Eric Clapton – Pilgrim (1998)

1. "My Father's Eyes" (Eric Clapton) – 5:24
2. "River of Tears" (Clapton, Simon Climie) – 7:22
3. "Pilgrim" (Clapton, Simon Climie) – 5:50
4. "Broken Hearted" (Clapton, Greg Phillinganes) – 7:52
5. "One Chance" (Clapton, Simon Climie) – 5:55
6. "Circus" (Clapton) – 4:11
7. "Going Down Slow" (St. Louis Jimmy) – 5:19
8. "Fall Like Rain" (Clapton) – 3:50
9. "Born in Time" (Bob Dylan) – 4:41
10. "Sick & Tired" (Clapton, Simon Climie) – 5:43
11. "Needs His Woman" (Clapton) – 3:45
12. "She's Gone" (Clapton, Simon Climie) – 4:45
13. "You Were There" (Clapton) – 5:31
14. "Inside of Me" (Clapton, Simon Climie) – 5:25
15. "Theme From A Movie That Never Happened" - 3:31

Paul Brady 	Tin Whistle, Vocals (Background)
Dave Bronze 	Bass, Guitar (Bass)
Paul Carrack 	Guest Artist, Organ (Hammond)
Chyna 	Vocals (Background)
Eric Clapton 	Guitar, Vocals
Simon Climie 	Drum Programming, Keyboard Programming, Keyboards, Vocals (Background)
Nathan East 	Bass, Guitar (Bass)
Kenneth Edmonds 	Vocals (Background)
Steve Gadd 	Drums
Nick Ingman 	String Arrangements
Louis Jardim 	Bass, Percussion
Luis Jardim 	Percussion
Ruth Kelly-Clapton 	Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part, Talking
The London Session Orchestra 	Strings
Andy Fairweather Low 	Guitar
Pino Palladino 	Bass, Guitar (Bass)
Greg Phillinganes 	Composer, Keyboards
Tony Rich 	Vocals (Background)
Joe Sample 	Piano
Chris Stainton 	Organ (Hammond)
Paul Waller 	Drum Programming, Programming 

One strange thing about Eric Clapton's '90s success is that it relied almost entirely on covers and new versions of classic hits; he released no albums of new material between 1989's Journeyman and 1998's Pilgrim. In the decade between the two albums, he had two new hits -- his moving elegy to his deceased son, "Tears in Heaven," and the slick contemporary soul of the Babyface-written "Change the World" -- and Pilgrim tries to reach a middle ground between these two extremes, balancing tortured lyrics with smooth sonic surfaces. Working with producer Simon Climie, his collaborator on the TDF side project, Clapton has created a numbingly calm record that, for all of its lyrical torment, displays no emotion whatsoever. Much of the problem lies in the production, which relies entirely on stiff mechanical drumbeats, gauzy synthesizers, and meandering instrumental interludes. These ingredients could result in a good record, as "Change the World" demonstrated, but not here, due to Pilgrim's monotonous production. Unfortunately, Clapton doesn't want to shake things up -- his singing is startlingly mannered, even on emotionally turbulent numbers like "My Father's Eyes" or "Circus." Even worse, he's content to take a back seat instrumentally, playing slight solos and fills as colorless as the electronic backdrops. The deadened sonics would make Pilgrim a chore even if there were strong songs on the record, but only a handful of tunes break through the murk. Considering that Journeyman, his last album of original material, was a fine workmanlike effort and that From the Cradle and Unplugged crackled with vitality, the blandness of Pilgrim is all the more disappointing. ---Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic Review

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