ARTIST: Eric Clapton
TITLE: No Reason to Cry
YEAR RELEASED: 1976
CHART ACTION: #15 US, #8 UK
SINGLES: Hello Old Friend (#24), Carnival
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Sign Language
LINEUP: Eric Clapton, the Band, Yvonne Ellman, Bob Dylan, Ron Wood, Carl Radle, and so many others.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Clapton rallies a bit, and makes an album that’s not boring.
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: Breaking out of the torpor of his previous album, Eric Clapton worked with The Band at their studio, and had a duet with Bob Dylan on the latter’s “Sign Language”. As with any duet with Dylan, Bob’s got his own rhythm, and his gruff growl and Clapton’s reedy voice (which is raspy this time around too) don’t mesh that well, but at least it’s played well by The Band.
Elsewhere, there are a couple of blues tunes, songs written by Rick Danko, and the typical laid-back shuffles that Clapton was specializing in during this time. There’s some energy here, though. I credit The Band.
It’s not a masterpiece, but at least Clapton’s on the right path here.
NOTES & MINUTIAE: Dylan was just hanging around, and not only growled a duet with Clapton, offered another track. Clapton passed, but Ron Wood, also hanging out, grabbed the song “Seven Days” for his solo album.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No
GRADE: B: At least you won’t fall asleep here.