Backtrackin' is a two-disc compilation album by Eric Clapton spanning the years 1966 to 1980. It was released in 1984. The compilation contains all of Clapton's best known songs with Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, and his solo 1970s work through his 1980 live album Just One Night. This compilation album is made in Germany and is only available in the United States as an import. It was originally released by Starblend Records, and has since been reissued by Polydor Records. This 2 CD compilation is currently out of print in some markets while still available in some form in others.
Eric Clapton – guitars, vocals (all tracks except A8 and B6) Yvonne Elliman – backing vocals (A1, A2, A3, A5, A6 and B9) George Terry – backing vocals (A1), guitar (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, B1 and B9) Dick Sims – organ (A1, A2, A5 and A6), Keyboards (A4 and B1) Albhy Galuten – piano (A1) Carl Radle – bass (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A10, A11, B1, B4, B5, B8 and B9), percussion (A11) Jamie Oldaker – drums (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, B1 and B9) Marcy Levy – backing vocals (A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and B9) Jack Bruce – bass (A7, A8, A9, B2, B3, B7), vocals (A7, A8, B2, B3 and B7), Harmonica (B3 and B7) Ginger Baker – drums (A7, A8, A9, B2, B3, B6 and B7) Felix Pappalardi – keyboards (A9) George Harrison (credited as L'Angelo Misterioso) – rhythm guitar (A9) Duane Allman – guitar (A10, A11, B5 and B8) Bobby Whitlock – keyboards (A10, A11 and B5), acoustic guitar (A11), organ (B4 and B8) Jim Gordon – drums (A10, A11, B4, B5 and B8), piano (A11) Rita Coolidge – backing vocals (B4) Delaney Bramlett – backing vocals (B4), rhythm guitar (B4) Bonny Bramlett – backing vocals (B4) Leon Russell – piano (B4) Stevie Winwood – keyboards (B6), vocals (B6) Rich Grech – bass (B6) Chris Stainton – keyboards (B10 and B11) Albert Lee – guitar (B10 and B11), keyboards (B10 and B11), vocals (B10 and B11) Dave Markee – bass (B10 and B11) Henry Spinetti – drums (B10 and B11)
Disc 1
I Shot the Sheriff (Bob Marley) – 4:26
Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan) – 4:26
Lay Down Sally (Eric Clapton, Marcy Levy, George Terry) – 3:55
Promises (Richard Feldman, Roger Linn) – 3:05
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Traditional, arr. by Clapton) – 3:35
Wonderful Tonight (Clapton) – 3:45
Sunshine of Your Love (Pete Brown, Jack Bruce, Clapton) – 4:14 + Cream
Tales of Brave Ulysses (Clapton, Martin Sharp) – 2:50 + Cream
Badge (Clapton, George Harrison) – 2:46 + Cream
Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix) – 5:38 + Derek & The Dominos
Layla (Clapton, Jim Gordon*) – 7:10 + Derek & The Dominos
Let It Rain (Bonnie Bramlett, Delaney Bramlett, Clapton) – 5:08
Have You Ever Loved a Woman? (Billy Myles) – 7:04 + Derek & The Dominos
Presence of the Lord (Clapton) – 4:49 + Blind Faith
Crossroads (Live) (Robert Johnson) – 4:17 + Cream
Roll It Over (Live) (Clapton, Bobby Whitlock) – 6:39 + Derek & The Dominos
Can't Find My Way Home (Live) (Steve Winwood) – 5:16
Blues Power (Live) (Clapton, Leon Russell) – 7:26
Further on Up the Road (Live) (Joe Medwick, Don Robey) – 7:08
*Gordon was credited with contributing the elegiac piano coda for the title track, "Layla". In later years, Whitlock claimed that the coda was not actually written by Gordon: "Jim took that piano melody from his ex-girlfriend Rita Coolidge. I know because in the D&B days I lived in John Garfield's old house in the Hollywood Hills and there was a guest house with an upright piano in it. Rita and Jim were up there in the guest house and invited me to join in on writing this song with them called 'Time'. (Her sister Priscilla wound up recording it with Booker T. Jones) Jim took the melody from Rita's song and didn't give her credit for writing it. Her boyfriend ripped her off". Graham Nash (who later dated Coolidge) substantiated Whitlock's claim in his memoir. "Time" was not released by Priscilla Coolidge and Booker T. until 1973, on their album Chronicles.
