Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Tina Turner (vocals); Michael Brecker (saxophone); Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker (trumpet); Dave Bargerone (trombone); Gary Brooker, Greg Phillinganes (keyboards, background vocals); Richard Feldman (keyboards); Richard Cottle (synthesizer); Laurence Cottle, Nathan East (bass); Phil Collins (drums, percussion, background vocals); Harry Spinetti (drums); Larry Williams (programming); Magic Moreno, Katie Kissoon, Tessa Niles (background vocals).

Producers: Phil Collins, Tom Dowd, Eric Clapton.

Engineers include: Steve Chase, Peter Hefter, Paul Gommersall.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Having made his presence known in the MTV universe with his video for "Forever Man," Eric Clapton returned to the studio to record AUGUST, an album that found him working with a broad spectrum of writers. Unlike BEHIND THE SUN's class reunion of Clapton side musicians, AUGUST found E.C. backed by keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, bassist Nathan East (later of jazz supergroup Fourplay) and drummer Phil Collins (who shared production duties with long-time Clapton knob-twirler Tom Dowd).

Clapton collaborated with some renowned writers here, including Robbie Robertson ("It's In The Way That You Use It") and Stephen Bishop ("Holy Mother," dedicated to the recently deceased Richard Manuel). AUGUST also found Clapton eschewing old blues covers for newer material written by Robert Cray ("Bad Influence") and Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier ("Run," "Hung Up On Your Love"). The most exciting moment on the record comes during the mechanized funk of "Tearing Us Apart," a Clapton duet with the red-hot Tina Turner.

What the critics say...

Q (5/95, p.124) - 3 Stars - Good - "...the official start of Clapton's career renaissance with its mainstream commercial feel and real-life hits..."