Beer the cause to and solution to all of lives problems. At least that’s what it seems for this Florida Man who had almost got away with it if it wasn’t for that can of beer.
Orange County deputies arrested Kenneth Robert Stough Jr. He is accused of murdering a convenience store manager back in 1996. Orange County credits the forensics team for doing a great job collecting evidence from the scene. It was at a convenience store deputies say Stough stabbed manager Terrence Paquette 73 times. But during the attack, Stough got cut and left his own blood at the scene.
Kenneth Robert Stough Jr.
In 2019 they reopened the case. Sending blood samples to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The blood was linked to Stough’s relatives. Deputies did a little dumpster diving behind a gas station in Eustis, where Stough had tossed a beer he had finished. They then matched the DNA from the can to the blood and that was all they needed to arrest Stough.
Green Day is Coming to Town Here is The Sharks Favorite Songs
40. “Brutal Love” from ‘TRE’ (2012)
ShareIt’s so close to “Bring It On Home To Me” that Green Day share a writing credit with the late Sam Cooke. Hey, if you’re going to “borrow,” borrow from the best. It’s one of the best songs from the ‘UNO’/’DOS’/’TRE’ era, which would have benefitted from some editing. The highlights would have made a solid album.
39. “East Jesus Nowhere” from ‘21st Century Breakdown’ (2009)
ShareThe title came from a line in the 2007 film ‘Juno’ (when Juno’s step-mom asks her, “Why would you drive all the way to East Jesus Nowhere?”) and inspired by Bill Maher’s 2008 anti-religion documentary ‘Religulous.’
38. Green Day and the Cast of ‘American Idiot’ – “21 Guns” (2010)
ShareThe idea of a Broadway musical based on Green Day’s songs was a bit ridiculous, but the Green Day of the 2000s was nothing if not ambitious. And some of the parts of the show really worked, including this song. Even better was when the cast of the show and Green Day recorded a new version together.
37. “Troubled Times” from ‘Revolution Radio’ (2016)
ShareOne of the highlights of the underrated ‘Revolution Radio’ album, the song marked something of a return to politically-charged songs.
36. The Network – “Roshambo” from ‘Money Money 2020’ (2004)
ShareWho were the Network? Their lineup included singer/guitarist Fink, singer/bassist Van Gough and a drummer known only as The Snoo, and they suspiciously talked an awful lot of smack about Green Day. The band also -- allegedly -- included members of Devo (you can hear them on another song, “Hungry Hungry Models”).
35. “See The Light” from ‘21st Century Breakdown’ (2009)
ShareIt’s nearly as great of an album closer as “Whatsername” from ‘American Idiot,” and is another underrated Green Day song.
34. “Kill The DJ” from ‘UNO’ (2012)
ShareFirst off: we do not endorse the message in this song’s title! The Clash was always a big influence on Green Day, but it tended to be the band’s ‘70s output. Here, Green Day seems under the influence of the Clash’s sprawling 1980 triple album, ‘Sandinista!’ And like ‘Sandinista!,’ the ‘UNO’/’DOS’/’TRE’ trilogy would have benefitted from some editing.
33. “Father Of All…” from ‘Father Of All…’ (2020)
ShareHow many Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bands still make records where they are experimenting? How many Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bands still make albums where they sound like they have something to prove? This first taste of the new album shows that the band still think they have something to prove.
32. “Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?” from ‘Kerplunk!’ (1992)
ShareA gem from the band’s Lookout Records era, this is a tribute to the main character in J.D. Salinger’s ‘The Catcher In The Rye.’
31. “Working Class Hero” from ‘Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur’ (2007)
ShareOne of John Lennon’s most lyrically heavy songs, by 2007, Green Day had earned the respect and gravitas to be able to do the song justice.
30. “Brain Stew”/”Jaded” from ‘Insomniac’ (1995)
ShareBillie Joe, Mike and Tre seem to be having a blast with a huge hard rock riff for “Brain Stew,” before returning to punk form for “Jaded.” It’s the perfect combonation for the arenas that they were now headlining.
29. “2000 Light Years Away” from ‘Kerplunk!’ (1992)
ShareOne of the best songs from their Lookout Records era, it shows Billie Joe Armstrong’s romantic streak: “I sit alone in my bedroom/Staring at the walls/I've been up all damn night long/My pulse is speeding/My love is yearning.”
28. “King For A Day” from ‘Nimrod’ (1997)
ShareA rocking acoustic shuffle with a horn section, this song kind of fit in with the ska music that was dominating the airwaves. Billie Joe Armstrong told Billboard, “It would be funny for a bunch of macho fraternity guys to be singing along and, little do they know, the song's about being in drag."
27. “Horseshoes And Handgrenades” from ‘21st Century Breakdown’ (2009)
ShareSounding like an outtake from Green Day’s garage rock side-project the Foxboro Hot Tubs (more on that later), Billie Joe Armstrong introduces the song by roaring, “I’m not f---ing around!” And he wasn’t. This is another one that should have been a hit.
26. U2 + Green Day – “The Saints Are Coming” (2006)
ShareOne of the few covers on this list, this song from 1979 was originally by the Scottish punk rock band the Skids (who probably would not have imagined that a quarter-century later, two of the biggest bands would cover the song and perform it at an NFL game; they performed at the first post-Katrina Saints game at the Super Bowl).
25. “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” from ‘American Idiot’ (2004)
ShareNoel Gallagher of Oasis was a bit annoyed about this song, believing that Green Day ripped off “Wonderwall.” “They should have the decency to wait until I am dead [before stealing my songs]” he complained. “I, at least, pay the people I steal from that courtesy.” He should have taken the compliment and moved on.
24. “Nice Guys Finish Last” from ‘Nimrod’ (1997)
ShareThe song is great, and so is the video, which poked fun at football. Ironically, years later in 2006, Green Day would perform at the New Orleans Superdome with U2 before a Saints/Falcons game.
23. “J.A.R. (Jason Andrew Relva)” from the ‘Angus’ soundtrack (1995)
ShareSomehow this song didn’t make it to ‘Dookie,’ but that didn’t matter. Green Day were so hot at the time and this song was so great it went to number one on Billboard’s Modern Rock charts. And it deserved to stand on its own from the ‘Dookie’ songs anyway - it was a tribute to Mike Dirnt’s friend Jason Andrew Relva, who died in 1992 from injuries suffered in a car accident.
22. “Coming Clean” from ‘Dookie’ (1994)
ShareOne of the first rock songs to address an LGBT person’s coming out, the lyrics “Secrets collecting dust but never forget/Skeletons come to life in my closet/I found out what it takes to be a man/Now mom and dad will never understand/What's happening to me” were revolutionary.
21. “Warning” from ‘Warning’ (2000)
ShareWe always knew that Green Day were big Kinks fans, but it didn’t usually get this obvious. Listen to this song and “Picture Book” back to back. That’s not a knock; this song was an amazing kickoff to their 2000 album, and it showed that they could be just as badass strumming acoustic guitars as they were bashing electric ones.
20. “Pulling Teeth” from ‘Dookie’ (1994)
ShareWe’ll hand the mic -- or the keyboard -- to Corey Taylor here. Yes, Corey Taylor of Slipknot. On his solo acoustic tour, he noted that he’s such a big Green Day fan that if *you* aren’t a fan, you can’t be friends with him. And this is his favorite song from ‘Dookie.’ If you haven’t listened to this jam in a while, give it a spin and then explain to us how it wasn’t a huge hit.
19. “Armatage Shanks” from ‘Insomniac’ (1995)
ShareThe leadoff track on “Insomniac.’ It showed fans that, despite selling millions of ‘Dookies,’ the band hadn’t let success get to their head.
18. “Whatsername” from ‘American Idiot’ (2004)
ShareMost of Green Day’s best songs have ended up on the radio, but somehow this one didn’t. Was Green Day thinking of bringing ‘American Idiot’ to Broadway even in 2004? If you saw the stage production, you know that this song was the perfect high-energy ending to the show. But Green Day’s own version is the definitive version.
17. “When I Come Around” from ‘Dookie’ (1994)
ShareGreen Day strayed from the punk rock formula often over the years, but this is one of the first examples of it; “When I Come Around” was a perfect bit of pop-rock, and was irresistible even to those who don’t care about punk rock.
16. “Hitchin’ A Ride” from ‘Nimrod’ (1997)
ShareOne of the highlights of their concerts, the song’s subject matter -- alcohol dependency -- is dark. “Troubled times/You know I cannot lie/I'm off the wagon and I'm hitchin' a ride.”
15. “She” from ‘Dookie” (1994)
Share“Scream at me until my ears bleed/I'm taking heed just for you” was a line that Billie Joe Armstrong wrote for a girlfriend, and it showed a sensitivity that made him stand out from his peers. So did feminist lines like “She's figured out/All her doubts were someone else's point of view/Waking up this time to smash the silence with the brick of self-control.”
14. “Geek Stink Breath” from “Insomniac’ (1995)
ShareThe first single from the follow-up to ‘Dookie’ showed that the band weren’t changing direction too much (at least, not yet).
13. “Welcome To Paradise” from ‘Dookie’ (1994)
ShareThey recorded an earlier version of the song for 1992’s ‘Kerplunk!,’ but the ‘Dookie’ version is better. The song, about moving out of your parents’ home… something ‘Dookie’ certainly enabled all the guys in the band to do.
12. Foxboro Hot Tubs – “Stop Drop and Roll” from ‘Stop Drop and Roll!!!” (2008)
ShareIf you’re not familiar with Foxboro Hot Tubs, stop what you’re doing and get a copy of their album, it’s some of the best, and most fun, garage rock that you’ll ever hear. After ‘American Idiot,’ Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool decided to have some fun, and they formed a new band. Their 12-song album (their only one so far) lasts just 30 minutes, and all of those minutes are perfection.
11. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” from ‘American Idiot’ (2004)
ShareWhen they started out in punk rock clubs, a full-on power ballad like this might not have gone over too well. By 2004, punk rock’s stringent rules weren’t as important, thankfully.
10. “Know Your Enemy” from ‘21st Century Breakdown” (2009)
ShareBy the 2000s, few current rock bands were addressing politics, but “Know Your Enemy” seemed like the perfect blend of Rage Against The Machine and the Ramones, two bands who were sadly long gone by then.
9. “16” from ‘1,039/Smooth’(1990)
ShareIn which Billie Joe Armstrong perfectly captures the angst of a teenager who thinks too much. “Every night I dream the same dream,” he yelped. “Of getting older and older all the time.” The song boasts one of Mike Dirnt’s funkiest basslines.
8. “Minority” from ‘Warning’ (2000)
ShareBy 2000, MTV’s accursed ‘TRL’ was steering pop culture from alternative rock to nu metal, boy bands and Britney. Green Day wanted no part of it, and they let us know on this acoustic rocker: “Stepped out of the line/Like a sheep runs from the herd/Marching out of time/To my own beat now,” indeed.
7. “21st Century Breakdown” from ‘21st Century Breakdown’ (2009)
Share‘American Idiot’ (and ‘Warning’ before that) showed Green Day’s fans that they were stretching out musically; still, it was surprising to hear the piano intro that introduces this song. But very quickly, the title track of their 2009 opus moves into the operatic punk rock road that they started traveling on with ‘American Idiot.’ At this point, they were equally influenced by the Ramones *and* Queen.
6. “Holiday” from ‘American Idiot’ (2004)
Share‘American Idiot’ was musically and thematically more ambitious than anything than Green Day had attempted up to this point, but “Holiday” showed that they could still knock out great, simple punk rock jams.
5. “Walking Contradiction” from ‘Insomniac’ (1995)
ShareWhat do you do when you come from the punk rock underground and you suddenly realize that you’re a millionaire? That’s something that Billie Joe Armstrong seemed to struggle with early on, and you can hear him working it out here.
4. “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” from ‘Nimrod’ (1997)
ShareWould a goofy bunch of guys like Green Day ever be able to grow up? This acoustic ballad -- which was really a Billie Joe Armstrong solo song -- showed that the band’s singer/songwriter had more range than he’d been given credit for. This was a Green Day song that you could impress your parents with.
3. “Basket Case” from ‘Dookie’ (1994)
ShareThe second of three #1 modern rock radio singles from ‘Dookie,’ (the first was “Longview,” the third was “When I Come Around”), it was a fun song about going crazy.
2. “Longview” from ‘Dookie’ (1994)
ShareGreen Day had been around for five years by the time they *cough* dropped ‘Dookie,’ but this is the song and video that brought them into the homes and hearts of America. Like their peers from the north in Seattle, Green Day had their share of angst. But unlike those guys, they actually had some fun with it.
1. “American Idiot” from ‘American Idiot’ (2004)
ShareThis song, and the album that it came from, are probably why Green Day became one of the first bands of their generation to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Like a lot of their ‘90s peers, their cultural cache was slipping by 2000s. “American Idiot,” the leadoff track and first single from the album of the same name, showed an older, angrier and more ambitious Green Day, and the album was so strong, it catapulted them to the pop charts and stadium headlining status.
Eric Clapton – Top 50 Songs
50. “Call Me The Breeze” – ‘The Breeze (An Appreciation Of JJ Cale)’ (2014)
ShareEric Clapton owed a lot to J.J. Cale, who died in 2013. Cale’s laid back bluesy style was hugely influential on Clapton in the ‘70s, and of course, Clapton had massive hits during that decade with Cale’s “After Midnight” and “Cocaine.” Clapton and Cale did an album together in 2006, but on ‘The Breeze,’ Clapton assembled an A-list group of guest stars to pay tribute to the man, shortly after his passing. Despite the legends guesting on the album (including Tom Petty and Willie Nelson) “Call Me The Breeze,” a Clapton solo performance, was the highlight.
49. “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday” – ‘Happy Xmas’ (2018)
ShareA song from Clapton’s Christmas album that works all year round; it’s a cover of a soul classic by R&B singer William Bell.
48. “Runaway Trains” – Eric Clapton and Elton John – “Lethal Weapon 3’ (1992)
ShareIn the ‘80s, Eric Clapton ventured into the world of film scores; he scored the first three ‘Lethal Weapon’ films with composer/conductor Michael Kamel and jazz saxophonist David Sanborn. On ‘Lethal Weapon 3,’ he also contributed a duet with Elton John; Clapton and Elton brought their VH1-leaning A-games, and the song was a #10 hit on mainstream rock radio.
47. “Over The Rainbow (live)” – ‘One More Car, One More Rider’ (2002)
ShareThe shows documented on this live album were part of what was billed as his final world tour. Of course, he’s logged many more miles since then. But there was something moving about Clapton ending the shows with Judy Gardland’s 1939 classic from ‘The Wizard Of Oz.’
46. “Too Bad” – “Forever Man” B-side (1985)
ShareEric Clapton started working with Phil Collins for 1985’s ‘Behind The Sun.’ At the time, Collins was one of music’s biggest hitmakers as the frontman of Genesis and as a bona fide solo star, and he brought some of that radio magic to the sessions. But on “Too Bad,” Clapton and Collins seemed to forget about the charts, and played for a late-night juke joint decades in the past. Phil Collins is playing drums here; Chris Stainton plays piano and Donald “Duck” Dunn is on bass, and the four of them made a fine blues combo.
45. “Whatcha Gonna Do” – (recorded during sessions for 1974’s “There’s One In Every Crowd,’ released on 1988’s ‘Crossroads’ box set, and later on ‘Give Me Strength: The ‘74/’75 Recordings)
ShareEric Clapton was one of the artists who were instrumental in bringing the blues to a white audience in the ‘60s, along with the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds and Jimi Hendrix, among others. Everyone acknowledges this. But he also deserves credit for helping expose America to Jamaican reggae music. In 1974-1975, he recorded a bunch of reggae songs, and while this Peter Tosh cover wasn’t the most successful one (we’ll get to *that* song later), “Whatcha Gonna Do” shows his love of the genre. The song features Tosh on guitar and vocals, giving it some added legitimacy. For some reason, it went unreleased for over a decade until it was included on Clapton’s 1988 ‘Crossroads’ box set.
44. “Hoochie Coochie Man” – Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy – ‘The Concert For NYC’ (2001)
ShareEric Clapton and Buddy Guy have performed together many times over the decades, but they were never more powerful than when they hit the stage of Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2001 at the Concert for New York City. They could have done any number of mournful blues jams (or Clapton’s “Tears In Heaven”), but instead, they went with the full-on swagger of Muddy Waters’ “Hoochie Coochie Man” (written by Willie Dixon).
43. “I’ve Been Trying” – Eric Clapton and D’Angelo – ‘Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Volume 5: 1998-1999)’ (2011)
ShareIn the ‘90s, Curtis Mayfield was as big an influence on Eric Clapton as the blues; you can hear it all over 1998’s ‘Pilgrim’ record. Sadly, when Mayfield was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, he was confined to a wheelchair, so Clapton and R&B star D’Angelo performed in his honor. This delicate and mournful performance of “I’ve Been Trying,” saw Clapton stretching his soprano vocal to the limit to honor a legend.
42. “I’m Tore Down” – ‘From The Cradle’ (1994)
ShareAfter the massive success of ‘Journeyman,’ “Tears In Heaven” and ‘Unplugged’ Clapton reconnected with his blues roots on ‘From The Cradle,’ an album of blues covers. He sounds loose and relaxed on Freddie King’s “I’m Tore Down”; he’s having a blast and so are we.
41. “I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It” – ‘Reptile’ (2001)
ShareClapton’s funky take on this 1980 Stevie Wonder hit features Curtis Mayfield’s former bandmates in the Impressions on backing vocals. Clapton’s singing is great here, but longtime bass player Nathan East’s playing really stands out.
40. “Traveling Riverside Blues” – ‘Me And Mr. Johnson’ (2004)
ShareAfter two albums inspired by R&B and pop, Clapton reconnected with the blues on ‘Me and Mr. Johnson,’ an album of Robert Johnson covers. Led Zeppelin popularized this song with their cover, but Clapton’s sticks a bit closer to the original (even as he’s using a band, and Johnson, of course, recorded solo acoustic). Nearly anything on ‘Me And Mr. Johnson’ and the accompanying EP, ‘Sessions For Robert J” could have made this list, but “Traveling Riverside Blues” was a definite highlight.
39. “Border Song” – ‘Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin’ (1991)
ShareClapton first experienced this song when Elton opened a U.S. tour for Derek & the Dominoes; decades later, Clapton recorded this cover, infusing the gospel jam with a bit of New Orleans funk, and made it bluesy. It was yet another great reminder of Clapton’s ability as a song interpreter.
38. “You Must Believe Me” – ‘A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield’ (1994)
ShareFour years after Curtis Mayfield was paralyzed from the neck down in an on-stage accident, some major stars (Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz, Phil Collins) paid tribute to the man on this album. Clapton’s version of “You Must Believe Me,” featuring Nile Rodgers of Chic on rhythm guitar, was one of the album’s highlights, and an underrated song in Clapton’s repertoire.
37. “Help Me Up” – ‘Rush (Music From The Motion Picture)” – (1992)
ShareThis song, co-written by Clapton and Will Jennings, was overshadowed by *another* Clapton/Jennings collaboration on the same album (that would be a ditty called “Tears In Heaven”). But this song should have been a pop smash, and is another underrated gem in a catalog filled with them.
36. “Before You Accuse Me” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)
ShareIt was clear that on ‘Journeyman,’ Clapton was swinging for the fences, and it worked: over two decades into his career, he was more popular than ever. But he made sure to represent his early rock and roll roots among the pop hits with the album’s closer, a roof-raising Bo Diddley cover.
35. “San Francisco Bay Blues” – ‘Unplugged’ (1992)
ShareYou can argue all day over what Eric Clapton’s best guitar solo is. But the best kazoo solo on an Eric Clapton album is easily this one! There were a lot of heavy moments in Clapton’s “Unplugged” session, but this lightened things up and was one of the album’s many highlights. Fans of ‘MTV Unplugged’ might have been familiar with this song, as Paul McCartney recorded it at his ‘Unplugged’ a year earlier.
34. “Further On Up The Road” – The Band with Eric Clapton
Share‘The Last Waltz’ (1978) When Eric Clapton presented the Band at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, he said that he basically broke up Cream after hearing the Band. He also admitted that when he went to visit “Robbie [Robertson] and the boys” at their studio, “I really sort of went there to ask if I could join the Band! Only I didn’t have the guts to say it!” But he had his chance to jam with them at their final show, giving a glimpse of how great a Band with Clapton would have been.
33. “Don’t Know Which Way To Go (featuring Buddy Guy)’ – ‘Rush (Music From The Motion Picture)” – (1992)
ShareWherein Clapton steps aside and gives the mic to Buddy Guy. For the most part, Clapton ditched super-long epic jams after he dissolved Cream, but here, he and Guy stretch this Willie Dixon classic out past the 10-minute mark, and it still leaves you wanting more.
32. “No Alibis” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)
ShareOne of many songs that Jerry Lynn Williams wrote for ‘Journeyman’ (although in his autobiography, Clapton claims that he actually co-wrote all of those songs with Williams). This one was squarely aimed at the pop charts, and the recording was sweetened by backing vocals by Daryl Hall. Somehow it didn’t make a big pop impact, although it reached number four on the mainstream rock charts.
31. “Stone Free” – ‘Stone Free: A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix’ (1993)
ShareBy the ‘90s, Clapton had evolved as an artist and he was far removed from the Cream guy who piled on the distortion and inspired generations of hard rock guitar players. But the title track to the 1993 Jimi Hendrix tribute reminded everyone how nasty and funky he could get. He collaborated with Chic’s Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson on this track, reminding fans that they were a fierce rock band before they helped to create disco (sadly, it was the last time the three played together).
30. “Hard Times” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)
ShareIt’s another break on the pop-heavy ‘Journeyman’ where Clapton reconnects with his roots. Clapton covered a number of R&B hits in his days with the Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, but by the late ‘80s, he had enough grit in his voice to bring gravitas to this 1958 Ray Charles ballad.
29. “Voodoo Chile” – Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood – ‘Live From Madison Square Garden’ (2009)
ShareIn 2008, former Blind Faith bandmates Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood reunited for a tour; of course, they played Blind Faith songs, but as the band only released one album, that gave time for other songs. Besides songs from the Derek & The Dominoes and Traffic catalogs, there were three Jimi Hendrix covers. On “Voodoo Chile,” Clapton sings lead for just the first 20 seconds or so, handing the mic to Steve Winwood for the remaining 16 minutes(!) of the song. As previously mentioned, since leaving Cream, Clapton hasn’t been big on lengthy jams, but when he goes there, he makes it count. Their version of the song would make Hendrix proud (fun fact: Winwood played Hammond organ on the original).
28. “Pretending” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)
ShareThe first song and lead single from ‘Journeyman,’ the Jerry Williams-written song kicked off the album’s campaign properly, getting played on MTV and VH1 and topping the mainstream rock charts.
27. “The Core” – ‘Slowhand’ (1977)
ShareThis song, a duet between Clapton and Marcy Levy (the two co-wrote the song as well), has one of Clapton’s catchiest riffs. Clocking in at eight minutes, forty-five seconds, it’s one of his longer studio jams, and it might have been a hit had it been cut down a bit. But rock radio loved it anyway, and it’s one of Clapton’s best rock songs of the ‘70s.
26. “Bad Love” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)
ShareAfter two albums produced by Phil Collins, Clapton moved on to Russ Titelman for ‘Journeyman.’ But Collins joined him on this song, playing drums and singing backing vocals. Clapton co-wrote the song with Mick Jones of Foreigner, also no stranger to radio hits, and Clapton said that it was Jones who suggested a “Badge”-like guitar break in the song (which comes at the three-minute point). The song came through, topping the Mainstream Rock Songs chart and winning a Grammy for Best Male Vocal Performance.
25. “Lay Down Sally” – ‘Slowhand’ (1977)
ShareClapton had a lot of success with covers in the ‘70s, so you’d be excused if you thought that the country shuffle “Lay Down Sally” was someone else’s song. In fact, Clapton co-wrote it with Marcy Levy (see “The Core,” #27) and rhythm guitarist George Terry. Not only was it a number three pop single, it also hit #26 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
24. “Promises” – ‘Backless’ (1978)
ShareMuch like “Lay Down Sally,” this is a laid-back mellow jam that isn’t about fiery guitar playing; it’s more like Jimmy Buffett than Jeff Beck. The acoustic tune was something of a precursor to his ‘Unplugged’ success, over a decade later.
23. “When The War Is Over” – J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton – ‘The Road To Escondido’ (2006)
ShareDecades after scoring huge hits with “Cocaine” and “After Midnight,” Clapton teamed up with the man who wrote those songs, country-bluesman J.J. Cale, for a full album as a duo. Clapton rarely addresses politics in his songs, but in this jam (written by Cale, as is much of the album), the duo sing “When the war is over/it’ll be a better day/But it won't bring back/Those poor boys in their graves,” it’s more of a statement of fact than a protest anthem.
22. “Double Trouble” – ‘No Reason To Cry’ (1976)
ShareClapton never leaves the blues far behind: even in the midst of his country and reggae influenced laid back ‘70s era, he could still cook on a blues tune, as he does on this Otis Rush classic. And yes, Stevie Ray Vaughan named his band after this song.
21. “Riding With The King” – B.B. King and Eric Clapton – ‘Riding With The King’ (2000)
ShareEric Clapton and B.B. King’s collaborative album felt like it was years in the making, and it was great that Clapton shared his platform with his idol (Clapton was a much bigger draw in 2000 than King was). But the album felt a bit polite. The title track, a cover of a John Hiatt song, was a hoot, and it holds up to both men’s catalogs.
20. “She’s Waiting” – ‘Behind The Sun’ (1985)
ShareClapton’s first album for Warner Brothers Records, 1983’s ‘Money And Cigarettes,’ was a commercial flop (note that none of the songs from that album made this list, or even came close). So the record label recruited Phil Collins to produce the follow-up, ‘Behind The Sun.’ “She’s Waiting,” co-written by Clapton and Collins’ occasional collaborator Peter Robinson, got decent play on rock radio and is easily one of his best ‘80s jams.
19. “Hello Old Friend” – ‘No Reason To Cry’ (1976)
ShareThis sweet, whimsical acoustic based tune doesn’t get the love that some of Clapton’s mellow ‘70s jams do, and that’s a shame.
18. “Forever Man” – ‘Behind The Sun’ (1985)
ShareWritten for Clapton by Jerry Williams, this was the lead single from ‘Behind The Sun,’ and it was a top 40 single. It also topped the Mainstream Rock Songs chart, successfully breaking him out of his ‘Money and Cigarettes’ slump. Clapton rarely plays songs from this era, but he performed “Forever Man” as a duet on his tour with Steve Winwood in 2008.
17. “Old Love” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)
ShareOf the many intimidating aspects of playing the blues, one of the most intimidating is: how do you write new songs that hold up with what’s been done before by Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King and John Lee Hooker? This song, which Clapton co-wrote with Robert Cray (who plays guitar on the track) feels like a blues classic in its own right.
16. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” – single (1975)
ShareA decade before Guns N’ Roses made this Bob Dylan song a huge rock hit, Eric Clapton put his spin on it, giving it a bit of a reggae tilt, in line with some of his mellower ‘70s material.
15. “The Sky Is Crying” – ‘There’s One In Every Crowd’ (1975)
Share‘There’s One In Every Crowd’ isn’t Clapton’s strongest album, and it definitely doesn’t hold up to the previous two, but -- as is often the case -- Clapton finds his inspiration in the blues. The album’s highlight is this Elmore James cover.
14. “Running On Faith” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)
Share‘Journeyman’ has an embarrassment of riches, and we might argue that it’s Clapton’s strongest solo studio album. One song that never got the love it deserved, though, was this Jerry Williams-penned blues-gospel jam. It’s “adult” in all the right ways: it wasn’t a song that necessarily screamed “put me on VH1!” But it was a song that a younger man probably couldn’t have credibly sung.
13. “All Our Past Times” – ‘No Reason To Cry’ (1976)
ShareRecording ‘No Reason To Cry’ at the Band’s Shangri-La studios is probably as close as Clapton got to joining the Band. This song is a duet with the Band’s bassist/singer Rick Danko, who co-wrote it with Clapton. They performed it at ‘The Last Waltz,’ although it was cut from the film and soundtrack.
12. “Wonderful Tonight” – ‘Slowhand’ (1977)
ShareIt’s a testament to Clapton’s underappreciated songwriting ability that he wrote a beautiful love song inspired by the excessive amount of time that he had to wait for his date to get ready to go out. It was a top 20 hit and is probably Clapton’s most played song at weddings.
11. “Sign Language” – ‘No Reason To Cry’ (1976)
ShareClapton’s friend Bob Dylan was often hanging around at Shangri-La studios during the making of the “No Reason To Cry’ album. Dylan offered Clapton an unreleased song called “Seven Days,” which Clapton declined (Ron Wood ended up recording it). But Clapton did record Dylan’s “Sign Language” with Dylan’s help. Wood contributes guitar to the song, as does the Band’s Robbie Robertson.
10. “My Father’s Eyes” – ‘Pilgrim’ (1998)
ShareFirst performed on ‘MTV Unplugged’ (but not included on the album), Clapton revisited the song on his next studio album, the slickly produced ‘Pilgrim.’ After the tragic 1991 death of his four year old son, Conor, Clapton began reckoning with his own life. “My Father’s Eyes” deals with Clapton’s own father, who he never met. The song features some of Clapton’s best lyrics and demonstrates that when he’s inspired, Clapton is an A-list songwriter.
9. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” – ‘Bob Dylan – The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration’ (1993)
ShareBob Dylan’s 30th anniversary concert, which took place at New York’s Madison Square Garden in 1992, was filled with highlights, but Clapton had one of the very best moments with his take on one of Dylan’s angriest breakup songs.
8. “Change The World” – ‘Phenomenon (soundtrack)’ – (1996)
ShareThe R&B-tinged song for the soundtrack of the John Travolta film ‘Phenomenon’ paired Clapton with R&B superstar Babyface. It was a powerful combination, and the song’s impact dwarfed that of the film that it came from: “Change The World” won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys.
7. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney – ‘Concert For George’ (2003)
ShareA year after the Quiet Beatle passed on, a massive tribute concert in his honor was staged, with Clapton as the musical director. Clapton, of course, played the guitar solo on the Beatles’ original version of the song. Watching Clapton and McCartney -- both of whom loved Harrison, but had complicated relationships with him -- backed by a band that included Ringo Starr on drums, was incredibly powerful and a fitting tribute.
6. “I Shot The Sheriff” – ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’ (1974)
ShareFor many Americans, this was their introduction to reggae music. Recorded one year after Bob Marley’s original version, Clapton’s cover was one of his biggest hits, topping the pop charts. Apparently Clapton’s band -- which included guitarist George Terry -- had to convince him to record the song.
5. “Cocaine” – ‘Slowhand’ (1977)
ShareOne of Clapton’s most enduringly popular solo jams, he stuck pretty close to the original J.J. Cale version of the song. Clapton, of course, had pretty well-documented issues with substances, giving this song a dark subtext. Clapton hasn’t always performed it at his concerts over the years and when he does, he adds the lyrics “that dirty cocaine.” Clapton’s feelings on drug use are clear: he has put tons of money, time and effort into his Crossroads Centre rehabilitation facility in Antigua.
4. “Layla” – ‘Unplugged’ (1992)
ShareSo, we’ve avoided Clapton’s solo versions of his classics from his prior bands here. But we’ll make an exception for the “unplugged” version of the Derek & the Dominoes classic “Layla,” as it was so radically different from the original. The “unplugged” version slows down the iconic riff and eliminates Jim Gordon’s epic piano solo that closes the song. There are few other instances of such an iconic song getting such a successful second life: the original “Layla” is one of the most popular songs in rock radio history while the acoustic one was a number 4 pop hit, leading ‘Unplugged’ to sell over 20 million copies worldwide, making it Clapton’s most successful album.
3. “After Midnight” – ‘Eric Clapton’ (1970)
ShareLike “Cocaine,” “After Midnight” was a J.J. Cale cover. But unlike “Cocaine,” which stuck closely to Cale’s original arrangement, Clapton’s “After Midnight” was way more upbeat than Cale’s. It became a signature tune for both artists. Cale told British magazine ‘Mojo’ when he heard Clapton’s version on the radio in his car, he pulled over to the side of the road in shock. “I'd never heard anything of my own on the radio before.” He’d probably hear a lot more over the years, with this song, as well as “Cocaine,” not to mention Lynyrd Skynyrd’s cover of “Call Me The Breeze.”
2. “Let It Rain” – ‘Eric Clapton’ (1970)
ShareAfter Blind Faith dissolved, Eric Clapton briefly joined Delaney & Bonnie, the group who opened on Blind Faith’s tour. He then worked with members of the band on his solo debut; “Let It Rain” was co-written with Bonnie Bramlett and was built around a clean, distinctive “Badge”-like guitar riff. Concise and catchy but with great guitar playing, it set the tone for Clapton’s greatest solo songs.
1. “Tears In Heaven” – ‘Rush (Music From The Motion Picture)” – (1992)
ShareThe deceptively gentle song was shocking when Clapton fans first heard it. It was acoustic, it didn’t sound like the blues, it was really unlike anything he’d ever done. Also, he was speaking more frankly about his life than he ever had before: the song was inspired by the tragic death of his four-year-old son, Conor. Such a personal song seemed like an odd choice for a film soundtrack. But like the best songs, it’s clear enough so that you know what it’s about, but vague enough that it could apply to everyone’s life. So even though it doesn’t have Clapton’s signature guitar heroics, it’s a blues song because we feel his pain, every time we hear it. As a songwriter, it’s his finest moment.