Eric Clapton - Pilgrim (1998, 2014 reissue)

► Get the album at the usual place...

In Clapton's eyes

At the time of its release 25 years ago “Pilgrim” was harshly treated by many rock critics who didn't understand they were listening to one of his best works ever. Full of sonic innovations Clapton didn't get us used to yet, the result of a thorough conception and production, certainly hours of studio work with an impressive list of musicians and programmers, it's also his most dark and desperate introspective opus where he probably unveiled his torments like never before but transcended them into a masterpiece that catches you right by the guts.

I remember secretly copying “My Father's Eyes”, the opening song, on my daughter's Walkman as a little message of love when she was still a teenager more into the Spice Girls and other such pop stuff. She fell in love with it and soon asked me for the whole album ! Since then, this particular song has been our little secret bond. Today she's playing guitar and writing her own songs. I dare believe that's something I transmitted to her with the help of Clapton...

“Pilgrim” is a magnificent example of emotional songwriting and musical richness and diversity combined into a very appealing sonic atmosphere. Yes there's electronic devices used, so what ?! Only the result matters. And the result is great ! Pop, rock, reggae, soul, R'n'B, and blues of course, are melted into a unique finely crafted blend though inspired by tragic events.

Sorrow is flooding in the melodic line of almost every song, in the highly introspective lyrics written by Clapton alone or with his accomplice and co-producer Simon Climie, in Clapton considerably improved vocals. His guitar, natural or processed through electronic devices, is so subtly delicate that more than ever he deserves being dubbed “Slow Hand”.

A little tour of the album track by track.

► “My Father's Eyes” : one of the heavy weights of “Pilgrim”, this sorrowful song refers to the loss of his four years old son Conor in March 1991 (he accidentally fell out of an open bedroom window on the 53rd floor of a Manhattan apartment building) as well as to his missing a father he never knew. Though very sad, the song has a kind of light tropical beat or reggae-flavored groove featuring a small female choir in the background, but Clapton slide dobro guitar brings a sad touch perfectly fitting the moving lyrics.

► “River Of Tears” : this long track full of extreme despair with its tear-drawing melody and Clapton velvet mellow guitar and tortured vocals reminds the spirit of “Tears In Heaven”. The spirit, not the tune.

► “Pilgrim” : in the same vein as the previous number, this other heavy weight is built on the sorrowful repetitive sound of a guitar over strings waves by the London Session Orchestra. A model of instrumental arrangement, the song increases in musical and emotional intensity, until exploding into a superb solo from the master.

► “Broken Hearted” : nothing joyful either in this long poignant ballad led by Clapton vibrato guitar enlightened by the melancholic sound of a tin whistle. Like on “Pilgrim”, its intensity rises irresistibly but without any final explosion this time. The artificial drumming is quite perceptible but doesn't spoil the song in any way.

► “One Chance” : a more energetic soul/R'n'B track, with female choir and greasy distorted guitar in the background suddenly transforming into a solo by a Clapton from the Cream period.

► “Circus” : if Clapton attempted to equal the success of “Tears In Heaven”, it's probably with this delicate sad song that he got the closest to it, mixing acoustic guitar and discreet electric solo. The lyrics again evoke the loss of his son, an ordeal that will haunt Clapton until his last day.

► “Going Down Slow” : a rolling rhythmic cover of a blues from “St. Louis Jimmy” Oden (1903-1977) played in a very appealing laid-back style.

► “Fall Like Rain” : this lively rocking track delivered with a slight country flavor mixed with blues is like a breath of fresh air in the middle of this somber album. But not for very long...

► “Born In Time” : a deeply moving version of a Bob Dylan song first recorded during the “Oh Mercy” sessions (1989) but discarded from the release and finally re-arranged and included in his next album “Under The Red Sky” in 1990. Clapton is giving it a special melancholic atmosphere with a great line of dobro guitar.

► “Sick And Tired” : a catchy hard pounding blues with Hammond organ and energetic scorching guitar like Clapton knows how to play it.

► “Needs His Woman” : an intimate ballad, in my opinion not the most appealing track of the album if I may practice the very British art of understatement.

► “She's Gone” : a solid blues-rock with a heavy rhythm section, added with Hammond organ and Clapton greasy guitars over-dubs. There again, the kind of stuff he knows how to do.

► “You Were There” : not my favorite but an honest mellow love song, or at least it looks so, with Clapton eerie not so mellow guitar in the end.

► “Inside Of Me” : the closer is a kind of mirror of the opening “My Father's Eyes”. Same kind of construction, rhythm and voice, plus some electro-acoustic guitar mixed with electric solos, and as a bonus, spoken verses by the then 13 years old Ruth Kelly-Clapton, one of EC's daughters.

Not much to add, this is one of the best studio album ever crafted by Clapton. 25 years later, it hasn't aged a bit, as fresh as the day of its release. The purists who didn't appreciate his experimentation of modern electronic devices, remind me of those who accused Dylan of treason when he went electric back in 1964 ! Today, we don't hear them anymore… May it be the same about this album from Sir Eric Patrick Clapton, Commander of the Order of the British Empire. 😉 ■

► The lyrics
→ https://genius.com/albums/Eric-clapton/Pilgrim

→ https://www.azlyrics.com/e/ericclapton.html

______________________________

► "My Father's Eyes"
Sailing down behind the sun
Waiting for my prince to come
Praying for the healing rain
To restore my soul again
Just a toerag on the run
How did I get here?
What have I done?
When will all my hopes arise?
How will I know him?
When I look in my father's eyes
____________________
Chorus :
(Look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
When I look in my father's eyes
(Look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
____________________

Then the light begins to shine
And I hear those ancient lullabies
And as I watch this seedling grow
Feel my heart start to overflow
Where do I find the words to say?
How do I teach him?
What do we play?
Bit by bit, I've realized
That's when I need them
That's when I need my father's eyes

[Chorus]
Then the jagged edge appears

Through the distant clouds of tears
I'm like a bridge that was washed away
My foundations were made of clay
As my soul slides down to die
How could I lose him?
What did I try?
Bit by bit, I've realized
That he was here with me
I look into my father's eyes
[Chorus][x3]

______________________________

► Live videos... are better than long speeches

Reminder : a lot of links to videos of Clapton playing acoustic were already published here : https://onurblues.blogspot.com/2022/09/eric-clapton-1992-unplugged-deluxe.html

- The Pilgrim Tour, 1998-99 :

● Washington D.C., April 1998 : https://youtu.be/APxJlWRO_xQ
● Philadelphia, PA, April 1998 :
→ https://youtu.be/5M_MqnbUPW8
→ https://youtu.be/6NX5DUzPzuQ
● Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, April 1998 :
→ https://youtu.be/lnFyVHkOoLg
→ https://youtu.be/Xsp7X4Jk5CI
→ https://youtu.be/er1juBPet28
● United Center, Chicago, Ill, April 1998 :
→ https://youtu.be/4n9AvpaMnnk
→ https://youtu.be/0sJl8FEuBS0
● Milwaukee, WI, April 1998 : https://youtu.be/vlep-qRpEdY
● Cincinnati, OH, May 1998 : https://youtu.be/A5NmbQ_AF7c
● Oakland, CA, September 1998 : https://youtu.be/GUjX4MxDKQs

● Earl's Court Arena, London, England, October 1998 :
→ https://youtu.be/Fc_eddObaUs
→ https://youtu.be/nUiTm4rMUYw
→ https://youtu.be/jxXy3hXxYI4
● Rotterdam, Netherlands, November 1998 : https://youtu.be/yOfIUsZnPWA
● Heerenveen, Netherlands, November 1998 : https://youtu.be/3ezsw-qg7es
● Kiel, Germany, December 1998 : https://youtu.be/MXyA_jGwUCs
● Japan, 1999 : https://youtu.be/_pED_kigxFA
● Budokan Theatre, Tokyo, Japan, November 1999 :
→ https://youtu.be/-bcb9Hocsxs
→ https://youtu.be/jiSqzD0mlcA
→ https://youtu.be/hQHZPVDiRN8
→ https://youtu.be/rD9Pyac4kHY
● Yokohama, Japan, November 1999 : https://youtu.be/d4zPZfjRb1Y