to honor a legend.
42. âIâm Tore Downâ – âFrom The Cradleâ (1994)
ShareAfter the massive success of âJourneyman,â âTears In Heavenâ and âUnpluggedâ Clapton reconnected with his blues roots on âFrom The Cradle,â an album of blues covers. He sounds loose and relaxed on Freddie Kingâs âIâm Tore Downâ; heâs having a blast and so are we.
41. âI Ainât Gonna Stand For Itâ – âReptileâ (2001)
ShareClaptonâs funky take on this 1980 Stevie Wonder hit features Curtis Mayfieldâs former bandmates in the Impressions on backing vocals. Claptonâs singing is great here, but longtime bass player Nathan Eastâs playing really stands out.
40. âTraveling Riverside Bluesâ – âMe And Mr. Johnsonâ (2004)
ShareAfter two albums inspired by R&B and pop, Clapton reconnected with the blues on âMe and Mr. Johnson,â an album of Robert Johnson covers. Led Zeppelin popularized this song with their cover, but Claptonâs sticks a bit closer to the original (even as heâs using a band, and Johnson, of course, recorded solo acoustic). Nearly anything on âMe And Mr. Johnsonâ and the accompanying EP, âSessions For Robert Jâ could have made this list, but âTraveling Riverside Bluesâ was a definite highlight.
39. âBorder Songâ – âTwo Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupinâ (1991)
ShareClapton first experienced this song when Elton opened a U.S. tour for Derek & the Dominoes; decades later, Clapton recorded this cover, infusing the gospel jam with a bit of New Orleans funk, and made it bluesy. It was yet another great reminder of Claptonâs ability as a song interpreter.
38. âYou Must Believe Meâ – âA Tribute To Curtis Mayfieldâ (1994)
ShareFour years after Curtis Mayfield was paralyzed from the neck down in an on-stage accident, some major stars (Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz, Phil Collins) paid tribute to the man on this album. Claptonâs version of âYou Must Believe Me,â featuring Nile Rodgers of Chic on rhythm guitar, was one of the albumâs highlights, and an underrated song in Claptonâs repertoire.
37. âHelp Me Upâ – âRush (Music From The Motion Picture)â – (1992)
ShareThis song, co-written by Clapton and Will Jennings, was overshadowed by *another* Clapton/Jennings collaboration on the same album (that would be a ditty called âTears In Heavenâ). But this song should have been a pop smash, and is another underrated gem in a catalog filled with them.
36. âBefore You Accuse Meâ – âJourneymanâ (1989)
ShareIt was clear that on âJourneyman,â Clapton was swinging for the fences, and it worked: over two decades into his career, he was more popular than ever. But he made sure to represent his early rock and roll roots among the pop hits with the albumâs closer, a roof-raising Bo Diddley cover.
35. âSan Francisco Bay Bluesâ – âUnpluggedâ (1992)
ShareYou can argue all day over what Eric Claptonâs best guitar solo is. But the best kazoo solo on an Eric Clapton album is easily this one! There were a lot of heavy moments in Claptonâs âUnpluggedâ session, but this lightened things up and was one of the albumâs many highlights. Fans of âMTV Unpluggedâ might have been familiar with this song, as Paul McCartney recorded it at his âUnpluggedâ a year earlier.
34. âFurther On Up The Roadâ – The Band with Eric Clapton
ShareâThe Last Waltzâ (1978) When Eric Clapton presented the Band at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, he said that he basically broke up Cream after hearing the Band. He also admitted that when he went to visit âRobbie [Robertson] and the boysâ at their studio, âI really sort of went there to ask if I could join the Band! Only I didnât have the guts to say it!â But he had his chance to jam with them at their final show, giving a glimpse of how great a Band with Clapton would have been.
33. âDonât Know Which Way To Go (featuring Buddy Guy)â – âRush (Music From The Motion Picture)â – (1992)
ShareWherein Clapton steps aside and gives the mic to Buddy Guy. For the most part, Clapton ditched super-long epic jams after he dissolved Cream, but here, he and Guy stretch this Willie Dixon classic out past the 10-minute mark, and it still leaves you wanting more.
32. âNo Alibisâ – âJourneymanâ (1989)
ShareOne of many songs that Jerry Lynn Williams wrote for âJourneymanâ (although in his autobiography, Clapton claims that he actually co-wrote all of those songs with Williams). This one was squarely aimed at the pop charts, and the recording was sweetened by backing vocals by Daryl Hall. Somehow it didnât make a big pop impact, although it reached number four on the mainstream rock charts.
31. âStone Freeâ – âStone Free: A Tribute To Jimi Hendrixâ (1993)
ShareBy the â90s, Clapton had evolved as an artist and he was far removed from the Cream guy who piled on the distortion and inspired generations of hard rock guitar players. But the title track to the 1993 Jimi Hendrix tribute reminded everyone how nasty and funky he could get. He collaborated with Chicâs Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson on this track, reminding fans that they were a fierce rock band before they helped to create disco (sadly, it was the last time the three played together).
30. âHard Timesâ – âJourneymanâ (1989)
ShareItâs another break on the pop-heavy âJourneymanâ where Clapton reconnects with his roots. Clapton covered a number of R&B hits in his days with the Yardbirds and John Mayallâs Bluesbreakers, but by the late â80s, he had enough grit in his voice to bring gravitas to this 1958 Ray Charles ballad.
29. âVoodoo Chileâ – Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood – âLive From Madison Square Gardenâ (2009)
ShareIn 2008, former Blind Faith bandmates Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood reunited for a tour; of course, they played Blind Faith songs, but as the band only released one album, that gave time for other songs. Besides songs from the Derek & The Dominoes and Traffic catalogs, there were three Jimi Hendrix covers. On âVoodoo Chile,â Clapton sings lead for just the first 20 seconds or so, handing the mic to Steve Winwood for the remaining 16 minutes(!) of the song. As previously mentioned, since leaving Cream, Clapton hasnât been big on lengthy jams, but when he goes there, he makes it count. Their version of the song would make Hendrix proud (fun fact: Winwood played Hammond organ on the original).
28. âPretendingâ – âJourneymanâ (1989)
ShareThe first song and lead single from âJourneyman,â the Jerry Williams-written song kicked off the albumâs campaign properly, getting played on MTV and VH1 and topping the mainstream rock charts.
27. âThe Coreâ – âSlowhandâ (1977)
ShareThis song, a duet between Clapton and Marcy Levy (the two co-wrote the song as well), has one of Claptonâs catchiest riffs. Clocking in at eight minutes, forty-five seconds, itâs one of his longer studio jams, and it might have been a hit had it been cut down a bit. But rock radio loved it anyway, and itâs one of Claptonâs best rock songs of the â70s.
26. âBad Loveâ – âJourneymanâ (1989)
ShareAfter two albums produced by Phil Collins, Clapton moved on to Russ Titelman for âJourneyman.â But Collins joined him on this song, playing drums and singing backing vocals. Clapton co-wrote the song with Mick Jones of Foreigner, also no stranger to radio hits, and Clapton said that it was Jones who suggested a âBadgeâ-like guitar break in the song (which comes at the three-minute point). The song came through, topping the Mainstream Rock Songs chart and winning a Grammy for Best Male Vocal Performance.
25. âLay Down Sallyâ – âSlowhandâ (1977)
ShareClapton had a lot of success with covers in the â70s, so youâd be excused if you thought that the country shuffle âLay Down Sallyâ was someone elseâs song. In fact, Clapton co-wrote it with Marcy Levy (see âThe Core,â #27) and rhythm guitarist George Terry. Not only was it a number three pop single, it also hit #26 on Billboardâs Hot Country Songs chart.
24. âPromisesâ – âBacklessâ (1978)
ShareMuch like âLay Down Sally,â this is a laid-back mellow jam that isnât about fiery guitar playing; itâs more like Jimmy Buffett than Jeff Beck. The acoustic tune was something of a precursor to his âUnpluggedâ success, over a decade later.
23. âWhen The War Is Overâ – J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton – âThe Road To Escondidoâ (2006)
ShareDecades after scoring huge hits with âCocaineâ and âAfter Midnight,â Clapton teamed up with the man who wrote those songs, country-bluesman J.J. Cale, for a full album as a duo. Clapton rarely addresses politics in his songs, but in this jam (written by Cale, as is much of the album), the duo sing âWhen the war is over/itâll be a better day/But it won't bring back/Those poor boys in their graves,â itâs more of a statement of fact than a protest anthem.
22. âDouble Troubleâ – âNo Reason To Cryâ (1976)
ShareClapton never leaves the blues far behind: even in the midst of his country and reggae influenced laid back â70s era, he could still cook on a blues tune, as he does on this Otis Rush classic. And yes, Stevie Ray Vaughan named his band after this song.
21. âRiding With The Kingâ – B.B. King and Eric Clapton – âRiding With The Kingâ (2000)
ShareEric Clapton and B.B. Kingâs collaborative album felt like it was years in the making, and it was great that Clapton shared his platform with his idol (Clapton was a much bigger draw in 2000 than King was). But the album felt a bit polite. The title track, a cover of a John Hiatt song, was a hoot, and it holds up to both menâs catalogs.
20. âSheâs Waitingâ – âBehind The Sunâ (1985)
ShareClaptonâs first album for Warner Brothers Records, 1983âs âMoney And Cigarettes,â was a commercial flop (note that none of the songs from that album made this list, or even came close). So the record label recruited Phil Collins to produce the follow-up, âBehind The Sun.â âSheâs Waiting,â co-written by Clapton and Collinsâ occasional collaborator Peter Robinson, got decent play on rock radio and is easily one of his best â80s jams.
19. âHello Old Friendâ – âNo Reason To Cryâ (1976)
ShareThis sweet, whimsical acoustic based tune doesnât get the love that some of Claptonâs mellow â70s jams do, and thatâs a shame.
18. âForever Manâ – âBehind The Sunâ (1985)
ShareWritten for Clapton by Jerry Williams, this was the lead single from âBehind The Sun,â and it was a top 40 single. It also topped the Mainstream Rock Songs chart, successfully breaking him out of his âMoney and Cigarettesâ slump. Clapton rarely plays songs from this era, but he performed âForever Manâ as a duet on his tour with Steve Winwood in 2008.
17. âOld Loveâ – âJourneymanâ (1989)
ShareOf the many intimidating aspects of playing the blues, one of the most intimidating is: how do you write new songs that hold up with whatâs been done before by Muddy Waters, Howlinâ Wolf, B.B. King and John Lee Hooker? This song, which Clapton co-wrote with Robert Cray (who plays guitar on the track) feels like a blues classic in its own right.
16. âKnockinâ On Heavenâs Doorâ – single (1975)
ShareA decade before Guns Nâ Roses made this Bob Dylan song a huge rock hit, Eric Clapton put his spin on it, giving it a bit of a reggae tilt, in line with some of his mellower â70s material.
15. âThe Sky Is Cryingâ – âThereâs One In Every Crowdâ (1975)
ShareâThereâs One In Every Crowdâ isnât Claptonâs strongest album, and it definitely doesnât hold up to the previous two, but -- as is often the case -- Clapton finds his inspiration in the blues. The albumâs highlight is this Elmore James cover.
14. âRunning On Faithâ – âJourneymanâ (1989)
ShareâJourneymanâ has an embarrassment of riches, and we might argue that itâs Claptonâs strongest solo studio album. One song that never got the love it deserved, though, was this Jerry Williams-penned blues-gospel jam. Itâs âadultâ in all the right ways: it wasnât a song that necessarily screamed âput me on VH1!â But it was a song that a younger man probably couldnât have credibly sung.
13. âAll Our Past Timesâ – âNo Reason To Cryâ (1976)
ShareRecording âNo Reason To Cryâ at the Bandâs Shangri-La studios is probably as close as Clapton got to joining the Band. This song is a duet with the Bandâs bassist/singer Rick Danko, who co-wrote it with Clapton. They performed it at âThe Last Waltz,â although it was cut from the film and soundtrack.
12. âWonderful Tonightâ – âSlowhandâ (1977)
ShareItâs a testament to Claptonâs underappreciated songwriting ability that he wrote a beautiful love song inspired by the excessive amount of time that he had to wait for his date to get ready to go out. It was a top 20 hit and is probably Claptonâs most played song at weddings.
11. âSign Languageâ – âNo Reason To Cryâ (1976)
ShareClaptonâs friend Bob Dylan was often hanging around at Shangri-La studios during the making of the âNo Reason To Cryâ album. Dylan offered Clapton an unreleased song called âSeven Days,â which Clapton declined (Ron Wood ended up recording it). But Clapton did record Dylanâs âSign Languageâ with Dylanâs help. Wood contributes guitar to the song, as does the Bandâs Robbie Robertson.
10. âMy Fatherâs Eyesâ – âPilgrimâ (1998)
ShareFirst performed on âMTV Unpluggedâ (but not included on the album), Clapton revisited the song on his next studio album, the slickly produced âPilgrim.â After the tragic 1991 death of his four year old son, Conor, Clapton began reckoning with his own life. âMy Fatherâs Eyesâ deals with Claptonâs own father, who he never met. The song features some of Claptonâs best lyrics and demonstrates that when heâs inspired, Clapton is an A-list songwriter.
9. âDonât Think Twice, Itâs All Rightâ – âBob Dylan – The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebrationâ (1993)
ShareBob Dylanâs 30th anniversary concert, which took place at New Yorkâs Madison Square Garden in 1992, was filled with highlights, but Clapton had one of the very best moments with his take on one of Dylanâs angriest breakup songs.
8. âChange The Worldâ – âPhenomenon (soundtrack)â – (1996)
ShareThe R&B-tinged song for the soundtrack of the John Travolta film âPhenomenonâ paired Clapton with R&B superstar Babyface. It was a powerful combination, and the songâs impact dwarfed that of the film that it came from: âChange The Worldâ won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys.
7. âWhile My Guitar Gently Weepsâ – Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney – âConcert For Georgeâ (2003)
ShareA year after the Quiet Beatle passed on, a massive tribute concert in his honor was staged, with Clapton as the musical director. Clapton, of course, played the guitar solo on the Beatlesâ original version of the song. Watching Clapton and McCartney -- both of whom loved Harrison, but had complicated relationships with him -- backed by a band that included Ringo Starr on drums, was incredibly powerful and a fitting tribute.
6. âI Shot The Sheriffâ – â461 Ocean Boulevardâ (1974)
ShareFor many Americans, this was their introduction to reggae music. Recorded one year after Bob Marleyâs original version, Claptonâs cover was one of his biggest hits, topping the pop charts. Apparently Claptonâs band -- which included guitarist George Terry -- had to convince him to record the song.
5. âCocaineâ – âSlowhandâ (1977)
ShareOne of Claptonâs most enduringly popular solo jams, he stuck pretty close to the original J.J. Cale version of the song. Clapton, of course, had pretty well-documented issues with substances, giving this song a dark subtext. Clapton hasnât always performed it at his concerts over the years and when he does, he adds the lyrics âthat dirty cocaine.â Claptonâs feelings on drug use are clear: he has put tons of money, time and effort into his Crossroads Centre rehabilitation facility in Antigua.
4. âLaylaâ – âUnpluggedâ (1992)
ShareSo, weâve avoided Claptonâs solo versions of his classics from his prior bands here. But weâll make an exception for the âunpluggedâ version of the Derek & the Dominoes classic âLayla,â as it was so radically different from the original. The âunpluggedâ version slows down the iconic riff and eliminates Jim Gordonâs epic piano solo that closes the song. There are few other instances of such an iconic song getting such a successful second life: the original âLaylaâ is one of the most popular songs in rock radio history while the acoustic one was a number 4 pop hit, leading âUnpluggedâ to sell over 20 million copies worldwide, making it Claptonâs most successful album.
3. âAfter Midnightâ – âEric Claptonâ (1970)
ShareLike âCocaine,â âAfter Midnightâ was a J.J. Cale cover. But unlike âCocaine,â which stuck closely to Caleâs original arrangement, Claptonâs âAfter Midnightâ was way more upbeat than Caleâs. It became a signature tune for both artists. Cale told British magazine âMojoâ when he heard Claptonâs version on the radio in his car, he pulled over to the side of the road in shock. âI'd never heard anything of my own on the radio before.â Heâd probably hear a lot more over the years, with this song, as well as âCocaine,â not to mention Lynyrd Skynyrdâs cover of âCall Me The Breeze.â
2. âLet It Rainâ – âEric Claptonâ (1970)
ShareAfter Blind Faith dissolved, Eric Clapton briefly joined Delaney & Bonnie, the group who opened on Blind Faithâs tour. He then worked with members of the band on his solo debut; âLet It Rainâ was co-written with Bonnie Bramlett and was built around a clean, distinctive âBadgeâ-like guitar riff. Concise and catchy but with great guitar playing, it set the tone for Claptonâs greatest solo songs.
1. âTears In Heavenâ – âRush (Music From The Motion Picture)â – (1992)
ShareThe deceptively gentle song was shocking when Clapton fans first heard it. It was acoustic, it didnât sound like the blues, it was really unlike anything heâd ever done. Also, he was speaking more frankly about his life than he ever had before: the song was inspired by the tragic death of his four-year-old son, Conor. Such a personal song seemed like an odd choice for a film soundtrack. But like the best songs, itâs clear enough so that you know what itâs about, but vague enough that it could apply to everyoneâs life. So even though it doesnât have Claptonâs signature guitar heroics, itâs a blues song because we feel his pain, every time we hear it. As a songwriter, itâs his finest moment.
