January 2000
Eric Clapton
Eric clapton****
The Best of
(Wea)
This is, of course, not the first collection of Clapton hits, nor will it be the last. A cynic could point out that the release is a well-timed Christmas offer. But the fact is, Chronicles is not exclusively a rehash
of radio hits — the material presented here is a
delightful mix of rediscovered studio tracks, soundtrack numbers and live performances. Along with classics delivered a bit differently, such as Layla and My Father’s Eyes, the CD boasts such seldom-heard tracks as Barcelona Gold, written for the 1992 Olympics in Spain. Chronicles does just what its
title implies — and what
a career it honors.