Eric Clapton - Complete Clapton (2007)

Review
Disregard the title of this 2007 compilation: there is no way that any double-disc, 36-track set could be called The Complete Clapton, not when Eric Clapton has had a career that's spanned over four decades. This doesn't even attempt to cover as much ground as his landmark four-disc 1988 box set Crossroads, which began with his first band the Yardbirds and then followed his winding journeys through John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie, and Derek & the Dominos before settling into his solo records. Of course, The Complete Clapton covers the nearly 20 years that have elapsed since the release of Crossroads, a time frame which includes the blockbuster success of his 1992 Unplugged, its all-blues 1994 follow-up From the Cradle, and many soft adult contemporary hits from the late '90s. All these phases are touched upon on The Complete Clapton, but the set lops off all of Clapton's earliest recordings, beginning with five Cream staples ("I Feel Free," "Sunshine of Your Love," "White Room," "Crossroads," "Badge") and Blind Faith's "Presence of the Lord" before delving into his solo career. This turns The Complete Clapton into a portrait of Clapton the classic rocker, as it focuses almost entirely on radio staples -- including tracks like "I've Got a Rock & Roll Heart," "Forever Man," and "It's in the Way That You Use It" that didn't make the cut on Crossroads -- that still are played frequently years after their original release. As such, this set doesn't pack many surprises, but it does hit the obvious highlights well and serves as a good hits package for the casual and curious fan, and in that sense, it works as a good companion piece to Clapton's autobiography, which was published the same week this was released in October 2007.

2007 Complete Clapton (Disc 01)
Track listing:
01. Eric Clapton - I Feel Free - Cream (2:55)
02. Eric Clapton - Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream (4:12)
03. Eric Clapton - White Room - Cream (4:59)
04. Eric Clapton - Crossroads (Live At Winterland) - Cream (4:08)
05. Eric Clapton - Badge - Cream (2:43)
06. Eric Clapton - Presence Of The Lord - Blind Faith (4:49)
07. Eric Clapton - After Midnight (3:09)
08. Eric Clapton - Let It Rain (5:07)
09. Eric Clapton - Bell Bottom Blues - Derek & The Dominos (5:02)
10. Eric Clapton - Layla - Derek & The Dominos (7:10)
11. Eric Clapton - Let It Grow (4:57)
12. Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff (4:23)
13. Eric Clapton - Knockin' On Heavens Door (4:24)
14. Eric Clapton - Hello Old Friend (3:35)
15. Eric Clapton - Cocaine (3:36)
16. Eric Clapton - Lay Down Sally (3:50)
17. Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight (3:41)
18. Eric Clapton - Promises (3:00)
19. Eric Clapton - I Can't Stand It (4:08)

2007 Complete Clapton (Disc 02)
Track listing:
01. Eric Clapton - I've Got A Rock 'n' Roll Heart (3:16)
02. Eric Clapton - She's Waiting (4:57)
03. Eric Clapton - Forever Man (3:15)
04. Eric Clapton - It's In The Way That You Use It (4:14)
05. Eric Clapton - Miss You (5:08)
06. Eric Clapton - Pretending (4:43)
07. Eric Clapton - Bad Love (5:09)
08. Eric Clapton - Tears In Heaven (4:35)
09. Eric Clapton - Layla (Unplugged) (4:39)
10. Eric Clapton - Running On Faith (Unplugged) (6:13)
11. Eric Clapton - Motherless Child (2:59)
12. Eric Clapton - Change The World (3:56)
13. Eric Clapton - My Father's Eyes (5:25)
14. Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (With B.B. King) (4:25)
15. Eric Clapton - Sweet Home Chicago (5:17)
16. Eric Clapton - If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day (3:28)
17. Eric Clapton - Ride The River (With J.J. Cale) (4:36)