The Blues

Disc 1
1	Before You Accuse Me (Take a Look at Yourself) previously unreleased / Version 1 4:39
2	Mean Old World / Duane Allman 3:50
3	Ain't That Lovin' You 5:26
4	The Sky Is Crying 3:58
5	Cryin' 2:52
6	Have You Ever Loved a Woman 6:51
7	Alberta previously unreleased 2:40
8	Early in the Morning 7:55
9	Give Me Strength 2:51
10	Meet Me (Down at the Bottom) previously unreleased 7:04
11	County Jail Blues 3:56
12	Floating Bridge 6:33
13	Blow Wind Blow 2:59
14	To Make Somebody Happy 5:11
15	Before You Accuse Me (Take a Look at Yourself) previously unreleased / Version 2 4:39
Disc 2
1	Stormy Monday Live 12:49
2	Worried Life Blues Live 5:57
3	Early in the Morning Live 7:11
4	Have You Ever Loved a Woman Live 7:47
5	Wonderful Tonight Live 6:23
6	Kind Hearted Woman Blues Live 5:11
7	Double Trouble Live 8:02
8	Driftin' Blues Live 6:57
9	Crossroads Live 5:49
10	Further on up the Road Live / previously unreleased 8:38

Barnes & Noble

Eric Clapton's fiery rock guitar playing has always been tempered by the roots music from which he arose, the blues. Now Polydor has culled Clapton's '70s recordings and come up with a two-CD set, which finds the guitarist paying explicit tribute to the blues tradition and such mentors as Muddy Waters, Elmore James, and Freddie King. Long before his hit UNPLUGGED recording, Clapton could be found playing acoustic blues. Among the non-electric highlights collected here are "Before You Accuse Me," an outtake from the BACKLESS sessions, and a gritty version of Leadbelly's "Alberta." "Mean Old World," recorded during the making of LAYLA, finds Clapton and Duane Allman exploring their shared love of country blues. On this cut and others, Clapton's voice has the unpolished feel of Dylan's folk singing, giving the Brit more credibility as an American roots performer.

The live CD in the set has, oddly enough, a more intimate feel that the studio one. Perhaps it is because Clapton has an audience, but from the opening "Stormy Monday," with its rippling and righteous guitar playing, through to the ending "Further On Up the Road" (which features Freddie King on guitar), this set feels like a concert from start to finish. While much of BLUES can be found on CROSSROADS 2, those who love the low-down side of Clapton's career will want to put this set in a prominent position. Roberta Penn

All Music Guide

Eric Clapton earned a reputation as a blues guitarist early in his career, and while he frequently returned to the blues -- usually recording at least one blues tune per album -- he never recorded a full-fledged blues album until 1994's From the Cradle. It became one of the most popular records of his career. Not long afterward, MCA assembled a collection of Jimi Hendrix's blues recordings, and that compilation also proved quite successful. Those two releases provided the blueprint for Blues, Polygram's double-disc collection of blues highlights from Clapton's RSO recordings of the '70s. On each of those albums, Clapton dabbled in the blues, and all of those moments, along with five previously unreleased tracks (both live and studio cuts), are featured here. Given that it's a compilation spanning ten years, it's not entirely surprising that Blues lacks cohesion, but the quality of the songs and performances is better than the majority of his RSO albums. As a matter of fact, nearly every performance on this set offers proof that Clapton could still dazzle as a guitarist during the '70s, even if his life was plagued with personal problems that ultimately affected his recording career. Blues may not appeal to listeners who just want hits, but even serious fans who have most of the tunes here may find this a revelatory listening experience. Stephen Thomas Erlewine