Eric Clapton: No Reason To Cry - 1976

This is slightly different to Eric Clapton's other mid-seventies offerings in that although it is till made up of laid-back, bluesy folky rock, it is performed at The Band's studio with various members of The Band contributing throughout, thus making it sound very much like a Band album with Clapton guesting. 

You hear Robbie Robertson's guitar as much as Clapton's on Sign Language and that trademark Band organ is around a lot. Beautiful Thing is slow tempo and melodious, also in a Band sort of way. Carnival is a slightly incongruous mock-Caribbean upbeat rock number. It is lively enough, despite Clapton's naturally sleepy voice. 

The afore-mentioned Sign Language is a duet with Bob Dylan and sounds very much like it ought to be on Desire. It has a real vibe of that album about it. Dylan's vocal makes it very much a Dylan song. County Jail Blues is a muscular blues more typical of Clapton, but still very Band-esque in places, particularly the organ break. 

All Our Past Times is an Eagles-ish slow country ballad. The second half of the album is far more typical Clapton. Hello Old Friend is the most well-known of the songs on the album. It has a shuffling, melodic beat to it and another quiet, laconic vocal. This is the most easily identifiable song in the pop-rock style Clapton made his own in the mid-seventies. 

Double Trouble is a pretty convincing blues, with some quality guitar from Clapton.  The gospelly Innocent Times is actually sung by Marcy Levy, who co-wrote the song with Clapton. Her vocals also dominate the next track, the bluesy, shuffling Hungry. Black Summer Rain is a very 461 Ocean Boulevard-style number. Sleepy blues rock. Last Night is a solid blues to finish off what is a listenable album, but one that, for some reason, I do not return to very often.