August (album)
Encyclopedia
August is an album by blues rocker Eric Clapton
, released in 1986. Primarily produced by
Phil Collins
, in association with longtime Clapton associate Tom Dowd
, it became Clapton's biggest-selling LP to date.
Among the songs are the Dowd/Clapton-produced signature tune "It's in the Way That You Use It" (co-written with Robbie Robertson
, and featured in the Paul Newman
-Tom Cruise
film The Color of Money
in October 1986, a month before the album's release, subsequently reaching #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart for one week) and three Collins-produced numbers—the up-tempo, horn-laden "Run" and the guitar-laden rockers "Tearing Us Apart
" (with Tina Turner
) and "Miss You
".
The album's only UK top 20 hit, "Behind the Mask
", was recorded by suggestion of Greg Phillinganes
. Legend has it that upon hearing Yellow Magic Orchestra
's original track, around 1980-82, producer Quincy Jones
fell in love with the track, and he and Michael Jackson
recorded their own version with new lyrics by Jackson during his Thriller
sessions. The track never made the Thriller album but Phillinganes, at the time keyboard player for Jackson, later released his own version of the song on his 1984 Pulse album, which resembles the Clapton version that became Augusts lead single in the UK.
Clapton's studio band for the album included drummer/vocalist Collins; bassist Nathan East
and keyboard player Greg Phillinganes
; saxophonist Michael Brecker
, trumpeters Randy Brecker
and Jon Faddis
, and trombone player Dave Bargeron
.
Veering between Collins soul/pop and Clapton blues/rock, August cemented Clapton's comeback. Clapton, drummer/vocalist Collins, bassist East and keyboard player Phillinganes would recreate their studio roles in for Clapton's acclaimed live appearances over the next two years.
Singles – Billboard (North America)
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, released in 1986. Primarily produced by
Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, in association with longtime Clapton associate Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd was an American recording engineer and producer for Atlantic Records. He was credited with innovating the multi-track recording method. Dowd worked on a virtual "who's who" of recordings that encompassed blues, jazz, pop, rock and soul records.- Early years :Born in Manhattan, Dowd grew...
, it became Clapton's biggest-selling LP to date.
Among the songs are the Dowd/Clapton-produced signature tune "It's in the Way That You Use It" (co-written with Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
, and featured in the Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
-Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
film The Color of Money
The Color of Money
The Color of Money is a 1986 film directed by Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Richard Price, based on the 1984 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis....
in October 1986, a month before the album's release, subsequently reaching #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart for one week) and three Collins-produced numbers—the up-tempo, horn-laden "Run" and the guitar-laden rockers "Tearing Us Apart
Tearing Us Apart
"Tearing Us Apart" is a song recorded by English blues/rock guitarist and singer Eric Clapton on his 1986 album August, produced by Phil Collins. The song was about "the committee", the group of Pattie Boyd's friends whom Clapton blamed for coming between Pattie and him...
" (with Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
) and "Miss You
Miss You (Eric Clapton song)
Miss You first featured as the ninth song on Eric Clapton's 1986 album August. "Miss You" was composed by Eric Clapton, Greg Phillinganes and Bobby Columby...
".
The album's only UK top 20 hit, "Behind the Mask
Behind the Mask (song)
"Behind the Mask" is a synthpop song by electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra, written by member Ryuichi Sakamoto and first produced in 1978 for a Seiko commercial. It was later released in 1979 as part of the band's Solid State Survivor album with English lyrics added by Chris Mosdell. The...
", was recorded by suggestion of Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
. Legend has it that upon hearing Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Sakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
's original track, around 1980-82, producer Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
fell in love with the track, and he and Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
recorded their own version with new lyrics by Jackson during his Thriller
Thriller (album)
Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall...
sessions. The track never made the Thriller album but Phillinganes, at the time keyboard player for Jackson, later released his own version of the song on his 1984 Pulse album, which resembles the Clapton version that became Augusts lead single in the UK.
Clapton's studio band for the album included drummer/vocalist Collins; bassist Nathan East
Nathan East
Nathan Harrell East is a jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego...
and keyboard player Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
; saxophonist Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker
Michael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
, trumpeters Randy Brecker
Randy Brecker
Randal "Randy" Brecker is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. He is a highly sought after performer in the genres of jazz, rock, and R&B, and has performed or recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat & Tears,...
and Jon Faddis
Jon Faddis
Jon Faddis is an American jazz trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator renowned for both his highly virtuosic command of the instrument and for his expertise in the field of music education...
, and trombone player Dave Bargeron
Dave Bargeron
David 'Dave' W Bargeron is an American trombonist and tuba player from Athol, Massachusetts, most famous for playing with the jazz-rock group Blood, Sweat, and Tears. He joined the group in 1970, after Jerry Hyman departed, and first appeared on the album Blood, Sweat & Tears 4...
.
Veering between Collins soul/pop and Clapton blues/rock, August cemented Clapton's comeback. Clapton, drummer/vocalist Collins, bassist East and keyboard player Phillinganes would recreate their studio roles in for Clapton's acclaimed live appearances over the next two years.
Track listing
- "It's in the Way That You Use It" (Eric Clapton/Robbie RobertsonRobbie RobertsonRobbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
) – 4:11 - "Run" (Lamont DozierLamont DozierLamont Herbert Dozier is an American songwriter and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan. Dozier has either co-written or produced several US Billboard #1 hits.-Career:...
) – 3:39 - "Tearing Us ApartTearing Us Apart"Tearing Us Apart" is a song recorded by English blues/rock guitarist and singer Eric Clapton on his 1986 album August, produced by Phil Collins. The song was about "the committee", the group of Pattie Boyd's friends whom Clapton blamed for coming between Pattie and him...
" (Clapton/Greg PhillinganesGreg PhillinganesGreg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
) – 4:15 - "Bad Influence" (Robert CrayRobert CrayRobert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
/Michael Vannice) – 5:09 - "Walk Away" (Richard FeldmanRichard FeldmanRichard Feldman is an American bicycle racer in time trialing, cyclocross and marathon mountain bike races. He rides for the Durance-Colnago team . In 2001, he was the first American to win the UCI world masters time trial championship, in St. Johann, Austria.He won five more rainbow jerseys in...
/Marcella DetroitMarcella DetroitMarcella Detroit is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. She was a member of the band Shakespears Sister, along with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama. Detroit's soprano voice provided lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay," which was No...
) – 3:52 - "Hung Up on Your Love" (Dozier) – 3:53
- "Take a Chance" (Clapton/Nathan EastNathan EastNathan Harrell East is a jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego...
/Phillinganes) – 4:54 - "Hold on" (Clapton/Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
) – 4:56 - "Miss YouMiss You (Eric Clapton song)Miss You first featured as the ninth song on Eric Clapton's 1986 album August. "Miss You" was composed by Eric Clapton, Greg Phillinganes and Bobby Columby...
" (Clapton/Bobby Columby/Phillinganes) – 5:06 - "Holy Mother" (Stephen BishopStephen BishopStephen Bishop may refer to:* Stephen Bishop * Stephen Bishop , African American cave explorer* Stephen Bishop , U.S. musician...
/Clapton) – 4:55 - "Behind the MaskBehind the Mask (song)"Behind the Mask" is a synthpop song by electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra, written by member Ryuichi Sakamoto and first produced in 1978 for a Seiko commercial. It was later released in 1979 as part of the band's Solid State Survivor album with English lyrics added by Chris Mosdell. The...
" (Chris MosdellChris MosdellChris Mosdell is a British lyricist, poet, author, composer, vocalist and illustrator, based in Tokyo, Japan, and Boulder, Colorado, USA.He has worked with a wide range of Japanese musicians and artists—the documentary Ink Music: In the Land of the Hundred-Tongued Lyricist bills him as the...
/Ryuichi SakamotoRyuichi SakamotoAfter working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
/Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
) – 4:47 - "Grand Illusion" (Bob Farrell/Dave Robbins/Wesly Stephenson)– 6:23 (CD Only)
Outtakes
- "Wanna Make Love to You" (Released on Crossroads box set)
- "Lady of Verona" (Unissued)
- "Walking the White Line" (Unissued)
Personnel
- Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
- guitar, vocals, producer (track 1) - Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
- drums, percussion, backing vocals - Tina TurnerTina TurnerTina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
- vocals (track 3), backing vocals (track 8) - Nathan EastNathan EastNathan Harrell East is a jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego...
- bass guitar - Henry SpinettiHenry SpinettiHenry Spinetti is a Welsh-born session drummer whose playing has featured on a large number of prominent rock and pop albums. He is the younger brother of the actor, Victor Spinetti.-Career:...
- drums (track 1) - Michael BreckerMichael BreckerMichael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
- saxophone (tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 9) - Jon FaddisJon FaddisJon Faddis is an American jazz trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator renowned for both his highly virtuosic command of the instrument and for his expertise in the field of music education...
- trumpet (tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 9) - Gary BrookerGary BrookerGary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
- keyboards, vocals (track 1) - Leon Pendarvis - horn arrangements
- Greg PhillinganesGreg PhillinganesGreg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
- keyboards, vocals - Richard Feldman - additional keyboards (track 5)
- Laurence CottleLaurence CottleLaurence Cottle is an electric bass guitarist and composer.-Career:His solo recordings have been mostly in the jazz and jazz-fusion vein, with such notable releases as Five Seasons, Laurence Cottle Quintet Live and others....
- bass (track 1) - Dave BargeronDave BargeronDavid 'Dave' W Bargeron is an American trombonist and tuba player from Athol, Massachusetts, most famous for playing with the jazz-rock group Blood, Sweat, and Tears. He joined the group in 1970, after Jerry Hyman departed, and first appeared on the album Blood, Sweat & Tears 4...
- trombone (tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 9) - Randy BreckerRandy BreckerRandal "Randy" Brecker is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. He is a highly sought after performer in the genres of jazz, rock, and R&B, and has performed or recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat & Tears,...
- trumpet (tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 9) - Richard Cottle - synthesizer (track 1)
- Katie Kissoon - backing vocals (tracks 7, 10, 11)
- Magic Moreno - backing vocals (track 7), engineer
- Tessa NilesTessa NilesTessa Niles is an English singer, best known as a backing singer for a wide variety of artists.-Early life and career:Born in Kent, Niles began her professional singing career, as both a lead and a backing vocalist, in 1979...
- backing vocals (tracks 7, 10, 11)
- Steve Chase - engineer (track 1)
- John Jacobs - engineer (track 1)
- Paul Gommersall - engineer
- Peter Hefter - engineer
- Terry O'NeillTerry O'Neill (photographer)Terry O'Neill is an English photographer, who achieved his greatest success documenting the fashion style, and celebrities of the 1960s. He attracted attention for photographing his subjects in unconventional or candid settings....
- photography
Charts
Album – Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Billboard 200 | 37 |
Singles – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "It's in the Way That You Use It" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1986 | "Tearing Us Apart" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 5 |
| 1987 | "Miss You" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 9 |
| 1987 | "Run" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 21 |