Eric Clapton’s Guest Recording Sessions for Other Musicians
Eric Clapton’s Guest Recording Sessions for Other Musicians
From his earliest days a professional musician, Eric has played on sessions for dozens of artists for their solo projects. His first guest session was in May 1964 for Otis Spann. Eric’s sessioning has gone through periods of lesser activity, but it has never stopped. The most intriguing thing is perhaps the wide variety of musicians and genres he has worked in.
For detailed information on all sessions through 1992 (including the studio used, personnel, guitars, and number of takes), consult Marc Roberty’s excellent book Eric Clapton: The Complete Recording Sessions 1963-1992. Marc’s book was instrumental in presenting Eric’s session work in this section.
This list is in alphabetical order by artist. It includes studio sessions (including known unreleased material) as well as live sessions that were released on LP or CD by another artist.
| ARTIST | SONG TITLE | ALBUM | RELEASED |
| Ashton Gardner & Dyke | I’m Your Spirtual Breadman | The Worst of … | 1971 |
| John Astley | Jane’s Getting Serious | Everyone Loves The Pilot | 1987 |
| Babyface | Change The World, Talk To Me | MTV Unplugged NYC 1997 | 1998 |
| The Band | Further On Up The Road | The Last Waltz | 1978 |
| The Beatles | While My Guitar Gently Weeps | The Beatles | 1968 |
| Marc Benno | Hotfoot Blues, Chasin’ Rainbows, Me And A Friend Of Mine, New Romance, Last Train, Lost In Austin, Splish Splash, Monterrey Pen, The Drifter, Hey There Senorita | Lost In Austin | 1979 |
| Chuck Berry | Wee Wee Hours, Rock ‘N Roll Music, Hail! Hail! Rock ‘N Roll | Hail Hail Rock ‘N Roll | 1987 |
| Stephen Bishop | Save It For A Rainy Day, Sinking In An Ocean Of Tears | Careless | 1976 |
| Stephen Bishop | Little Moon, Sex Kittens Go To College | Red Cab To Manhattan | 1980 |
| Stephen Bishop | Hall Light | Bowling in Paris | 1989 |
| Leona Boyd | Labyrinth | Persona | 1986 |
| Paul Brady | Deep In Your Heart | Back To The Centre | 1986 |
| Gary Brooker | Leave The Candle / Chasing The Chop | Single (A & B Side) | 1981 |
| Gary Brooker | Home Lovin’ | Single (A Side) | 1981 |
| Gary Brooker | Lead Me To The Water, Home Lovin’ | Lead Me To The Water | 1982 |
| Gary Brooker | Echoes In The Night | Echoes In The Night | 1985 |
| Jack Bruce | Willpower, Ships In The Night | Willpower | 1989 |
| The Bunburys (Bee Gees) | Fight (The Good Fight) | Bunbury Tails | 1992 |
| Jim Capaldi | You Are The One, Oh Lord Why Lord | Some Came Running | 1988 |
| Joe Cocker | Worrier | Stingray | 1976 |
| Joe Cocker | I Put A Spell On You | Heart and Soul | 2004 |
| Phil Collins | If Leaving Me Is Easy | Face Value | 1981 |
| Phil Collins | I Wish It Would Rain Down | But Seriously | 1989 |
| Randy Crawford | Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (featuring EC & David Sanborn) | 7″ and 12″ Single | 1989 |
| The Crickets | Rockin’ 50s Rock ‘N Roll, That’ll Be The Day | Rockin’ 50s Rock ‘N Roll | 1971 |
| The Crickets | Someone, Someone | The Crickets and their Buddies | 2004 |
| Brendan Croker | This Kind Of Life | Brendan Croker & The Five O’Clock News | 1989 |
| Sheryl Crow | White Room, Tombstone Blues | Central Park | 1999 |
| The Crusaders | Rural Renewal, Creepin’ | Rural Renewal | 2003 |
| King Curtis | Teasin’ | Single (A Side) | 1970 |
| Roger Daltrey | Unknown | One Of The Boys | 1977 |
| Rick Danko | New Mexico | Rick Danko | 1978 |
| Jesse Ed Davis | Reno Street Incident, Tulsa County, Washita Love Child, Every Night Is Saturday Night, You Belladonna You, Rock And Roll Gypsies, Golden Sun Goddess, Crazy Love | Jesse Ed Davis | 1971 |
| James Luther Dickinson | The Judgement | Dixie Fried | 1972 |
| Dr. John | Black John The Conqueror, Where Ya At Mule, Craney Crow, Pots on Fiyo / Who I Got To Fall On, Zu Zu Mama, Familiar Reality (reprise) | Sun Moon & Herbs | 1971 |
| Dr. John | title ? | Hollywood Be Thy Name | 1975 |
| Gail Anne Dorsey | Wasted Country | The Corporate World | 1988 |
| Danny Douma | I Hate You | Night Eyes | 1979 |
| Lamont Dozier | That Ain’t Me, Hold On Tight (Unissued) | Inside Seduction | 1991 |
| Champion Jack Dupree | Third Degree, Shim-Sham-Shimmy | From New Orleans To Chicago | 1966 |
| Champion Jack Dupree | Calcutta Blues | Raw Blues | 19?? |
| Bob Dylan | If You Gotta Go Go Now | Unissued | |
| Bob Dylan | Romance in Durango, Oh Sister (Unissued), Mozambique (Unissued), Hurricane (Unissued), Catfish (Unissued), Money Blues (Unissued), Wiretappin’ (Unissued) | Desire | 1975 |
| Bob Dylan | The Usual, Had A Dream About You, Five And Dimmer, Song With No Name (Unissued), To Fall In Love (Unissued) | Hearts of Fire | 1987 |
| Bob Dylan | Had A Dream About You Baby | Down In The Groove | 1988 |
| Aretha Franklin | Good To Me As I Am To You | Lady Soul | 1968 |
| Kinky Friedman | Kinky, Ol’ Ben Lucas | Lasso From El Paso | 1976 |
| Sir Bob Geldof | Love Like A Rocket | Single (A Side) | 1986 |
| Sir Bob Geldof | Love Like A Rocket, August Was A Heavy Month, The Beat Of The Night, Good Boys In The Wrong | Deep In The Heart of Nowhere | 1986 |
| Rick Grech | Exchange and Mart, Spending All My Days | Blind Faith | CD 198? |
| Buddy Guy | Early In The Morning | Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues | 1991 |
| Buddy Guy and Junior Wells | A Man Of Many Words, My Baby She Left Me, Come On In This House, Have Mercy Baby, T-Bone Shuffle, A Poor Man’s Plea, Messin’ With The Kid, I Don’t Know, Bad Bad Whiskey | Play The Blues | 1971 |
| George Harrison | Ski-ing | Wonderwall Music | 1968 |
| George Harrison | Wah Wah, Isn’t It A Pity, What Is Life, Run Of The Mill, Beware of Darkness, Awaiting On You All, My Sweet Lord, Out Of The Blue, Plug Me In, I Remember Jeep, Thanks For The Pepperoni | All Things Must Pass | 1970 |
| George Harrison | various tracks | The Concert For Bangladesh | 1972 |
| George Harrison | Love Comes To Everyone | George Harrison | 1979 |
| George Harrison | Cloud Nine, That’s What It Takes, Devil’s Radio, Wreck Of The Hesperus | Cloud Nine | 1987 |
| George Harrison | All Tracks | Live In Japan | 1992 |
| Corey Hart | Jenney Fey | First Offence | 1984 |
| Jools Holland | What Would I Do Without You | Big Band Rhythm & Blues | 2001 |
| Jools Holland | What Would I Do Without You | Jools Holland’s Big Band Rhythm & Blues | 2001 |
| Jools Holland | Message To My Son, Mabel | Friends 3 | 2003 |
| Bruce Hornsby | Candy Mountain Run, two other tracks | Halcyon Days | 2004 |
| Howlin’ Wolf | All Tracks | The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions | 1971 |
| Howlin’ Wolf | Going Down Slow, Killing Floor, I Want To Have A Word With You | London Revisited | 19?? |
| Sir Elton John | Runaway Train | The One | 1992 |
| Johnnie Johnson | Creek Mud, Blues #572 | Johnnie B Bad | 1991 |
| Michael Kamen | Sandra | Concerto For Saxophone & Orchestra | 1990 |
| Jonathon Kelly | Don’t You Believe It | Single (A Side) | 1970 |
| Bobby Keys | title ? | Bobby Keys | 1972 |
| B.B. King | Rock Me Baby | Deuces Wild | 1997 |
| B.B. King | The Thrill Is Gone | 80 | 2005 |
| Carole King | City Streets, Ain’t That The Way | City Streets | 1988 |
| Freddie King | Sugar Sweet | Burglar | 1974 |
| Freddie King | Sugar Sweet, TV Mama, Gambling Woman Blues, Blues Jam (Unissued) | 1934-1976 | 1977 |
| Alexis Korner | Hey Pretty Mama, Hi-Heel Sneakers, Stormy Monday, Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind (Unissued) | The Party Album | 1980 |
| Corky Laing | On My Way | Makin’ It On The Street | 1977 |
| Ronnie Lane | When Lad Has Money, Barcelona, Way Up Yonder | See Me | 1980 |
| Ronnie Lane & Pete Townshend | Rough Mix, Annie, April Fool, Till The Rivers Run Dry | Rough Mix | 1977 |
| Cyndi Lauper | Insecurious | A Night To Remember | 1989 |
| Ijaham Levi | various tracks | Haile I Hymn | 1978 |
| Ijaham Levi | various tracks | Are We A Warrior | 1978 |
| Jerry Lee Lewis | Trouble In Mind | The Pilgrim | Release Pending |
| Jackie Lomax | Sour Milk Sea / The Eagle Laughs At You | Single (A & B Side) | 1969 |
| Jackie Lomax | New Day | Single (A Side) | 1969 |
| Jackie Lomax | Sour Milk Sea, The Eagle Laughs At You, You’ve Got Me Thinking, New Day | Is This What You Want? | 1969 |
| Arthur Louis | Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door / Plum | Single (A & B Side) | 1975 |
| Arthur Louis | Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door / The Dealer | Single (A & B Side) | 1978 |
| Arthur Louis | Still It Feels Good / Come On And Love Me | Single (A & B Side) | 1981 |
| Arthur Louis | title ? | First Album | 1975 |
| Arthur Louis | Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door | Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door | 1988 |
| John Martyn | Couldn’t Love You More | Glorious Fool | 1981 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | Slogan | Africa Unite: The Singles Collection | 2005 |
| John Mayall | Prisons On The Road, Accidental Suicide, Home Again, Looking At Tomorrow, Force of Nature, Goodbye December | Back To The Roots (revised and released on Archive To Eighties without Goodbye December) | 19?? |
| Davinna McCall | The Very Last Time, I’m Too Good For You, Sticky Situation | Unissued | |
| Paul McCartney | Freedom | CD Single | 2001 |
| Paul McCartney | Freedom | Driving Rain | 2001 |
| Christine McVie | The Challenge | Christine McVie | 1984 |
| Marcus Miller | Silver Rain | Silver Rain | 2005 (US only track) |
| Willie Nelson | Night Life | Live ‘n Kickin | 2003 |
| Yoko Ono | Don’t Worry Kyoko | Fly | 1971 |
| with Jimmy Page and various artists | title ? | Blues Anytime Vol 1, 2, 3, 4 | 1967 |
| Les Paul | Somebody Ease My Troublin’ Mind | Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played | 2005 |
| Shawn Phillips | Man Hole Covered Wagon | Contribution | 1970 |
| Plastic Ono Band | Cold Turkey / Don’t Worry Kyoko | Single (A Side) | 1969 |
| Plastic Ono Band | Cold Turkey, Don’t Worry Kyoko | Sometime In New York City | date |
| Plastic Ono Band | All tracks | Live Peace In Toronto | 1969 |
| The Powerhouse | I Want To Know, Crossroads, Steppin’ Out | What’s Shakin’ | 1966 |
| Billy Preston | That’s The Way God Planned It / Do What You Want To | Single (A & B Side) | 1969 |
| Billy Preston | That’s The Way God Planned It, Do What You Want To | That’s The Way God Planned It | 1969 |
| Billy Preston | Right Now, Encouraging Words | Encouraging Words | 1970 |
| Lionel Richie | Tonight Will Be Alright | Dancing On The Ceiling | 1986 |
| The Rolling Stones | Brown Sugar | Unissued | |
| The Rolling Stones | Little Red Rooster, Boogie Chillin’ (Unissued) | Flashpoint | 1990 |
| Leon Russell | Prince of Peace, Sweet Home Chicago (unissued), Blues Jam (unissued) | Leon Russell | 1970 |
| Leon Russell & The Shelter People | Alcatraz, Beware of Darkness | Leon Russell & The Shelter People | 1971 |
| Richie Sambora | Mr. Bluesman | Stranger In This Town | 1991 |
| David Sanborn | Full House | Upfront | 1992 |
| Otis Spann | Stirs Me Up | Single (B Side) | 1964 |
| Otis Spann | Pretty Girls Everywhere | The Blues of Otis Spann and Cracked Spanner Head | 1964 |
| Vivian Stanshall | Labio-Dental Fricative / Paper Round | Single (A & B Side) | 1970 |
| Ringo Starr | This Be Called A Song | Rotagravure | 1976 |
| Ringo Starr | Everybody’s In A Hurry But Me | Old Wave | 1983 |
| Ringo Starr | Never Without You | Ringo Rama | 2003 |
| Rod Stewart | Blue Moon | Stardust – The Great American Songbook Vol 3 | 2004 |
| Stephen Stills | Go Back Home | Stephen Stills | 1970 |
| Stephen Stills | Fishes and Scorpions | Stephen Stills 2 | 1971 |
| Sting | They Dance Alone | Nothing Like The Sun | 1987 |
| Sting | It’s Probably Me | 10 Summoners Tales | 1993 |
| Hubert Sumlin | I’m Ready, Long Distance Call? | About Them Shoes | 2005 |
| Taj Mahal | Here In The Dark | Phantom Blues | 1996 |
| Tom and Don | Greyhound Bus, The Time Is Now, I’ve Just Seen A Face, Never Had It So Good, Daybreak, My Time, Fool On The Hill, Vincent, Apple Scruff, After The Thrill Is Gone, Beau Jangles | Unissued | |
| Toots and The Maytals | Pressure Drop, Take A Trip | True Love | 2004 |
| Doris Troy | Ain’t That Cute | Single (A Side) | 1970 |
| Doris Troy | Get Back | Single (B Side) | 1970 |
| Doris Troy | Ain’t That Cute, Give Me Back My Dynamite, I’ve Got To Be Strong, You Give Me Joy Joy, Don’t Call Me No More, Get Back | Doris Troy | 1970 |
| Tina Turner | What You See Is What You Get | 12” Single | 1987 |
| Tina Turner | Tearing Us Apart | Live In Europe | 1988 |
| Martha Velez | It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry; I’m Gonna Leave You; Feel So Bad; In My Girlish Days | Fiends & Angels | 1969 |
| Roger Waters | All Tracks | The Pros & Cons of Hitch-Hiking | 1984 |
| Bobby Whitlock | Where There’s A Will There’s A Way, A Day Without Jesus, Back In My Life Again, The Scenery Has Slowly Changed | Bobby Whitlock | 1971 |
| Bobby Whitlock | The Dreams Of A Hobo, Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham | Raw Velvet | 1972 |
| The Who | Eyesight To The Blind, Sally Simpson | Tommy: The Movie | 1978 |
| Brian Wilson | City Blues | Gettin’ In Over My Head | 2004 |
| Steve Winwood | Dirty City | Nine Lives | 2008 |
| Stevie Wonder | I’m Free | Unissued | |
| Ronnie Wood | Various Jams | Unissued | |
| Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings | Melody | Struttin’ Our Stuff | 1998 |
| Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings | Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You | Anyway The Wind Blows | 1999 |
| Zucchero | Wonderful World | Zucchero | 1989 |
| Buckwheat Zydeco | Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad | Taking It Home | 1988 |