Eric Clapton And His Band - Backless (1978)

A1 Walk Out In The Rain	4:10 	
A2 Watch Out For Lucy 	3:24 	
A3 I'll Make Love To You Anytime	3:21			play 	
A4 Roll It 	3:40 	
A5 Tell Me That You Love Me 	3:30 	
B1 If I Don't Be There By Morning	4:35 	
B2 Early In The Morning 	5:25 	
B3 Promises	3:01 									play	
B4 Golden Ring 	3:30 	
B5 Tulsa Time	3:30 	

Credits:
    Bass, Vocals – Carl Radle
    Drums, Vocals – Jamie Oldaker
    Guitar – George Terry
    Guitar, Lead Vocals – Eric Clapton
    Keyboards – Dick Sims
    Performer – Eric Clapton And His Band
    Producer – Glyn Johns
    Vocals – Marcy Levy

In its way, Backless is a seductive record, if you're attracted to the interplay of Clapton's dolorous voice and Marcy Levy's raspy backup vocals, George Terry's slide guitar and Glyn Johns' pristine production. It's disheartening only if you're still looking for a Clapton album with a hint of power and fire he brought to his best work -- from Bluesbreakers to Layla. Me, I made my peace with great expectations a while back. I like the new LP, but it wouldn't make any difference if I didn't.

There's nothing calamitous on it. Oh, the the two Bob Dylan songs must have been dredged up from the Sub-Basement Tapes, but "Walk Out in the Rain" contains a line that may be Dylan's definitive statement for this epoch: "If you don't want my love, it's a pity." And J.J. Cale's "I'll Make Love to You Anytime" must be the most dispassionate statement of those sentiments ever written. But even the "Lay Down Sally" remakes ("Watch Out for Lucy," "Promises," "Golden Ring") are redeemed, most often by Terry's stinging slide work. Clapton records are still a guitar fan's delight, only as often as not, it isn't Clapton's guitar that incites the listener.

There are times when Eric Clapton and his Tulsa compatriots sound like a Midwest/British version of the Band. This is noticeable immediately on "If I Don't Be There by Morning," the album's second Dylan item and its Big Mumble. It comes through in the rolling accordion notes of "Golden Ring" and on "Tulsa Time," the only attempt Backless makes to rock out.

But Clapton almost never sounds like the Clapton of legend. He comes closest, naturally, on "Early in the Morning," a traditional blues all too obviously intended as a piece of filler on side two. For all of you still holding out for something bigger (or better), I can only recommend the immortal words of Howlin' Wolf:

    I asked her for water 
    She brought me gasoline 
    That's the terriblest water 
    That I ever seen. 

Slowhand knows what I mean.

- Dave Marsh, Rolling Stone, 12-28-78.

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