Written by: Alex Green
Eric Clapton’s all set to release a new album this Friday (May 20), and here are ten things to know about his 23rd solo effort before it hits shelves.
- The album is called I Still Do and it contains covers of tracks by Bob Dylan, J.J. Cale, Paul Brady, Skip James and Robert Johnson.
- Although he’s always been a massive Robert Johnson fan, this marks the first time Clapton has ever covered one of his songs on a studio album.
- I Still Do was produced by Glyn Johns, who is not only one of the greatest producers of all time, he was behind the board for Clapton’s legendary 1977 Slowhand record.
- Clapton was diagnosed with an extreme case of eczema during the recording of the album, making the sessions painful and difficult.
- If you flip the album over and take a look at the back cover photo, you’ll see Clapton wearing medical mitts on his hands, with only the tips of his fingers visible.
- I Still Do contains two originals by Clapton, including a number called “Spiral.”
- The album closes with a smoky take on Billie Holliday’s “I’ll Be Seeing You,” a move that has some fans speculating that the 71-year-old Clapton may be headed to retirement.
- Clapton has done little to dispel this speculation, indicating in interviews that if this were his last album, he would be satisfied.
- A lost guitar track by George Harrison was rumored to have made its way on the new record, but Clapton says this claim is false.
- The portrait of Clapton on the cover of the record was painted by the British artist Peter Blake, who also was responsible for staging the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
