Crossroads is a 1988 music collection box set of the work of Eric Clapton released by Polydor Records. The set includes his work with the Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends and Derek and the Dominos, as well as his solo career.
Several live or alternative studio recordings were previously unreleased. Anthony DeCurtis contributed the liner notes to the album, and The Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood painted the album's cover. Mitchell Kanner designed the package and, along with Michael Bays, art directed the package. Crossroads was mastered by Greg Calbi and compiled by Bill Levenson. The four-disc box set sold more than four million copies worldwide and was presented with six awards, including two Grammy Awards awarded in 1989. With high commercial success and positive critical response, this is Clapton's most-purchased box set to date.
Critical reception
The critics for Billboard magazine noted mostly the production work, besides the compilations track listing stating: "Compiler Levenson has unearthed some superb rarities for the set, and Anthony DeCurtis contributes intelligent annotation. Classy package and bounty of unheard material will attract Slowhand's legion of fans". Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke really liked the boxed set and awarded the release an extremely rare five-star rating in April 1988. In his review for the American music website AllMusic, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine presented the album with five out of five possible stars, rating the release as an AllMusic top album and notes:
Awards
Track listings
CD release
Vinyl release
Personnel
From Polydor's 1988 4 Compaq Disc Edition liner notes (835 261-2)
Disc One
Keith Relf - vocals (1-8), harmonica (1-7) Eric Clapton - guitar, vocals (14,16,17,19-22) Chris Dreja - guitar (1-9) Paul Samwell-Smith - bass (1-9) Jim McCarty - drums (1-9) Brian Auger - harpsichord (8) Denny Piercey - bongos (8) John Mayall - vocals (10,13,15), harmonica (10), piano (11,14), organ (12,13,15) John McVie - bass (12-14) Hughie Flint - drums (12-15) Jack Bruce - bass (15-23), vocals (16-18,20-22), piano (16,17) Ginger Baker - drums (16-23), vocals (16,17)
Disc Two
Eric Clapton - vocals (1,3,4,9-17), guitar (1-7,9-17), lead guitar (8) Jack Bruce - bass (1-4), vocals (2) Ginger Baker - drums (1-7), percussion (1), tympani (2) Felix Pappalardi - viola (1,2), mellotron (1,4), piano (4) George Harrison - guitar (4,13), vocals (13) Steve Winwood - vocals (5-7), piano (5,7), bass (5), guitar (6) Rick Grech - bass (6,7) Delaney Bramlett - vocals (8-11), guitar (8-11) Bonnie Bramlett - vocals (8-11) Dave Mason - guitar (8,13), vocals (13) Bobby Whitlock - keyboards (8,9), organ (10,11,14), guitar (12), vocals (12-14), piano (13,14,16,17) Carl Radle - bass (8-14,16,17) Jim Gordon - drums (8-14,16,17), piano (14) Jim Price - trumpet (8-11) Bobby Keys - sax (8-11) Tex Johnson - percussion (8) Rita Coolidge - vocals (8-11) Leon Russell - piano (9-11) Sonny Curtis - vocals (9-11) Jerry Allison - vocals (9-11) Stephen Stills - guitar (11), vocals (11) Duane Allman - guitar (14,15)
Disc Three
Eric Clapton - vocals (1-4,6-16), guitar, dobro (6) Carl Radle - bass Jim Gordon - drums (1-5) Bobby Whitlock - piano (2-5) George Terry - guitar (6,8-16), vocals (6) Dick Sims - organ (6-11,13-16), piano (12) Albhy Galuten - piano (6,8), ARP synthesizer (6) Jamie Oldaker - drums (6-16) Yvonne Elliman - vocals (6,7,9,13-16) Tom Bernfeld - vocals (6) Dave Mason - guitar (7) Marcy Levy - vocals (9,14-16), tambourine (9) Peter Tosh - vocals (14), guitar (14)