Eric Clapton – Journeyman

Released immediately following the elaborate Crossroads box set, Journeyman is EC’s way of feigning humility while cranking out the blues for his attentive audience. Featuring the help of famous sidemen George Harrison, Phil Collins, Robert Cray, Chaka Khan, and David Sanborn, Journeyman is less a superstar romp than a moderate collection of songs tastefully produced and economically performed. Flashes of Clapton’s lead work burst through while his singing remains modest. The cover of ”Before You Accuse Me” is heartfelt and while Clapton may at this point be incapable of delivering the down and dirty power of jukejoint blues, he still manages to find a little bit o’ soul among the pickings. –Rob O’Connor