Search - Eric Clapton :: Behind the Sun

Produced by Phil Collins / Templeton - rebirth of Clapton

Darren S. Wools | minneapolis | 01/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"(1985) I think this album is a new dawning for Clapton. He's clean & reinvigorated & for the first time really focused on production & muscianship. First of all, Clapton & Collins (by this time) had been friends for almost ten years. They had played togther with John Martyn (1981), Steven Bishop (1981), & on Collins's Face Value (1981). So clapton didn't just recruit collins because he was the most sought-after producer/drummer of the 80s. He recruited him because he deeply respected Phil's ability to produce, motivate musicians, unlock hidden talent, & take them to a higher peak of perfection. Another notable about Collins was he was never a drunk or junky. He was a music man & very professional. 12-16 hour studio days aren't possible if you're all screwed up on dope. Now that Clapton was clean from heroin he could seriously focus on his music & there was noone better to recruit then Collins(known as the busiest man in Rock). Clapton's best attribute is being humble & modest. he has played with so many people because he wants to constantly change & improve. This is why Phil Collins produced & toured with him. ted Templeton (van halen / doobie brothers) also produced 3 of the 11 tracks here (forever man / something's happening / see what love can do). There are alot of musicians on this one including nathan east (bass), greg phillinganes (keyboards), john robinson (brand x & phil collins touring keyboardist), jamie oldaker (drums), jeff porcoro of TOTO (drums), ray cooper (percussion), steve lukather of TOTO (guitar), Donald duck Dunn (bass), marcy levy (long time clapton vocalist/cowriter), & many others. The opening track "She's Waiting" explodes with strong drumming & hard rhythm keyboard tracks indicating that Phil Collins was conducting this train & Clapton was more than happy to let him. Even though Jamie Oldaker was drumming there's no doubt who was fuelling his rhythm patterns (Collins). There is also a great bluesy track called same old blues that is more or less a 1980s blues song that is powerful & compelling. Throughout the album you can hear the strong Phil Collins trademark drum patterns & production. On "Tangled in Love" the sequencer pattern used is so genesis-like that you would think that rutherford & banks (genesis pals) are in the studio as well. Clapton's vocal performances are also the strongest he's ever recorded again indicating that Collins must have pushed him to push himself vocally. The collins/clapton relationship would continue on the road (phil at drums) at LIVE AID, on tour with East & Phillinganes (producing an awesome 1986 Montreaux Festival appearance), & on another album in 1986 called August which would prove to be another huge album. A great producer can bring out amazing potential in a musician & that is what Phil Collins did with Clapton & also Robert Plant. Clapton & Collins continued to work together on other albums including But Seriously & Journeyman. This relationship, I think, created some of the best produced & most mature music of the 1980s & early 1990s. At this time (1985-86) Collins was very busy balancing his own solo work (no jacket required - 1985) & genesis's 1986 invisible touch but he would find breaks during tours & albums to work with clapton again & again indicating that their relationship was very important to them."