August (album) - Revision history

~2025-32612-31: /* Composition */

2025-11-26T18:24:43Z

Composition

← Previous revision		Revision as of 18:24, 26 November 2025
Line 47:		Line 47:
	The album opens with the Dowd-Clapton produced "[[It's in the Way That You Use It]]", co-written with [[Robbie Robertson]], late of [[The Band]]. It was featured in the [[Paul Newman]]-[[Tom Cruise]] film ''[[The Color of Money]]'' in October 1986, a month before the album's release, subsequently reaching No. 1 on the [[Mainstream Rock Tracks]] chart for one week. Two tracks, "Run" and "Hung Up On Your Love", were written by veteran [[Motown]] composer [[Lamont Dozier]] while "[[Tearing Us Apart]]" was a duet with [[Tina Turner]] and "Bad Influence" was a cover of a number by blues musician [[Robert Cray]]. "Holy Mother", co-written with [[Stephen Bishop (singer)\|Stephen Bishop]], was dedicated to the memory of another member of The Band, [[Richard Manuel]], who had taken his own life earlier that year.		The album opens with the Dowd-Clapton produced "[[It's in the Way That You Use It]]", co-written with [[Robbie Robertson]], late of [[The Band]]. It was featured in the [[Paul Newman]]-[[Tom Cruise]] film ''[[The Color of Money]]'' in October 1986, a month before the album's release, subsequently reaching No. 1 on the [[Mainstream Rock Tracks]] chart for one week. Two tracks, "Run" and "Hung Up On Your Love", were written by veteran [[Motown]] composer [[Lamont Dozier]] while "[[Tearing Us Apart]]" was a duet with [[Tina Turner]] and "Bad Influence" was a cover of a number by blues musician [[Robert Cray]]. "Holy Mother", co-written with [[Stephen Bishop (singer)\|Stephen Bishop]], was dedicated to the memory of another member of The Band, [[Richard Manuel]], who had taken his own life earlier that year.

	The album's only UK top 20 hit, "[[Behind the Mask (Yellow Magic Orchestra song)\|Behind the Mask]]", was recorded at the 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 (Michael Jackson album)\|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 (Greg Phillinganes album)\|Pulse]]'' album, which resembles the Clapton version that became ''August'''s lead single in the UK. Jackson's version was finally released in 2010 on the posthumous album ''[[Michael (Michael Jackson album)\|Michael]]''.		The album's only UK top 20 hit, "[[Behind the Mask (Yellow Magic Orchestra song)\|Behind the Mask]]", was recorded at the 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 (Michael Jackson album)\|Thriller]]'' sessions. The track never made the ''Thriller'' album but Phillinganes, at the time keyboard player for Jackson, released his own version of the song on his 1984 ''[[Pulse (Greg Phillinganes album)\|Pulse]]'' album, which resembles the Clapton version that became ''August'''s lead single in the UK. Jackson's version was finally released in 2010 on the posthumous album ''[[Michael (Michael Jackson album)\|Michael]]''.

	Clapton's studio band for the album included Collins on drums and backing vocals, bassist [[Nathan East]] and keyboard player [[Greg Phillinganes]]; saxophonist [[Michael Brecker]], trumpeters [[Randy Brecker]] and [[Jon Faddis]], and trombone player [[Dave Bargeron]]. Collins, East and Phillinganes would recreate their studio roles for Clapton's acclaimed live appearances over the next two years.		Clapton's studio band for the album included Collins on drums and backing vocals, bassist [[Nathan East]] and keyboard player [[Greg Phillinganes]]; saxophonist [[Michael Brecker]], trumpeters [[Randy Brecker]] and [[Jon Faddis]], and trombone player [[Dave Bargeron]]. Collins, East and Phillinganes would recreate their studio roles for Clapton's acclaimed live appearances over the next two years.

2001:448A:10AE:3593:EC6D:D11C:C326:391F: /* Composition */

2025-10-09T09:10:51Z

Composition

← Previous revision		Revision as of 09:10, 9 October 2025
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	{{Album ratings		{{Album ratings
	\| rev1 =[[AllMusic]]		\| rev1 =[[AllMusic]]
	\| rev1Score = {{Rating\|2\|5}}<ref name=AllMusic>{{cite web \| url= ~~http~~://www.allmusic.com/album/august-r4047/review \| title = Eric Clapton August review \| access-date = 15 August 2011 \| last=Ruhlmann \| first= William \| work = [[AllMusic]] }}</ref>		\| rev1Score = {{Rating\|2\|5}}<ref name=AllMusic>{{cite web \| url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/august-r4047/review \| title = Eric Clapton August review \| access-date = 15 August 2011 \| last=Ruhlmann \| first= William \| work = [[AllMusic]] }}</ref>
	\| rev2 =''[[Kerrang!]]''		\| rev2 =''[[Kerrang!]]''
	\| rev2Score = {{Rating\|4.5\|5}}<ref>{{cite book \| last1 = Putterford \| first1 = Mark \| title = [[Kerrang!]] \| chapter = Eric Clapton 'August' \| volume = 135 \| publisher = United Magazines ltd. \| date = 11 December 1986 \| location = London, UK \| pages = 18}}</ref>		\| rev2Score = {{Rating\|4.5\|5}}<ref>{{cite book \| last1 = Putterford \| first1 = Mark \| title = [[Kerrang!]] \| chapter = Eric Clapton 'August' \| volume = 135 \| publisher = United Magazines ltd. \| date = 11 December 1986 \| location = London, UK \| pages = 18}}</ref>
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	\| 15		\| 15
	\|-		\|-
	{{album chart\|~~Germany4~~\|32\|artist=Eric Clapton\|album=August\|id=495\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}		{{album chart\|Germany\|32\|artist=Eric Clapton\|album=August\|id=495\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
	\|-		\|-
	! scope="row"\|Italian Albums (''[[Musica e Dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web\|url=~~http~~://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php\|title=Classifiche\|work=[[Musica e Dischi]]\|language=it\|access-date=June 20, 2024}} Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Eric Clapton".</ref>		! scope="row"\|Italian Albums (''[[Musica e Dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php\|title=Classifiche\|work=[[Musica e Dischi]]\|language=it\|access-date=June 20, 2024}} Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Eric Clapton".</ref>
	\|align="center"\|19		\|align="center"\|19
	\|-		\|-
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	!scope="col"\|Single		!scope="col"\|Single
	!scope="col"\|Chart		!scope="col"\|Chart
	!scope="col"\|Position<ref>{{cite web \|url=~~http~~://www.allmusic.com/album/august-mw0000193257/awards \|title=August – Eric Clapton : Awards : AllMusic \|work=[[AllMusic]] \|access-date=16 October 2012}}</ref>		!scope="col"\|Position<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/august-mw0000193257/awards \|title=August – Eric Clapton : Awards : AllMusic \|work=[[AllMusic]] \|access-date=16 October 2012}}</ref>
	\|-		\|-
	\|1986		\|1986

imported>Djn70 at 14:52, 15 June 2025

2025-06-15T14:52:09Z

← Previous revision		Revision as of 14:52, 15 June 2025
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	Some tracks were recorded for the album, but not included:		Some tracks were recorded for the album, but not included:
	#"Wanna Make Love to You" (released on the "Behind the Mask" single; later included on ''[[Crossroads (Eric Clapton album)\|Crossroads]]'')		#"Wanna Make Love to You" (released on the "Behind the Mask" single; later included on ''[[Crossroads (Eric Clapton album)\|Crossroads]]'')
	#"Lady of Verona" (unissued)		#"Lady From Verona" (unissued)
	#"Walking the White Line" (unissued)		#"Walking the White Line" (unissued)

2A02:AA12:E480:7380:94E4:127D:3383:4923: /* Track listing */

2024-11-25T11:13:49Z

Track listing

New page

{{otheruses|August (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox album|
| name = August
| type = studio
| artist = [[Eric Clapton]]
| cover = Eric_Clapton_August.jpg
| alt =
| released = 24 November 1986<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1986/Music-Week-1986-11-22.pdf|title=Music Week|page=60}}</ref>
| recorded = April–May 1986
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[contemporary R&B|R&B]]}}
| length = 55:53 (CD) <br> 49:31 (vinyl)
| label = [[Duck Records|Duck]] / [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| producer = Eric Clapton, [[Phil Collins]], [[Tom Dowd]]
| prev_title = [[Edge of Darkness (soundtrack)|Edge of Darkness]]
| prev_year = 1985
| next_title = [[The Cream of Eric Clapton]]
| next_year = 1987
| misc = {{Singles
| name = August
| type = Album
| single1 = [[Behind the Mask (Yellow Magic Orchestra song)|Behind the Mask]]
| single1date = 5 January 1987<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1986/Music-Week-1986-12-20-I.pdf|title=Music Week|page=5}}</ref>
| single2 = [[It's in the Way That You Use It]]
| single2date = 23 March 1987
| single3 = [[Tearing Us Apart]]
| single3date = 8 June 1987
| single4 = Holy Mother
| single4date = 23 November 1987<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1987/Music-Week-1987-11-21.pdf|title=Music Week|page=49}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 =[[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name=AllMusic>{{cite web | url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/august-r4047/review | title = Eric Clapton August review | access-date = 15 August 2011 | last=Ruhlmann | first= William | work = [[AllMusic]] }}</ref>
| rev2 =''[[Kerrang!]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Putterford | first1 = Mark | title = [[Kerrang!]] | chapter = Eric Clapton 'August' | volume = 135 | publisher = United Magazines ltd. | date = 11 December 1986 | location = London, UK | pages = 18}}</ref>
| rev3 =''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev3Score = unfavorable<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/august-19870212 | title = Eric Clapton August | access-date = 15 August 2011 | last = DeCurtis | first = Anthony | date = 12 February 1987 | work = [[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref>
| noprose = yes
}}

'''''August''''' is the tenth solo studio album by the English rock musician [[Eric Clapton]], released in 1986 by Duck Records/[[Warner Bros. Records]]. Described as a "hard R&B" album, it was primarily produced by [[Phil Collins]], in association with longtime Clapton associate [[Tom Dowd]].<ref name=AllMusic/>

==Composition==
The album opens with the Dowd-Clapton produced "[[It's in the Way That You Use It]]", co-written with [[Robbie Robertson]], late of [[The Band]]. It was featured in the [[Paul Newman]]-[[Tom Cruise]] film ''[[The Color of Money]]'' in October 1986, a month before the album's release, subsequently reaching No. 1 on the [[Mainstream Rock Tracks]] chart for one week. Two tracks, "Run" and "Hung Up On Your Love", were written by veteran [[Motown]] composer [[Lamont Dozier]] while "[[Tearing Us Apart]]" was a duet with [[Tina Turner]] and "Bad Influence" was a cover of a number by blues musician [[Robert Cray]]. "Holy Mother", co-written with [[Stephen Bishop (singer)|Stephen Bishop]], was dedicated to the memory of another member of The Band, [[Richard Manuel]], who had taken his own life earlier that year.

The album's only UK top 20 hit, "[[Behind the Mask (Yellow Magic Orchestra song)|Behind the Mask]]", was recorded at the 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 (Michael Jackson album)|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 (Greg Phillinganes album)|Pulse]]'' album, which resembles the Clapton version that became ''August'''s lead single in the UK. Jackson's version was finally released in 2010 on the posthumous album ''[[Michael (Michael Jackson album)|Michael]]''.

Clapton's studio band for the album included Collins on drums and backing vocals, bassist [[Nathan East]] and keyboard player [[Greg Phillinganes]]; saxophonist [[Michael Brecker]], trumpeters [[Randy Brecker]] and [[Jon Faddis]], and trombone player [[Dave Bargeron]]. Collins, East and Phillinganes would recreate their studio roles for Clapton's acclaimed live appearances over the next two years.

Veering between Collins soul/pop and Clapton blues/rock, ''August'' cemented Clapton's comeback.

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| title1 = [[It's in the Way That You Use It]]
| writer1 = Eric Clapton, [[Robbie Robertson]]
| length1 = 4:11
| title2 = Run
| writer2 = [[Lamont Dozier]]
| length2 = 3:39
| title3 = [[Tearing Us Apart]]
| note3 = with [[Tina Turner]]
| writer3 = Clapton, [[Greg Phillinganes]]
| length3 = 4:15
| title4 = Bad Influence
| writer4 = [[Robert Cray]], Michael Vannice
| length4 = 5:09
| title5 = Walk Away
| writer5 = [[Richard Feldman (songwriter)|Richard Feldman]], [[Marcella Detroit]]
| length5 = 3:52
| title6 = Hung Up on Your Love
| writer6 = Dozier
| length6 = 3:53
| title7 = Take a Chance
| writer7 = Clapton, [[Nathan East]], Phillinganes
| length7 = 4:54
| title8 = Hold On
| writer8 = Clapton, [[Phil Collins]]
| length8 = 4:56
| title9 = Miss You
| writer9 = Clapton, [[Bobby Colomby]], Phillinganes
| length9 = 5:06
| title10 = Holy Mother
| writer10 = [[Stephen Bishop (musician)|Stephen Bishop]], Clapton
| length10 = 4:55
| title11 = [[Behind the Mask (Yellow Magic Orchestra song)|Behind the Mask]]
| writer11 = [[Chris Mosdell]], [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]], [[Michael Jackson]]
| length11 = 4:47
| title12 = Grand Illusion
| writer12 = Bob Farrell, Dave Robbins, Charles Robbins, Van Stephenson
| length12 = 6:23
| note12 = CD only
}}
Some tracks were recorded for the album, but not included:
#"Wanna Make Love to You" (released on the "Behind the Mask" single; later included on ''[[Crossroads (Eric Clapton album)|Crossroads]]'')
#"Lady of Verona" (unissued)
#"Walking the White Line" (unissued)

== Personnel ==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Eric Clapton]] – guitars, lead vocals
* [[Gary Brooker]] – keyboards (1), backing vocals (1)
* Richard Cottle – synthesizers (1)
* [[Greg Phillinganes]] – keyboards (2–12), backing vocals (2–12)
* [[Richard Feldman (songwriter)|Richard Feldman]] – additional keyboards (5)
* [[Larry Williams (jazz musician)|Larry Williams]] – synthesizer programming (where employed) (2–12)
* [[Laurence Cottle]] – bass (1)
* [[Nathan East]] – bass (2–12)
* [[Henry Spinetti]] – drums (1)
* [[Phil Collins]] – drums (2–12), percussion (2–12), backing vocals (2–12)
* [[Michael Brecker]] – saxophones (2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
* [[Dave Bargeron]] – trombone (2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
* [[Randy Brecker]] – trumpet (2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
* [[Jon Faddis]] – trumpet (2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
* [[Leon Pendarvis]] – horn arrangements (2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
* [[Tina Turner]] – lead vocals (3), backing vocals (8)
* [[Mac and Katie Kissoon|Katie Kissoon]] – backing vocals (7, 10, 11)
* Magic Moreno – backing vocals (7)
* [[Tessa Niles]] – backing vocals (7, 10, 11)
{{div col end}}

== Production ==
* Producers – Eric Clapton (Track 1); Tom Dowd (Tracks 1–12); Phil Collins (Tracks 2–12).
* Engineers – Steve Chase and John Jacobs (Track 1); Paul Gommersall, Peter Hefter and Magic Moreno (Tracks 2–12).
* Photography – [[Terry O'Neill (photographer)|Terry O'Neill]]
* Photography Assistant – Tony Burdett
* Artwork – Zarkowski Designs, Ltd.
* Management – Roger Forrester

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1986–1987)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| align="center" | 34
|-
{{album chart|Canada|40|artist=Eric Clapton|album=August|chartid=0780|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
!scope="row"|European Albums ([[European Albums Chart|IFPI]])<ref name="arh">{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-03-07.pdf|title=Hits of the World|work=Billboard Magazine|volume=99|number=10|issn=0006-2510|page=72|date=7 March 1987|access-date=22 November 2015}}</ref>
|10
|-
! scope="row" | Finnish Albums ([[Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=48|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Eric Clapton|page=48|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|language=fi}}</ref>
| 15
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|32|artist=Eric Clapton|album=August|id=495|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
! scope="row"|Italian Albums (''[[Musica e Dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=[[Musica e Dischi]]|language=it|access-date=June 20, 2024}} Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Eric Clapton".</ref>
|align="center"|19
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref>{{cite book |title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 |publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]] |location=Roppongi, Tokyo |year=2006 |isbn=4-87131-077-9 |language=ja}}</ref>
|align="center"|28
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|38|artist=Eric Clapton|album=August|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|12|artist=Eric Clapton|album=August|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|7|artist=Eric Clapton|album=August|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|23|artist=Eric Clapton|album=August|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|3|artist=Eric Clapton|date=19870208|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|37|artist=Eric Clapton|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1987)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|US ''[[Billboard 200]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1987/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1987|work=Billboard|accessdate=7 September 2021}}</ref>
|70
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1986|artist=Eric Clapton|title=August|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|accessdate=25 July 2016|id=614-3230-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1986|artist=Eric Clapton|title=August|region=United States|award=Gold|accessdate=5 October 2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==Singles==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" border="1"
!scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|Single
!scope="col"|Chart
!scope="col"|Position<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/august-mw0000193257/awards |title=August – Eric Clapton : Awards : AllMusic |work=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=16 October 2012}}</ref>
|-
|1986
|"It's in the Way That You Use It"
|Mainstream Rock Tracks
|align="center"|1
|-
|1986
|"Tearing Us Apart"
|Mainstream Rock Tracks
|align="center"|5
|-
|1987
|"Miss You"
|Mainstream Rock Tracks
|align="center"|9
|-
|1987
|"Run"
|Mainstream Rock Tracks
|align="center"|21
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Eric Clapton|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:August (Album)}}
[[Category:Eric Clapton albums]]
[[Category:1986 albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Phil Collins]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Tom Dowd]]
[[Category:Reprise Records albums]]
[[Category:Warner Records albums]]