Eric Clapton Addresses His Own Mortality on New ‘Meanwhile’ Album
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Eric Clapton has issued a new studio album, Meanwhile, which collects eight previously released singles (including ones with Jeff Beck and Van Morrison) plus six new songs. The album, on CD or 2-LPs, arrived January 24, 2025, via his Surfdog label, and is available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Clapton turns 80 on March 30, and appears to be addressing his own mortality and demons on such songs as “The Call.” Among its lyrics is this passage:
Got a message last night, came through loud and clear,
Called you right back, but there’s no one there.
Sounded so sad, tried the other phone.
Either you’re gone, or you’re all alone.
The tone of your voice sounded so weird,
Like you’ve been drinking after all these years.
Sent me to thinking about those bad good old days.
All the corners we cut and the halls we played.
Sins that we stole, the hell we raised,
Spite of it all, the music we played. The music God made.
Listen to many of the other songs below, including all of the previously unreleased tracks.
Clapton has announced many 2025 dates. For his 2024 shows, he was accompanied by his long-running concert band, including Nathan East (bass), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Doyle Bramhall II (guitar), Sonny Emory (drums), Tim Carmon (keyboards), and Sharon White and Katie Kissoon (backing vocalists). Tickets may be available here and here.
Watch the official music video for “One Woman”
Listen to another contemplative new song, “Sam Hall”
Ten days before the two Jeff Beck tribute concerts were held on May 22-23, 2023, at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Clapton shared a recording of “Moon River” (composed by Henry Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer) that the pair made not long before Beck’s passing.
The collection also includes a cover of the standard, “Smile.”
One of the new recordings is the bluesy number, “You’ve Changed.”
On Nov. 29, 2024, Clapton released a souvenir of his two 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival concerts. Details are here.
MTV has announced the release of Eric Clapton Unplugged…Over 30 Years Later from its Grammy® and Emmy® Award-winning global music franchise MTV Unplugged. The 90-minute special will premiere in select U.S. and U.K. theaters on January 27-28, before it is available to stream on Paramount+ beginning February 12 in the U.S. and globally. The list of theaters is here. An enhanced edition of the album, on 3-LPs or 2-CDs, is being released on May 9. It’s available for pre-order in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Eric Clapton Meanwhile Tracklisting
1. Pompous Fool
2. Heart of a Child
3. Moon River with Jeff Beck
4. Sam Hall*
5. Smile*
6. Always On My Mind with Bradley Walker
7. One Woman*
8. The Rebels with Van Morrison
9. The Call*
10. How Could We Know with Judith Hill, Simon Climie, Daniel Santiago
11. This Has Gotta Stop with Van Morrison
12. Stand and Deliver with Van Morrison
13. You’ve Changed*
14. Misfortune*
*New song
Clapton wrote “Misfortune” with comedian-actor Richard Lewis.
Clapton released a collaboration with Bradley Walker of “Always On My Mind” in 2023 to celebrate Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday that year.
3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationIs there a more wistful song than “Moon River”? Definitely a “Sleepwalk” vibe.
Did not know Katie Kissoon was part of Eric’s tour group. “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” was one of the first 45s I ever bought.
Been an Eric Clapton fan since the Yardbirds and I can’t fault him for this introspective album. However I much prefer songs like High Time We Went. Let it rock.
Love the video to that amazing “Moon River” guitar duet with Clapton and Beck. What a friendship and history those two had. My hats off to the animators. Really beautiful and heartfelt. It made me choke up a few times, and that’s something.