Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 7, 2026

Backless

Backless is the sixth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released in November 1978. Produced by Glyn Johns, and released by RSO Records, Backless reached no. 8 on the pop charts. While the single "Promises" only reached no. 37 on the UK Singles Chart, it was a much bigger success in the US, reaching no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, "Watch Out for Lucy", was the B-side of "Promises", but reached no. 40 on the Billboard 100 on its own merit. It was Clapton's last studio album to feature his longtime bassist Carl Radle, who died in 1980.

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Jun 7, 2026
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Backless
Studio album by
Eric Clapton
ReleasedNovember 1978
Recorded1978
StudioOlympic, London1
GenreRock
Length41:01
LabelRSO
ProducerGlyn Johns
Eric Clapton chronology
Slowhand
(1977) 		Backless
(1978) 		Just One Night
(1980)
Singles from Backless
  1. "Promises"
    Released: September 1978
  2. "Watch Out for Lucy"
    Released: September 1978

Backless is the sixth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released in November 1978. Produced by Glyn Johns, and released by RSO Records, Backless reached no. 8 on the pop charts. While the single "Promises" only reached no. 37 on the UK Singles Chart, it was a much bigger success in the US, reaching no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, "Watch Out for Lucy", was the B-side of "Promises", but reached no. 40 on the Billboard 100 on its own merit. It was Clapton's last studio album to feature his longtime bassist Carl Radle, who died in 1980.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star2
Christgau's Record GuideB−3
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStarHalf star4

The Globe and Mail noted that "there is none of the old spectacular playing—the emphasis is definitely on mellow funkiness—but the duet he plays on 'Roll It' with singer Marci Levy has some eloquent licks all the same."5

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Walk Out in the Rain" (Bob Dylan, Helena Springs) – 4:16
  2. "Watch Out for Lucy" (Eric Clapton) – 3:26
  3. "I'll Make Love to You Anytime" (J. J. Cale) – 3:23
  4. "Roll It" (Clapton, Marcy Levy) – 3:42
  5. "Tell Me That You Love Me" (Clapton) – 3:31

Side two

  1. "If I Don't Be There by Morning" (Dylan, Springs) – 4:38
  2. "Early in the Morning" (Traditional, arranged by Clapton) – 5:25
  3. "Promises" (Richard Feldman, Roger Linn) – 3:04
  4. "Golden Ring" (Clapton) – 3:32
  5. "Tulsa Time" (Danny Flowers) – 3:28

Note: "Early in the Morning" is extended to 7:58 on CD editions of the album.

Singles

Personnel

Production

  • Producer and engineer – Glyn Johns
  • Assistant engineer – Jon Astley
  • Art direction and design – David Stewart and Nello
  • Photography – Nello
  • Additional photography – Rob Fraboni, Andy Seymour and Laura K. Sims.

Charts

Chart (1978–1979) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)6 16
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)7 24
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)8 6
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)9 22
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)10 28
Japanese Albums (Oricon)11 53
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)12 22
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)13 2
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)14 28
UK Albums (OCC)15 18
US Billboard 20016 8

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)17 Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)18 Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)19 Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

References

  1. "Olympic Studios Records - Archive". Olympicstudiosrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. Ruhlmann, William. "Eric Clapton - Backless". AllMusic.
  3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 23 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 135, 136.
  5. "Backless Eric Clapton". The Globe and Mail. 15 November 1978. p. F9.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Austriancharts.at – Eric Clapton – Backless" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  8. "Top RPM Albums: Image 0102a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  9. "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – Backless" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  10. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Eric Clapton". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 48.
  11. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  12. "Charts.nz – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  13. "Norwegiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  14. "Swedishcharts.com – Eric Clapton – Backless". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  15. "Official Albums Chart on 3/12/1978 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  16. "Eric Clapton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  17. "Canadian album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". Music Canada. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  18. "British album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 January 2016. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Backless Eric Clapton in the "Search:" field.
  19. "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – Backless". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 1 January 2016.