Eric Clapton: Journeymen - 1989

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After spending most of the eighties courting the AOR market, albeit successfully, Eric Clapton tried, with this album, to launch himself as a credible, hard-hitting mainstream rocker. It was not a bad effort either, despite the eighties synthesisers still floating around in the background. 

A lot of the blues had gone, however. It is far more "AOR rock" than "blues rock" and Clapton gained a new audience of late thirties-forty somethings who regularly sold out his Royal Albert Hall concerts. 

Pretending is a muscular, guitar and organ-driven opener, full of backing vocals and a strong vocal from Clapton himself. His vocals are more attacking and forceful than they have been in the past. Anything For Your Love is a melodic, standard piece of rock of its time. Bad Love is probably the most well-known track on the album. It has a synth beginning worthy of eighties-era Fleetwood Mac, but then Clapton's guitar kicks in but then it is back to that easy, driving feeling. Just before the chorus it has shades of Layla. Clapton contributes a searing solo in the middle too. 

Running On Faith is a sort of Wonderful Tonight remake, that ends with lots of gospel backing vocals. Hard Times is one of the album's concessions to the blues. It is a laid-back, sleepy blues with some sumptuous saxophone in the middle. Elvis's Hound Dog is covered convincingly, with a committed, rasping Clapton vocal. No Alibis, it has to be said, is a classic slice of late eighties stadium-style, big production rock. It is the most representative of its time, but I still like it. 

Run So Far is a Paul McCartney-ish tuneful number, all very harmless, though. Old Love is a slick piece of adult rock. Clapton's voice is particularly soulful on here. Breaking Point is in the same vein, but more pulsating and solid. 

Lead Me On is a tender love song, with female backing vocals to the fore and Clapton giving us his Wonderful Tonight voice once more. Before You Accuse Me is a fine, rocking blues cover to finish on. The only real piece of rousing blues rock on the album. This was a better album than much of his eighties offerings, but I still prefer his bluesier material.

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