Eric Clapton was contracted to Polydor Records from 1966 to 1981, first as a member of
Cream, then
Blind Faith, and later as a solo artist and as the leader of
Derek and the Dominos. The 19-track, 79-minute
Cream of Clapton disc surveys his career, presenting an excellent selection from the period, including the
Cream hits "Sunshine of Your Love," "White Room," and "Crossroads"; "Presence of the Lord,"
Clapton's finest moment with
Blind Faith; "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Layla" from
Derek and the Dominos; and 11 songs from
Clapton's solo work, among them the hits "I Shot the Sheriff," "Promises," and "I Can't Stand It." The selection is thus broader and better than that found on 1982's
Time Pieces collection, and with excellent sound and liner notes by
Clapton biographer Ray Coleman,
The Cream of Clapton stands as the single-disc best-of to own for
Clapton's greatest recordings. [Not to be confused with the popular 1987 Polydor (U.K.) compilation The Cream of Eric Clapton.] ~ William Ruhlmann