There's One in Every Crowd

There's One in Every Crowd is the third full-length studio album by Eric Clapton. Recorded shortly after 461 Ocean Boulevard, the album features a style very similar to its predecessor, but did not enjoy similar commercial success.

There's One in Every Crowd
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 1975
RecordedLate 1974 – early 1975
StudioCriteria Studios, Miami, Florida and Dynamic Sounds Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
GenreBlues rock · reggae
Length40:08
LabelRSO
ProducerTom Dowd
Eric Clapton chronology
461 Ocean Boulevard
(1974)
There's One in Every Crowd
(1975)
E. C. Was Here
(1975)
Singles from There's One in Every Crowd
  1. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
    Released: May 1975

Background and release

After the success of "I Shot the Sheriff", Clapton and his backing band went to Jamaica to record There's One in Every Crowd. The songs "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", "Little Rachel" and "Don't Blame Me" are recorded in a reggae style, though the rest of the record is considered blues and rock. However, with his growing alcohol dependency and drug problems in Jamaica, the record was very challenging to record. Clapton wanted the album title to be "World’s Greatest Guitar Player (There's One in Every Crowd)". RSO didn't like the first part and chose to release the album under the shortened title.[1]

Chart performance

The album reached the Top 40 on three national music charts. Achieving the highest position, number 15, in the United Kingdom, the album was certified with a silver disc by the British Phonographic industry. In the United States, the album peaked at position 21. In New Zealand the album placed itself on number 24 on the official New Zealand music chart, compiled by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand at the time.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideC+[3]
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung[4]

AllMusic critic William Ruhlmann awarded the album two out of five possible stars, stating that Clapton "hadn't had time to write or gather sufficient material [after the release of 461 Ocean Boulevard] to make a similarly effective album, since the result is a scattershot mixture of styles". Ruhlmann goes on in his review, noting the "album's best track, naturally, was the blues cover, Clapton's take on Elmore James' 'The Sky Is Crying'". and calling the release "a disappointing follow-up to 461 Ocean Boulevard".[2] Robert Christgau rated the album with a "C+".[5] Augustin Schmidt from the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said that the album, compared to 461 Ocean Boulevard, which charted high in Germany the year before, is disappointing, but not so bad, when you ignore the commercial success of the 1974 release.[4]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."We've Been Told (Jesus Coming Soon)"Traditional · Willie Johnson4:28
2."Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (Arrangement by Eric Clapton)Traditional3:33
3."Little Rachel"Jim Byfield4:07
4."Don't Blame Me"Eric Clapton · George Terry3:35
5."The Sky Is Crying"Elmore James3:58
6."Singin' the Blues"Mary McCreary3:26
7."Better Make It Through Today"Eric Clapton4:07
8."Pretty Blue Eyes"Eric Clapton4:45
9."High"Eric Clapton3:30
10."Opposites"Eric Clapton4:52
Total length:40:08

Personnel

Production

  • Producer – Tom Dowd
  • Engineers – Graeme Goodall, Carlton Lee and Ronnie Logan (Kingston); Don Gehman, Steve Klein and Karl Richardson (Miami).
  • Front Photography – Henry DeChatillon
  • Back Photography – Robert Ellis
  • Inner Sleeve Drawing – Eric Clapton

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Chart (1975) Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[6] 24
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 15
US Billboard 200[8] 21

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[9] Silver 60,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. Clapton, Eric (2007). My Life. United Kingdom.
  2. "Eric Clapton | There's One in Every Crowd | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  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. Schmidt, Augustin (October 1975). "Clapton wieder auf der Erfolgsspur – jedoch nicht ganz" [Clapton back on track – but not quite]. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Frankfurt am Main.
  5. "Robert Christgau: CG: Eric Clapton > Eric Clapton [Polydor, 1970]". Robert Christgau. robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  6. "Charts.nz – Eric Clapton – There's One In Every Crowd". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  7. "Eric Clapton | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  8. http://www.billboard.com/artist/301809/eric-clapton/chart?page=2&f=305
  9. "British album certifications – Eric Clapton – There's One in Every Crowd". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 August 2015. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type There's One in Every Crowd in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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