20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric Clapton

20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric Clapton
Compilation album by Eric Clapton
Released	June 15, 2004
Genre	Rock
Label	Polydor
Eric Clapton chronology
Me and Mr. Johnson (2004) 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric Clapton (2004) Sessions for Robert J (2004)

20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric Clapton is a compilation album by the British rock musician Eric Clapton. It was released on June 15, 2004 through Polydor Records and is part of Universal's 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection series.

Background and commercial performance

The compilation album features eleven tracks that Clapton recorded in the 1970s both as a solo artists as well as with Derek and the Dominos. Glyn Johns produced the album in association with Tom Dowd. Although the release sold 1,366,610 copies in the United States, it has not been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.^[1]

Critical reception

AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine thinks that the compilation release "is an excellent distillation of his [Eric Clapton's] signature songs of the '70s". He goes on in his review saying "while it focuses on his solo recordings, it's not limited to them, throwing in two cuts from Derek and the Dominos -- "Layla," of course, plus "Bell Bottom Blues"—which help complete the portrait of Clapton in the '70s". Erlewine also points the way to Clapton's massively successful compilation Timepieces: Best Of Eric Clapton by noting that "20th Century Masters is essentially a revised Time Pieces, both running 11 tracks, nine of which are shared between the two records" (that being "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Let It Rain" replacing "Willie and the Hand Jive" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", respectively). He finishes his review by rating the album with 4.5 of possible 5 stars.^[2]

Track listing

1. "I Shot the Sheriff" (Bob Marley) – 4:26
2. "After Midnight" (J.J. Cale) – 2:53
3. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan) – 4:24
4. "Wonderful Tonight" (Eric Clapton) – 3:45
5. "Layla" (Clapton · Jim Gordon) – 7:06
6. "Cocaine" (Cale) – 3:40
7. "Lay Down Sally" (Clapton · George Terry · Marcy Levy) – 3:55
8. "Bell Bottom Blues" (Clapton) – 5:04
9. "Promises" (Richard Feldman · Roger Linn) – 3:03
10. "Let It Rain" (Clapton · Bonnie Bramlett) – 5:03
11. "Let It Grow" (Clapton) – 4:58

Chart positions and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2005) Peak position US Top Internet Albums (Billboard)[3] 230 Chart (2011) Peak position US Billboard 200[3] 66 U.S. Top Pop Catalog Albums (Billboard)[3] 4 Chart (2013) Peak position U.S. Top Album Sales (Billboard)[4] 15

Year-end charts Chart (2013) Peak position US Billboard 200[5] 200 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/Sales United States (RIAA)[6] — 1,366,610[1] ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Nielson SoundScan figures for "Eric Clapton". (Also available on UKMIX > Eric Clapton :: Charts & Sales History). 2013.
2. "20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric Clapton". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
3. "20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric Clapton – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
4. "Eric Clapton – Top Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
5. "Eric Clapton – Billboard 200 Albums (Year end 2013)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
6. "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric Clapton". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links

• 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric Clapton at Discogs