Backless
{{for|the dress type|Backless dress}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Backless
| type = studio
| artist = Eric Clapton
| cover = Eric_Clapton_Backless.jpg
| alt =
| released = November 1978
| recorded = 1978
| studio = Olympic, London{{Cite web|url=https://olympicstudiosrecords.co.uk/archive|title=Olympic Studios Records - Archive|website=Olympicstudiosrecords.co.uk|access-date=5 December 2022}}
| genre = Rock
| length = 41:01
| label = RSO
| producer = Glyn Johns
| prev_title = Slowhand
| prev_year = 1977
| next_title = Just One Night
| next_year = 1980
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Backless
| type = Album
| single1 = Promises
| single1date = September 1978
| single2 = If I Don't Be There by Morning
| single2date = March 1979{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-03-10.pdf|title=Music Week|page=36}}
}}
}}
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.
Critical reception
{{Album reviews
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |title=Eric Clapton - Backless |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/backless-mw0000189372 |website=AllMusic}}
| rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide
| rev2Score = B−{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: C|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=C&bk=70|access-date=February 23, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}
|rev3 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
|rev3score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |pages=135, 136}}
}}
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."{{cite news |title=Backless Eric Clapton |work=The Globe and Mail |date=15 Nov 1978 |page=F9}}
Track listing
- "Walk Out in the Rain" (Bob Dylan, Helena Springs) – 4:16
- "Watch Out for Lucy" (Eric Clapton) – 3:26
- "I'll Make Love to You Anytime" (J. J. Cale) – 3:23
- "Roll It" (Clapton, Marcy Levy) – 3:42
- "Tell Me That You Love Me" (Clapton) – 3:31
- "If I Don't Be There by Morning" (Dylan, Springs) – 4:38
- "Early in the Morning" (Traditional, arranged by Clapton) – 5:25 (LP)/7:58 (CD)
- "Promises" (Richard Feldman, Roger Linn) – 3:04
- "Golden Ring" (Clapton) – 3:32
- "Tulsa Time" (Danny Flowers) – 3:28
Singles
- 1978 – "Promises" (#37 UK Singles Chart; #9 US Billboard Hot 100) b/w "Watch Out for Lucy" (#40 US Billboard Hot 100)
- 1979 – "If I Don't Be There by Morning"
Personnel
- Eric Clapton – guitars, lead vocals
- 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.
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (1978-1979)
!Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}
| align="center" | 16 |
| {{Album chart|Austria|24|artist=Eric Clapton|album=Backless|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2024}} |
| {{Album chart|Canada|6|artist=Eric Clapton|album=Backless|chartid=0102a|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2024}} |
| {{Album chart|Netherlands|22|artist=Eric Clapton|album=Backless|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2024}} |
| scope="row" | Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=48|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Eric Clapton|page=48|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|language=fi}}
| align="center" | 28 |
| scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite book |title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 |publisher=Oricon Entertainment |location=Roppongi, Tokyo |year=2006 |isbn=4-87131-077-9 |language=ja}}
|align="center"|53 |
| {{Album chart|New Zealand|22|artist=Eric Clapton|album=Backless|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2024}} |
| {{Album chart|Norway|2|artist=Eric Clapton|album=Backless|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2024}} |
| {{Album chart|Sweden|28|artist=Eric Clapton|album=Backless|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2024}} |
| {{Album chart|UK2|18|date=19781203|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2024}} |
| {{Album chart|Billboard200|8|artist=Eric Clapton|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2024}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Backless|artist=Eric Clapton|relyear=1978|region=Canada|award=Platinum|access-date=January 1, 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Backless|artist=Eric Clapton|relyear=1978|region=United Kingdom|award=Silver|access-date=January 1, 2016|id=676-3230-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Backless|artist=Eric Clapton|relyear=1978|region=United States|award=Platinum|access-date=January 1, 2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Eric Clapton|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}