Is Behind the Sun a good place to start with Eric Clapton?

Yes, Behind the Sun is recommended as a starting point for new Eric Clapton listeners. Blues-infused rock melodies intertwine with reflective lyrics, showcasing Clapton's emotive guitar work and soulful vocal delivery. By the time 'Behind the Sun' was released in March 1985, Eric Clapton was already an established artist following the commercial success of his previous albums like 'No Reason to Cry' in 1976. This album marked a return to a more personal sound after navigating a turbulent period in his life, including struggles with addiction and a shift in his musical direction toward a more polished production style.

Who is Behind the Sun for?

Behind the Sun works well if you're into steady pacing for relaxed listening, bluesy grooves for reflective moments and moderate peaks for dynamic flow.

How many songs are on Behind the Sun?

Behind the Sun has 11 tracks, running approximately 50 minutes.

Behind the Sun

Eric Clapton · 1985

50 min · 11 tracks · blues

Blues-infused rock melodies intertwine with reflective lyrics, showcasing Clapton's emotive guitar work and soulful vocal delivery.

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Top tracks — play these first

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She's Waiting Start here — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its poignant lyrics about longing and a catchy chorus that showcases Clapton's signature guitar style.
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See What Love Can Do — With its upbeat tempo and engaging melody, this track exemplifies Clapton's knack for fusing rock with blues elements while delivering a message of resilience in love.
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Forever Man — This song stands out as a fan favorite due to its infectious groove and captivating lyricism about commitment and devotion, highlighting Clapton at his best.
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Same Old Blues — A cover that pays homage to classic blues traditions, this track allows Clapton to showcase his virtuosity on guitar while exploring themes of heartache and melancholy.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

46 /100

Foothills

Higher than 10% of albums we've rated

The album showcases Clapton's guitar work and songwriting but lacks strong cohesion and distinctiveness.

What we noticed

The first three tracks feature a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track introduces a more upbeat rhythm.
Several songs incorporate layered guitar solos that build in intensity, particularly in 'Forever Man' and 'Tangled in Love'.
The album closes with the title track, which shifts to a slower tempo and features a reflective tone, contrasting with earlier tracks.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady pacing for relaxed listening
bluesy grooves for reflective moments
moderate peaks for dynamic flow
guitar finesse for detail appreciation

Maybe skip if you

seek instant gratification
prefer high-energy tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Solidified Clapton's mainstream presence in the 1980s after prior successes.
Themes: personal redemption· addiction struggles· blues-infused nostalgia
Career context: By the time 'Behind the Sun' was released in March 1985, Eric Clapton was already an established artist following the commercial success of his previous albums like 'No Reason to Cry' in 1976. This album marked a return to a more personal sound after navigating a turbulent period in his life, including struggles with addiction and a shift in his musical direction toward a more polished production style.
Stylistic neighbors: Gary Moore· Joe Bonamassa· John Mayer