With yesterday's review of Eric Clapton's Money And Cigarettes, I had a bit of hopes that things would stay on par, or perhaps get better. This leads me to today's post, and listening session of 1985's Behind The Sun.
What I will say before diving in is that my absolute favorite song from Clapton, Heaven Is One Step Away, was released this same year on the Back To The Future soundtrack. Not only was I hoping this tune would be on the album, it wasn't, but that as a whole, Behind The Sun would have a familiar sound to that of the single.
Reading the liner notes, I also got excited to see that Phil Collins contributed extensively to the album, both as a producer, and musician on multiple instruments, as well as backing vocals. Okay, this was setting the stage, and high expectations. If there was one thing Collins could do in 1985, it was create massive hits.
Siked up, I dove in, being treated immediately to a tune I had forgotten about, She's Waiting. Now, don't get me wrong here. While I say I remember it, that's not to be misconstrued as necessary liking it. In fact, that seemed to the trend with this album. Songs I had forgotten about, such as the cover of Eddie Floyd's Knock On Wood. Again, familiar, but not necessarily a favorite.
It was very noticeable that Clapton was focusing on guitar solos on Sun. There are moments where he just jams out, and these are cool. Like I've said before, he's a solid guitar player. It's his lyrics, and overall style of rhythm and blues that don't really work for my personal tastes.
Behind The Sun's strongest point is that it features Clapton's number one hit, Forever Man, which at first I didn't recognize with the opening guitar. However, once the vocals started, I gave an audible, "Yes!" For a brief moment in time, I was actually excited about hearing one of his albums. Good stuff, for sure! The guitars in that track are so slick and polished.
Tunes picked up from here with It All Depends, and Tangled In Love keeping me invested. However, this momentum would crash with the very slow, very monotonous Never Make You Cry. Poised to drone on for six (plus) minutes, I finally skipped it around the four minute mark.
Things did pick up briefly with Just Like A Prisoner, mainly for the vocal style, and guitar work. However, the title track itself, which closes everything out, was mediocre, at best.
We'll call Behind The Sun decent. Good enough to keep me going through the remaining 80's albums from Clapton with minimal grumbling, for now.
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS June 29, 1985 |
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