Eric Clapton - "Back Home"

With 40 solo albums in his discography, Clapton has earned the right to relax and produce a "feel good" album

This album couldn’t have been more aptly named. From beginning to end, it is a cozy, homey, comfortable feel which, one suspects, is exactly what the artist intended. The title track – the only one on which Clapton takes full writing credit – speaks of being “on the road too long” and feeling the need “to get back home.”

There’s a definite bluesy feel to the album, but it is a semi-soft, orchestral, Motown kind of blues, not the electric, moaning variety that some fans may be expecting. The overall mood is upbeat.

A good case can be made that after 40 solo albums, Clapton has earned the right to produce one that puts his guitar work in a secondary role, but some fans won’t be happy about it. Perhaps they will be consoled by a list of guest artists that includes Billy Preston, Steve Winwood, Vince Gill, and Stephen Marley, to name just a few.

The 12 tracks are evenly split between Clapton originals and covers, most notably of George Harrison’s Love Comes To Everyone, Vince Gill’s One Day, and Stevie Wonder’s I’m Going Left.

Back Home is a showcase of Clapton’s softer side, which may be nature’s way of saying that it’s okay to slow down and relax a little when you’re 60!