ATCO Records Stereo 1972
The History of Eric Clapton is a compilation double LP, released in 1972 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom, and Atco Records in the United States. It features Eric Clapton performing in various bands between 1964 and 1970, including The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos. The album is notable for helping both Clapton's career when he was battling a severe heroin addiction and making Clapton's magnum opus, "Layla", famous.
The two "Tell the Truth" tracks here are different from and were recorded before "Tell The Truth" on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970). "Tell the Truth" here is a fast up-beat version of the song and was originally released as a single in July 1970. "Tell the Truth - Jam" is a long and slow instrumental jam from the Layla sessions which had never been released before. The version that appears on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is a combination of these two takes: the frantic pace of the single is slowed down to the laid-back speed of the instrumental.
The album cover picture was taken at George Harrison's Concert For Bangladesh while Clapton was playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on a Gibson Byrdland hollow-body guitar.
Side A
1. "I Ain't Got You" (Carter) – 2:46
* performed by The Yardbirds, September 1964
2. "Hideaway" (King/Thompson) – 3:13
* performed by Bluesbreakers, April 1966
3. "Tribute to Elmore" – 3:00
* performed by Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page
4. "I Want to Know" (S. McLeod) – 2:14
* performed by The Powerhouse, March 1966
5. "Sunshine of Your Love" (Bruce/Brown/Clapton) – 4:11
* performed by Cream, May 1967
6. "Crossroads" (Johnson) – 4:14
* performed by Cream, March 1968
Side B
1. "Spoonful" (Dixon) – 16:43
* performed by Cream, March 1968
2. "Badge" (Clapton/Harrison) – 2:45
* performed by Cream, October 1968
Side C
1. "Sea of Joy" (Winwood) – 3:19
* performed by Blind Faith, June 1969
2. "Only You Know and I Know" (Mason) – 4:18
* performed by Delaney & Bonnie, December 1969
3. "I Don't Want to Discuss It" (Beatty/Cooper/Shelby) – 5:40
* performed by Delaney & Bonnie, December 1969
4. "Teasin'" (Curtis) – 2:15
* performed by King Curtis, January 1970
5. "Blues Power" (Clapton/Russell) – 3:11
* performed by Eric Clapton, January 1970
Side D
1. "Tell the Truth" (Clapton/Whitlock) – 3:19
* performed by Derek and the Dominos, June 1970
2. "Tell the Truth - Jam" (Clapton/Whitlock) – 9:27
* performed by Derek and the Dominos, August–September 1970
3. "Layla" (Clapton/Gordon) – 7:06
* performed by Derek and the Dominos, August 1970/October 1970
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