Eric Clapton’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton

I only chose songs from Clapton’s official solo albums, nothing from collaborations or Cream or Blind Faith or Yardbirds or Derek and the Dominos. If I hadn’t, “Layla” would have been #1, obviously, and “Crossroads” #2.

20. “It’s in the Way That You Use It” (August, 1986)

19. “Cocaine” (Slowhand, 1977)

18. “Hung Up On Your Love” (August, 1986)

17. “Rita Mae” (Another Ticket, 1981)

16. “Hello Old Friend” (No Reason to Cry, 1976)

15. “Motherless Children” (461 Ocean Boulevard, 1974)

14. “Bad Influence” (August, 1986)

13. “May You Never” (Slowhand, 1977)

12. “Tulsa Time” (Backless, 1978)

11. “Lay Down Sally” (Slowhand, 1977)

10. “Run” (August, 1986)

9. “Let It Rain” (Eric Clapton, 1970)

8. “I Can’t Stand It” (Another Ticket, 1981)

7. “Forever Man” (Behind the Sun, 1985)

6. “Ain’t Going Down” (Money and Cigarettes, 1983)

5. “Tears in Heaven” (Rush soundtrack, 1992)

4. “Wonderful Tonight” (Slowhand, 1977)

3. “Promises” (Backless, 1978)

2. “After Midnight” (Eric Clapton, 1970)

1. “Tearing Us Apart” (August, 1986)

I’ve never managed to wangle an interview with Eric Clapton, but you can hear the full audio of my interviews with his old bass player Donald “Duck” Dunn and his current guitarist Doyle Bramhall II on my Patreon page, where I’ve compiled roughly 400 conversations with rock legends since 1982.