In 1985 Eric played on one track on Paul BradyвЂ™s album, Back To The Centre вЂњDeep In Your HeartвЂќ is one of the less well known of his guest appearances, but it is beautiful.

We cannot include tracks from every Clapton solo album so weвЂ™ve jumped to 1977вЂ™s Slowhand and weвЂ™ve chosen the passionate вЂњPeaches and Diesel,вЂќВ an instrumental coda to вЂњWonderful TonightвЂќ that was the only choice to be the closing track of the album even though itвЂ™s instrumental, itвЂ™s still lyrical.Д¬ome 1983 and Eric released the album, Money and Cigarettes, and weвЂ™ve picked вЂњCrosscut SawвЂќ a song that was first released in 1941 by bluesman Tommy McClennan and later became an R&B chart hit for Albert King, another one of EricвЂ™s guitar heroes.Д®ric Clapton throughout his career appeared on albums by musical friends and his guitar playing has enhanced many albums, from Billy Preston, Doris Troy, Delaney and Bonnie, and Stephen Stills to George Harrison, Stephen Bishop, Marc Benno, and Phil Collinsto name just some. ItвЂ™s a song that introduced a whole new audience to Eric. It shows EricвЂ™s love of Robert Johnson and he had first played this song during his time with Cream.Д®ricвЂ™s 461 Ocean Blvd album from 1974 includes ClaptonвЂ™s cover of Bob MarleyвЂ™s вЂњI Shot the SheriffвЂ™ and it went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released as a single. ItвЂ™s intense and it epitomises this brilliant band.Д®ven before the Layla album appeared the band was touring and weвЂ™ve included their cover of вЂњCrossroadsвЂќ from Live at the Fillmore. Now we could have picked the title track, but instead have gone for the вЂњNobody Knows You When YouвЂ™re Down and OutвЂќ a blues song written by Jimmy Cox in 1923 and made popular by Bessie Smith. Within days of EricвЂ™s debut solo album coming out he began recording the album that became Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. ClaptonвЂ™s debut solo album was released in the summer of 1970 and weвЂ™ve picked EricвЂ™s iconic cover of JJ CaleвЂ™s вЂњAfter Midnight.вЂќ

The Demise of Cream heralded the coming of Blind Faith, the band that included Stevie Winwood and weвЂ™ve chosen вЂњPresence of the LordвЂќ a song written by Eric. Later after HarrisonвЂ™s passing, Clapton would join Paul McCartney on stage at the famous Concert For George to perform HarrisonвЂ™s iconic song, вЂњWhile My Guitar Gently Weeps.вЂќ Of course, the two men would go on to record many times together. Four albums and two and a half years later Cream were saying, Goodbye, and it includes the brilliant вЂњBadgeвЂќ a song written by Eric and his new friend George Harrison. From their debut Fresh Cream, weвЂ™ve picked вЂњSpoonful,вЂќВ a song written by Big Willie Dixon and recorded by Chess legend, HowlinвЂ™ Wolf. Cream was to become the template for just about every other hard rock band that followed вЂ“ the epitome of the guitar, bass, and drums line up. Just as The Beano album was being released, in July 1966, Eric was forming a new вЂњsupergroup,вЂќ with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. Two years later, Eric was in the studio with John MayallвЂ™s Bluesbreakers recording what we have all come to call вЂњThe BeanoвЂќ album, and вЂњSteppin OutвЂќ comes from this much-loved recording.

When it comes to highlighting the best Eric Clapton songs, letвЂ™s begin with вЂњFive Long Years,вЂќ naturally itвЂ™s a blues tune and it dates from EricвЂ™s days with the Yardbirds and it was recorded at the Marquee Club in London on March 13, 1964, Eric вЂњSlowhandвЂќ Clapton was 18 years old.

Best eric clapton songs