Crossroads (Eric Clapton album)

Crossroads
Box set by
Eric Clapton
Released18 April 1988 (1988-04-18)
Recorded1963–1987
GenreBlues rock
Length293:03
LabelPolydor
CompilerBill Levenson
Eric Clapton chronology
The Cream of Eric Clapton
(1987) 		Crossroads
(1988) 		Journeyman
(1989)

Crossroads is a 1988 music collection box set of the work of Eric Clapton released by Polydor Records.[1] The set includes his work with the Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends and Derek and the Dominos, as well as his solo career.

Several live or alternative studio recordings were previously unreleased. Anthony DeCurtis contributed the liner notes to the album, and The Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood painted the album's cover. Mitchell Kanner designed the package and, along with Michael Bays, art directed the package.[2] Crossroads was mastered by Greg Calbi and compiled by Bill Levenson.[3] The four-disc box set sold more than four million copies worldwide and was presented with six awards, including two Grammy Awards awarded in 1989. With high commercial success and positive critical response, this is Clapton's most-purchased box set to date.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rolling Stone[4]
AllMusic[5]

The critics for Billboard magazine noted mostly the production work, besides the compilations track listing stating: "Compiler Levenson has unearthed some superb rarities for the set, and Anthony DeCurtis contributes intelligent annotation. Classy package and bounty of unheard material will attract Slowhand's legion of fans".[2] Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke really liked the boxed set and awarded the release an extremely rare five-star rating in April 1988.[4] In his review for the American music website AllMusic, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine presented the album with five out of five possible stars, rating the release as an AllMusic top album and notes:

[...] Clapton's set was a bona fide blockbuster. And it's easy to see why. Crossroads manages to sum up Clapton's career succinctly and thoroughly, touching upon all of his hits and adding a bevy of first-rate unreleased material (most notably selections from the scrapped second Derek and the Dominos album). Although not all of his greatest performances are included on the set – none of his work as a session musician or guest artist is included, for instance – every truly essential item he recorded is present on these four discs. No other Clapton album accurately explains why the guitarist was so influential, or demonstrates exactly what he accomplished.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic[5]

Awards

Year Ceremony Award Result Ref.
1988 Billboard First Double Platinum-selling Box Set Won [6]
First Platinum-selling Box Set Won [6]
Highest-charting Boxed Set Won [7]
1989 Grammy Awards Best Album Notes Won [8]
Best Historical Album Won [9]

Track listings

CD release

Disc 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Boom Boom" (with The Yardbirds)John Lee Hooker2:25
2."Honey in Your Hips" (with The Yardbirds)Keith Relf2:18
3."Baby What's Wrong" (with The Yardbirds)Jimmy Reed2:40
4."I Wish You Would" (with The Yardbirds)Billy Boy Arnold2:19
5."A Certain Girl" (with The Yardbirds)Naomi Neville2:17
6."Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (with The Yardbirds)H.G. Demarais2:45
7."I Ain't Got You" (with The Yardbirds)Calvin Carter1:59
8."For Your Love" (with The Yardbirds)Graham Gouldman2:29
9."Got to Hurry" (with The Yardbirds)Oscar Rasputin2:35
10."Lonely Years" (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)John Mayall3:17
11."Bernard Jenkins" (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)Eric Clapton3:47
12."Hideaway" (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)
3:14
13."All Your Love" (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)
3:34
14."Ramblin' On My Mind" (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)Robert Johnson3:07
15."Have You Ever Loved a Woman" (live) (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)Billy Myles6:41
16."Wrapping Paper" (with Cream)
2:21
17."I Feel Free" (with Cream)
  • Bruce
  • Brown
2:52
18."Spoonful" (with Cream)Dixon6:30
19."Lawdy Mama" (live at the BBC) (with Cream)Traditional1:50
20."Strange Brew" (with Cream)
2:46
21."Sunshine of Your Love" (with Cream)
  • Clapton
  • Bruce
  • Brown
4:10
22."Tales of Brave Ulysses" (with Cream)
2:46
23."Steppin' Out" (live at the BBC) (with Cream)James Bracken3:31
Total length:72:13
Disc 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Anyone for Tennis" (with Cream)
  • Clapton
  • Sharp
2:37
2."White Room" (with Cream)
  • Bruce
  • Brown
4:56
3."Crossroads" (live) (with Cream)Johnson4:14
4."Badge" (with Cream)
2:43
5."Presence of the Lord" (with Blind Faith)Clapton4:48
6."Can't Find My Way Home" (with Blind Faith)Steve Winwood3:15
7."Sleeping in the Ground" (with Blind Faith)Sam Myers2:50
8."Comin' Home" (with Delaney & Bonnie & Friends)
3:13
9."Blues Power"
3:06
10."After Midnight"J.J. Cale3:17
11."Let It Rain"
  • Clapton
  • Bramlett
5:01
12."Tell the Truth" (with Derek and the Dominos)
3:23
13."Roll It Over" (with Derek and the Dominos)
  • Clapton
  • Whitlock
4:29
14."Layla" (with Derek and the Dominos)
7:07
15."Mean Old World" (with Duane Allman)Walter Jacobs3:50
16."Key to the Highway" (live) (with Derek and the Dominos)
6:27
17."Crossroads" (live) (with Derek and the Dominos)Johnson8:17
Total length:73:33
Disc 3
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Got to Get Better in a Little While" (with Derek and the Dominos)Clapton5:31
2."Evil" (with Derek and the Dominos)Dixon4:25
3."One More Chance" (with Derek and the Dominos)Clapton3:17
4."Mean Old Frisco" (with Derek and the Dominos)Arthur Crudup4:02
5."Snake Lake Blues" (with Derek and the Dominos)
  • Clapton
  • Whitlock
3:33
6."Let It Grow"Clapton4:56
7."Ain't That Lovin' You"Jimmy Reed5:26
8."Motherless Children"Traditional4:51
9."I Shot the Sheriff" (live)Bob Marley7:48
10."Better Make It Through Today"Clapton4:05
11."The Sky Is Crying"Elmore James3:57
12."I Found a Love"Leon Russell3:38
13."(When Things Go Wrong) It Hurts Me Too"Mel London5:34
14."Whatcha Gonna Do"Peter Tosh3:01
15."Knockin' on Heaven's Door"Bob Dylan4:21
16."Someone Like You"Arthur Louis4:30
Total length:72:55
Disc 4
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hello Old Friend"Clapton3:34
2."Sign Language" (featuring Bob Dylan)Dylan2:56
3."Further on Up the Road" (live)
  • Joe Medwich Veasey
  • Don D. Robey
6:18
4."Lay Down Sally"
3:50
5."Wonderful Tonight"Clapton3:42
6."Cocaine"Cale3:35
7."Promises"
  • Richard Feldman
  • Roger Linn
3:00
8."If I Don't Be There by Morning"
  • Dylan
  • Helen Springs
4:34
9."Double Trouble" (live)Rush8:01
10."I Can't Stand It"Clapton4:09
11."The Shape You're In"Clapton4:09
12."Heaven Is One Step Away"Clapton4:09
13."She's Waiting"
  • Clapton
  • Peter Robinson
4:55
14."Too Bad"Clapton2:37
15."Miss You"
  • Clapton
  • Greg Phillinganes
  • Bobby Columby
5:05
16."Wanna Make Love to You"Jerry Lynn Williams5:43
17."After Midnight"Cale4:05
Total length:74:22

Vinyl release

Record one – Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Boom Boom" (with The Yardbirds)John Lee Hooker2:25
2."Honey in Your Hips" (with The Yardbirds)Keith Relf2:18
3."Baby What's Wrong" (with The Yardbirds)Jimmy Reed2:40
4."I Wish You Would" (with The Yardbirds)Billy Boy Arnold2:19
5."A Certain Girl" (with The Yardbirds)Naomi Neville2:17
6."Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (with The Yardbirds)H.G. Demarais2:45
7."I Ain't Got You" (with The Yardbirds)Calvin Carter1:59
8."For Your Love" (with The Yardbirds)Graham Gouldman2:29
9."Got to Hurry" (with The Yardbirds)Oscar Rasputin2:35
Record one – Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Lonely Years" (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)John Mayall3:17
2."Bernard Jenkins" (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)Eric Clapton3:47
3."Hideaway" (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)Freddie King · Sonny Thompson3:14
4."All Your Love" (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)Willie Dixon · Otis Rush3:34
5."Ramblin' On My Mind" (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)Robert Johnson3:07
6."Have You Ever Loved a Woman" (live) (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)Billy Myles6:41
Record two – Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wrapping Paper" (with Cream)Jack Bruce · Pete Brown2:21
2."I Feel Free" (with Cream)Jack Bruce · Pete Brown2:52
3."Spoonful" (with Cream)Willie Dixon6:30
4."Lawdy Mama" (live at the BBC) (with Cream)Traditional1:50
5."Strange Brew" (with Cream)Eric Clapton · Felix Pappalardi · Gail Collins Pappalardi2:46
6."Sunshine of Your Love" (with Cream)Eric Clapton · Jack Bruce · Pete Brown4:10
7."Tales of Brave Ulysses" (with Cream)Eric Clapton · Martin Sharp2:46
8."Steppin' Out" (live at the BBC) (with Cream)Bracken3:31
Record two – Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Anyone for Tennis" (with Cream)Eric Clapton · Martin Sharp2:37
2."White Room" (with Cream)Jack Bruce · Pete Brown4:56
3."Crossroads" (live) (with Cream)Robert Johnson4:14
4."Badge" (with Cream)Eric Clapton · George Harrison2:43
5."Presence of the Lord" (with Blind Faith)Eric Clapton4:48
6."Can't Find My Way Home" (with Blind Faith)Steve Winwood3:15
7."Sleeping in the Ground" (with Blind Faith)Sam Myers2:50
Record three – Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Comin' Home" (with Delaney & Bonnie & Friends)Eric Clapton · Bonnie Bramlett3:13
2."Blues Power"Eric Clapton · Leon Russell3:06
3."After Midnight"J.J. Cale3:17
4."Let It Rain"Eric Clapton · Bonnie Bramlett5:01
5."Tell the Truth" (with Derek and the Dominos)Eric Clapton · Bobby Whitlock3:23
6."Roll It Over" (with Derek and the Dominos)Eric Clapton · Bobby Whitlock4:29
Record three – Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Layla" (with Derek and the Dominos)Eric Clapton · Jim Gordon7:07
2."Mean Old World" (with Derek and the Dominos)Jacobs3:50
3."Key to the Highway" (live) (with Derek and the Dominos)Big Bill Broonzy · Charles Segar6:27
4."Crossroads" (live) (with Derek and the Dominos)Robert Johnson8:17
Record four – Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Got to Get Better in a Little While" (with Derek and the Dominos)Eric Clapton5:31
2."Evil" (with Derek and the Dominos)Willie Dixon4:25
3."One More Chance" (with Derek and the Dominos)Eric Clapton3:17
4."Mean Old Frisco" (with Derek and the Dominos)Arthur Crudup4:02
5."Snake Lake Blues" (with Derek and the Dominos)Eric Clapton · Bobby Whitlock3:33
Record four – Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let It Grow"Eric Clapton4:56
2."Ain't That Lovin' You"Jimmy Reed5:26
3."Motherless Children"Traditional4:51
4."I Shot the Sheriff" (live)Bob Marley7:48
5."Better Make It Through Today"Eric Clapton4:05
Record five – Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Sky Is Crying"Elmore James3:57
2."I Found a Love"Bridges3:38
3."(When Things Go Wrong) It Hurts Me Too"Mel London5:34
4."Whatcha Gonna Do"Peter Tosh3:01
5."Knockin' on Heaven's Door"Bob Dylan4:21
6."Someone Like You"Arthur Louis4:30
Record five – Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hello Old Friend"Eric Clapton3:34
2."Sign Language" (featuring Bob Dylan)Bob Dylan2:56
3."Further on Up the Road" (live)Joe Medwich Veasey · Don D. Robey6:18
4."Lay Down Sally"Eric Clapton · Marcy Levy · George Terry3:50
5."Wonderful Tonight"Eric Clapton3:42
Record six – Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cocaine"J.J. Cale3:35
2."Promises"Richard Feldman · Roger Linn3:00
3."If I Don't Be There by Morning"Bob Dylan · Helen Springs4:34
4."Double Trouble" (live)Rush8:01
5."I Can't Stand It"Eric Clapton4:09
6."The Shape You're In"Eric Clapton4:09
Record six – Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Heaven Is One Step Away"Eric Clapton4:09
2."She's Waiting"Eric Clapton · Peter Robinson4:55
3."Too Bad"Eric Clapton2:37
4."Miss You"Eric Clapton · Greg Phillinganes · Bobby Columby5:05
5."Wanna Make Love to You"Jerry Lynn Williams5:43
6."After Midnight"J.J. Cale4:05

Personnel

From Polydor's 1988 4-CD edition liner notes (835 261-2):

Disc one

Disc two

Disc three

  • Eric Clapton - vocals (1–4, 6–16), guitar, dobro (6)
  • Carl Radle - bass
  • Jim Gordon - drums (1–5)
  • Bobby Whitlock - piano (2–5)
  • George Terry - guitar (6, 8–16), vocals (6)
  • Dick Sims - organ (6–11, 13–16), piano (12)
  • Albhy Galuten - piano (6, 8), ARP synthesizer (6)
  • Jamie Oldaker - drums (6–16)
  • Yvonne Elliman - vocals (6, 7, 9, 13–16)
  • Tom Bernfeld - vocals (6)
  • Dave Mason - guitar (7)
  • Marcy Levy - vocals (9, 14–16), tambourine (9)
  • Peter Tosh - vocals (14), guitar (14)

Disc four

Commercial success

Crossroads is Clapton's commercially most successful multi-disc boxed set, charting in both 1988 and 1989, selling a total of more than three million copies worldwide. In the United States it debuted in May 1988 at number 80 on Billboard magazine's Top 200 albums chart, making Clapton the second artist ever to chart in the Top 100 field with a box set containing six discs, following Elvis Presley.[10] It also debuted at number eight on Billboard's Top Pop Compact Disks chart.[10] In its first week in the charts, Crossroads was both the best- and fastest-selling box set ever to be released, selling more than 240,000 copies in the first few weeks after its release in the United States. At that point, more than 120,000 copies which were sold were on CD formats, which was still quite rare at the time.[11] In its second week, it topped the Top Pop Compact Disks chart and reached number 36 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart,[12] peaking at 34 the next week and remaining on the chart for a total of 26 weeks.[13] In 1988, the Clapton record was the 26th most-purchased pop music CD in the United States.[14]

In Europe, the box set was a less successful. In the Netherlands, it reached number 60 and stayed a total of 11 weeks in the charts.[15] It did not chart in the United Kingdom.[16] In 2016, it reached number 44 in Greece.[17]

In 2005, the album was certified with a triple Platinum award by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), commemorating the sale of more than three million copies in the United States alone,[18] making it Clapton's best-selling box set in the country.

Chart positions

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[18] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Rosenbluth, Jean (2 April 1988). "Super Acts Take April Breather – Clapton, Clash Sets Among Highlights" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 100 (14). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 3, 75. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b Haring, Bruce (30 April 1988). "Clapton's Cream: 73 Tracks – Poly Gram Issues 5-Hour Compilation / Album Reviews – New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 100 (18). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 19, 62. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  3. ^ Schumacher, Michael (1995). "Chapter 12: Journeyman (1986–90)". Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton (1st ed.). New York City: Hyperion. ISBN 0-7868-6074-X.
  4. ^ a b Fricke, David (21 April 1988). "Eric Clapton Crossroads Album Review". Rolling Stone. Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  5. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Crossroads – Eric Clapton | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Rock on the Net: Eric Clapton". Rock on the Net. Rockonthenet.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  7. ^ Grein, Paul (6 January 1990). "Consistent Collins Captures No. 1 Slots; Linda Bonstadt Logs 10th Top 10 Album" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 102 (1). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 12. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Past Winners Search | GRAMMY.com". Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy. Type "Anthony DeCurtis" under Artist to see the results. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  9. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Crossroads – Eric Clapton | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  10. ^ a b Grein, Paul (7 May 1988). "Chart Beat / Top Compact Disks Pop / Billboard 200 Albums" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 100 (42). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 6, 46, 84. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Clapton 'Crossroads' Fuels Unexpected Sales Mileage" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 100 (23). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 6, 41, 78 4 June 1988. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Top Compact Disks Pop" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 100 (20). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 43 14 May 1988. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Eric Clapton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  14. ^ a b "No. 1 Awards" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 100 (52). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 86 24 December 1988. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  15. ^ a b "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – Crossroads" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Eric Clapton". Official Charts. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Official IFPI Charts Top-75 Albums Sales Chart Week: 3/2016". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry of Greece. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  18. ^ a b "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – Crossroads". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
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