Meanwhile is the twenty-second solo studio album by Eric Clapton. It was released on 4 October 2024 through Bushbranch Records/Surfdog Records. Along with six new tracks, the album also features eight songs Clapton has previously released as singles beginning from 2020, including collaborations with Van Morrison and Jeff Beck.
| Meanwhile | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 4 October 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2020–2024 | |||
| Genre | Blues rock[1] | |||
| Length | 64:19 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Simon Climie | |||
| Eric Clapton chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Meanwhile | ||||
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Background
editThis record marks Clapton's first studio album since Happy Xmas in 2018, and his first non-holiday studio album since I Still Do in 2016. The artist worked on the album for three years in tandem with British musician and frequent collaborator Simon Climie, who serves as a producer on the entire album and also appears as a featured artist on the track "How Could We Know". The album is comprised mostly of Clapton's single output starting from December of 2020. Clapton has said that the album itself consists of "all these sort of slightly political comments mixed up with songs that are just songs."[2]
Release
editThe first of the album's tracks to be released, "Stand and Deliver", "The Rebels", and "This Has Gotta Stop", were the parts of a series of collaborations Clapton had with musician Van Morrison which the pair released under the moniker Slowhand & Van. The three songs were released during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the first and the third tracks garnering controversy due to their anti-mask, anti-lockdown, and anti-vaccine sentiments in light of the health crisis.[3][4] The second of the series was a duet version of the track "Where Have All the Rebels Gone?" from Morrison's album Latest Record Project, Volume 1, his newest record at the time.[5]
The next song, "Heart of a Child", co-written by Clapton and Italian architect Robin Monotti Graziadei, was released on Christmas Eve of 2021.[6] "Pompous Fool", another song written by the pair, came out on 7 July 2022. This release coincided with the resignation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, leading some to believe that Clapton, who had criticized Johnson in the past, wrote the song about the politician.[7]
Clapton went on to collaborate with fellow guitarist Jeff Beck on a cover of "Moon River", which was released on 15 May 2023, shortly after Beck's passing four months prior. The cover would also receive a vinyl release on 14 July as a double A-side single, with "How Could We Know" serving as the other song on the single. The latter track features Judith Hill, Simon Climie, and Daniel Santiago.[8]
In honor of country singer Willie Nelson's 90th birthday, Clapton teamed up with American musician Bradley Walker to cover the country standard "Always on My Mind", a song that Nelson famously covered in 1982. The new cover was released 15 September 2023.[9]
In an interview with the Real Music Observer during May of 2024, Clapton first revealed the album, its title, and its prospective release date of autumn that year.[2] On 20 September 2024, the album was officially announced, with the artist also releasing the new song "One Woman" alongside the news.[10] Five unreleased songs from the album, namely "Sam Hall", "Smile", "The Call", "You've Changed", and "Misfortune", were also premiered on Sirius XM Radio's Deep Tracks channel, with one aired every day from 23 to 27 September 2024.[11]
Meanwhile was released on 4 October 2024. The album is set to have a physical vinyl and CD release on 24 January 2025.[10]
Track listing
editAll tracks are produced by Simon Climie, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pompous Fool" | 4:45 | ||
| 2. | "Heart of a Child" |
| 7:04 | |
| 3. | "Moon River" (with Jeff Beck) | 5:06 | ||
| 4. | "Sam Hall" | Traditional |
| 5:27 |
| 5. | "Smile" | 3:46 | ||
| 6. | "Always on My Mind" (with Bradley Walker) |
| 3:37 | |
| 7. | "One Woman" |
| 4:50 | |
| 8. | "The Rebels" (with Van Morrison) | Van Morrison | 4:08 | |
| 9. | "The Call" | Bob Neuwirth | 5:07 | |
| 10. | "How Could We Know" (with Judith Hill, featuring Simon Climie and Daniel Santiago) |
| 4:19 | |
| 11. | "This Has Gotta Stop" (with Van Morrison) | Clapton | 4:23 | |
| 12. | "Stand and Deliver" (featuring Van Morrison) | Morrison | 4:30 | |
| 13. | "You've Changed" | Chuck Berry | 3:52 | |
| 14. | "Misfortune" |
| 3:25 | |
| Total length: | 64:19 | |||
Personnel
edit- Eric Clapton – lead vocals (1–9, 11–14), electric guitar (1–9, 11–14), producer (4, 6), acoustic guitar (10)
- Sonny Emory – drums (1–3, 5, 7, 9, 10–14)
- Nathan East – bass guitar (1–3, 5, 7–14)
- Sharon White – backing vocals (1–3, 5, 7, 10–12)
- Paul Carrack – organ (1, 3, 7)
- Walt Richmond – piano (1, 3)
- Simon Climie – producer, keyboards (2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13), drum programming (2, 5, 7, 8), tambourine (8), lead vocals (10), piano (10), organ (12)
- Dirk Powell – mandolin (2)
- Daniel Santiago – acoustic guitar (2, 7, 10)
- Pedro Martins – electric guitar (2, 7)
- Katie Kissoon – backing vocals (2)
- Nick Ingman – strings (2, 5, 13)
- Everton Nelson – strings (2, 5)
- Jeff Beck – guitar (3)
- Jerry Douglas – dobro (4, 6), producer (4, 6)
- Aly Bain – fiddle (4, 6)
- Phil Cunningham – piano (4, 6)
- John Doyle – electric guitar (4, 6)
- Daniel Kimbro – double bass (4, 6)
- James MacIntosh – drums (4, 6)
- Mike McGoldrick – fiddle (4, 6)
- John McKusker – fiddle (4, 6)
- Ron Wood – electric guitar (4, 6)
- Tim Carmon – organ (5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14)
- Bradley Walker – lead vocals (6)
- Van Morrison – lead vocals (8, 11), harmonica (8), saxophone (11)
- Chris Stainton – piano (8)
- Steve Gadd – drums (8)
- David Mansfield – piano (9)
- Judith Hill – lead vocals (10)
- Luke Potashnick – electric guitar (10)
- Toby Baker – keyboards, piano (10)
- Mateo Laboriel – keyboards (10)
- Michelle John – backing vocals (10)
- Michael Thompson – electric guitar, acoustic guitar (10)
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[12] | 19 |
| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[13] | 58 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] | 48 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[15] | 19 |
| UK Americana Albums (OCC)[16] | 19 |
| UK Jazz & Blues Albums (OCC)[17] | 5 |
| US Top Blues Albums (Billboard)[18] | 1 |
References
edit- ^ Beserra, Fidel (6 October 2024). "Eric Clapton: Meanwhile Review". Blues Rock Review. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ a b Francis, Pete (23 May 2024). "Eric Clapton reveals title of expected 2024 studio album". Blues Rock Review. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Fuster, Jeremy (27 November 2020). "Eric Clapton Sparks Backlash for New Anti-Lockdown Song With Van Morrison". TheWrap. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Hirwani, Peony (31 August 2020). "Eric Clapton mocked over new anti-lockdown anthem". The Independent. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (11 June 2021). "Van Morrison and Eric Clapton Wonder Why They're the Only 'Rebels' Left in New Duet". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (25 December 2021). "Hear Eric Clapton's New Song 'Heart of a Child,' Co-Written By Fellow Vaccine Skeptic". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Ng, Scott (8 July 2022). "Eric Clapton releases surprise new single Pompous Fool as UK PM Boris Johnson resigns". Guitar.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Koe, Crystal (15 May 2023). "Eric Clapton releases Jeff Beck collab song, Moon River". Guitar.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ Hopper, Alex (15 September 2023). "Eric Clapton Honors Willie Nelson With 'Always on My Mind' Cover". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ a b Friedlander, Matt (20 September 2024). "Eric Clapton Announces New Album, 'Meanwhile,' Featuring Recent Collabs with Van Morrison, Jeff Beck; Listen to New Single, "One Woman"". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ "Deep Tracks to World Premiere 5 Songs from Eric Clapton's New Album". Sirius XM. 20 September 2024. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: October 14, 2024" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of October 9, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – Meanwhile". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart Top 30". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "Eric Clapton Chart History (Top Blues Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2024.