If it weren’t for the dog on the cover, I would not have remembered anything about this album. My vinyl copy is in pristine condition, which is not a good sign as it means the record has not been played very much over the years.
I have listened to There’s One In Every Crowd a couple of times over the past two days and it reminds me of 461 Ocean Boulevard, but without the highs or truly memorable tracks. There were no hit singles and it lacked a signature song such as “I Shot The Sheriff.” It was also nowhere near as commercially successful as its number one predecessor.
This was another eclectic group of songs by Clapton, ranging from blues to gospel to reggae to rock—all in all, a mellow and laidback affair. Gone were the extended guitar solos and energetic rock ‘n’ roll of the past. It was a far different Clapton than his fans of Cream, The Bluesbreakers, and even The Yardbirds were used to.
There are no terrible tracks, but there are few, if any, that really stay with you. The first two songs, “We’ve Been Told (Jesus Is Coming)” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” are both smooth renditions and have a nice gospel feel. The best track is probably the old Elmore James blues tune, “The Sky Is Crying,” where Clapton gives a few short bursts of his guitar proficiency.
The final four songs were all written by Clapton and set the tone for a lot of his work that would follow in the years to come. “Better Make It Through Today” is soulful while “Pretty Blue Eyes” has some gentle acoustic playing.
There’s One In Every Crowd is one of the forgettable albums in Eric Clapton’s vast catalogue. If you are going to explore his music, this is probably not an album you would pick. In fact, my vinyl copy has been returned to its shelf.
I still like the dog, however.
