Complete Clapton Explained

Complete Clapton
Type:greatest
Artist:Eric Clapton
Cover:complete_clapton.jpg
Released:9 October 2007
Recorded:1966–2006
Genre:Rock · blues · pop
Label:Reprise · Polydor
Prev Title:The Road to Escondido
Prev Year:2006
Next Title:Live from Madison Square Garden
Next Year:2009

Complete Clapton is a greatest hits collection by British rock musician Eric Clapton, released on 9 October 2007 to accompany Clapton's official autobiography.

Release

The two-disc collection was released on 9 October 2007 to accompany Eric Clapton's official autobiography, Clapton: The Autobiography, released that same year (see also 2007 in music). An exclusive edition sold through Barnes & Noble bookstores in the United States included a bonus compact disc with four additional tracks.[1] As with The Rolling Stones' Forty Licks, each disc has been compiled by different record companies: disc one, virtually identical to The Cream of Clapton by Polydor, and disc two by Warner Bros. Records. Clapton helped to promote the album by being interviewed by Matt Lauer on the Today Show in 2007.[2]

Critical reception

AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine quickly notes that this compilation "doesn't even attempt to cover as much ground as his landmark four-disc 1988 box set Crossroads", but also recalls Complete Clapton "covers the nearly 20 years that have elapsed since the release of Crossroads, a time frame which includes the blockbuster success of his 1992 Unplugged, its all-blues 1994 follow-up From the Cradle, and many soft adult contemporary hits from the late '90s". Erlewine rounds his review up by saying it: "turns Complete Clapton into a portrait of Clapton the classic rocker" and "does hit the obvious highlights well and serves as a good hits package for the casual and curious fan, and in that sense, it works as a good companion piece to Clapton's autobiography".

Commercial success

The compilation debuted at number 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200.[3] It also peaked at number two on the British albums chart, compiled by the Official Charts Company.

Track listing

All songs are by Eric Clapton, except where noted.

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Chart (2007–2022)Peak
position
Irish Albums (IRMA)[4] 15
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[5] 17
US Top Internet Albums (Billboard)[6] 14

Year-end charts

Chart (2007)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 41
Chart (2019)Position
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[8] 67
Chart (2020)Position
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[9] 45
Chart (2021)Position
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[10] 42

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Complete Clapton Two CD Set available October 9 2007. whereseric.com. 10 August 2015.
  2. Web site: Eric Clapton on life, love, music, drugs – Entertainment. Today.com. The Today Show. 10 August 2015.
  3. Web site: Eric Clapton – Complete Clapton worldwide chart positions and trajectories. aCharts.us. 23 October 2007.
  4. Web site: Irish Charts Archive: Irish Charts Week 41 – 2007 . Irish Recorded Music Association . Fireball Media . ASP . 3 February 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324070908/http://www.irma.ie/charts_archive/week41_07.asp . 24 March 2012 .
  5. Web site: Official Album Downloads Chart Top 50. officialcharts.com. The Official Charts Company. 3 February 2016.
  6. Web site: Complete Clapton – Eric Clapton | Awards . AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. 3 February 2016.
  7. Web site: End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2007. Official Charts Company. 4 August 2020.
  8. Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2019. Billboard. 4 August 2020.
  9. Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2020. Billboard. 31 March 2021.
  10. Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. 18 January 2022.