I Still Do

I Still Do
Studio album by Eric Clapton
Released	20 May 2016 (2016-05-20)
Studio	British Grove Studios
Genre	Blues blues rock folk
Length	54:07
Label	Bushbranch/Surfdog
Producer	Glyn Johns
Eric Clapton chronology
Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2015) I Still Do (2016) Live in San Diego (2016)

I Still Do is the twenty-third studio album by Eric Clapton released through the independent Bushbranch Records/Surfdog Records label. The album is a combination of new material written by Clapton as well as classic songs, contemporary tunes and influences interpreted in his own style.^[1][2]

The album was produced by Glyn Johns who had worked with Clapton on Slowhand (1977) and Backless (1978). The album's artwork is a painting of Clapton by Peter Blake who also previously worked with Clapton.^[3] It is the follow-up to Clapton's global hit album The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale, released in the summer of 2014,^[4] his compilation album Forever Man, released in the spring of 2015^[5] and also his commercially successful concert film and live album Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall released in late 2015.^[6]

Production

The album was produced by Glyn Johns, who had been producer on Clapton's successful albums Slowhand (1977)^[7] and Backless (1978).^[8][9]

The album cover consists of a portrait of Clapton by Peter Blake who had previously designed multiple pages of artwork for Clapton's 1991 album 24 Nights as well as a photo book,^[10] containing all of his drawings of Clapton, his band and the Royal Albert Hall in which the album was recorded from 1990 to 1991.^[11]

Media interest was aroused by the listing of Angelo Mysterioso as contributing to "I Will Be There" as it is similar to L'Angelo Misterioso, a pseudonym used occasionally by George Harrison.^[12][13][14] After Clapton refused to make an official statement, the media began to speculate whether it might be Dhani Harrison playing on the new release.^[15] A spokesman for Eric Clapton told Examiner.com on 2 March 2016 that neither Clapton himself nor his management or Clapton's record companies will be revealing the actual identity of "Angelo Mysterioso". In a brief statement, the spokesman wrote: "We aren't going to be saying who it is. Now or ever [...]". Also, it was never officially approved or denied if Dhani Harrison appears on the release.^[16]

Release and promotion

I Still Do was announced on 18 February 2016.^[17] The is album is available as a digital download, on gramophone record (two vinyl discs, each with three songs per side and played at 45RPM for better audio) and on compact disc. There is also a limited edition vacuum tube shaped USB and CD release in a denim box with bonus materials. The bonuses include two exclusive tracks "Lonesome" and "Freight Train" plus 45 minutes of video featuring intimate interviews, behind the scenes clips of recording sessions, live performances and more, and 10 behind the scenes polaroid photo prints. Clapton's independent Bushbranch and Surfdog Records labels distribute the album to worldwide territories.^[18]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	74/100[19]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[20]
American Songwriter	[21]
The Independent	[22]
Rolling Stone	[23]

Jon M. Gilbertson, indicating in a review from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, opines, "'I Still Do' is not a dramatic statement, but it is sturdy enough to earn another alternate title: 'I'm Still Here.'"^[24]

Andy Gill of The Independent praised the album, stating:

Reuniting him with Slowhand/Backless producer Glyn Johns for the first time in four decades, I Still Do is Eric Clapton’s most assured album in ages, its understated poise and refinement reflecting the influence of his late compadre JJ Cale...^[22]

Track listing

Personnel

Taken from the press release.^[26]

Charts

References

External links

• I Still Do at Amazon.com