No Alibis Explained

No Alibis
Cover:No_Alibis_single_cover.jpg
Caption:Australian single cover
Type:single
Artist:Eric Clapton
Album:Journeyman
B-Side:Running on Faith
Released:March 1990
Genre:Blues rock
Length:5:32 album
4:04 single edit
Label:Reprise Records
Producer:Russ Titelman
Prev Title:Bad Love
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:Run So Far
Next Year:1990

"No Alibis" is a track from Eric Clapton's 1989 album Journeyman.[1] It was released as a single in a shortened version, with "Running on Faith" (also on the Journeyman album) as the B-side. The 12" single and CD maxi-singles, both released the following year, included the longer album version and also added live versions of "Behind the Mask" and "Cocaine", respectively. The live versions were recorded at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England in July 1986.[2]

"No Alibis" is one of the more commercial rock songs from that record. Author Marc Roberty describes it as "a strong, anthem-like song." The song, written by longtime collaborator Jerry Lynn Williams, combines Clapton's rough, seasoned vocals with guest vocalist Daryl Hall's light vocals. The lyrics are about a man asking his girlfriend or wife not to lie to him further, suggesting that all the lies she tells make the situation worse. During the Journeyman World Tour, performances of this song were particularly energetic. It became a live favorite.[3]

In Clapton's autobiography, he describes that he wrote the songs with Williams, who was credited exclusively, but that Clapton was betrayed by his former partner Lory Del Santo.[4]

The single release of the song reached number 53 on the British charts and stayed there for three weeks.[5] [6] On the US charts, the single reached number 4 on the mainstream rock charts, though it did not enter the Hot 100.[7]

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. http://www.allmusic.com/album/journeyman-mw0000654245 Journeyman – Eric Clapton | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic
  2. http://www.discogs.com/Eric-Clapton-No-Alibis/master/289850 Eric Clapton - No Alibis
  3. Book: The Complete Guide to the Music of Eric Clapton. Roberty, M.. 123. Omnibus Press. 1995. 0711943052.
  4. Eric Clapton. Eric Clapton: The Autobiography. 2007
  5. Web site: British Chart. Official Charts Company. 16 October 2010.
  6. Web site: Artist Chart History: Eric Clapton . The Official UK Charts Company . 17 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110615183610/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/eric%20clapton/ . 15 June 2011.
  7. http://www.allmusic.com/album/journeyman-mw0000654245/awards Journeyman – Eric Clapton | Awards | AllMusic