Eric Clapton - August

Eric Clapton - August.  From May 1986 - this was an album that came out at the tail end of the Vinyl Era.  CD's first gained momentum in 1983, and by the time this record came out - most record stores had converted their catalogues and inventory to digital.  There are some interesting song co-writing credits here.  Like Robbie Robertson on the title track; Michael Jackson on "Behind the Mark,"  Stephen (On and On) Bishop on Holy Mother, and Marcella Detroit (f/k/a as Marcy Levy - think Slowhand album) on Walk Away.  And the great Lamont Dozier on two cuts, Run and Hung up on Your Love.  Mr. Dozier of course is/was part of the Rock and Roll HOF songwriting trio - inducted along with the Holland brothers into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.  Before embarking on his blues re-entry, this record I would enclude as the meat in the triptych sandwich of Eric's 3 records that span the mid- to late '80's - which were Phil Collins-influenced: 1985's Behind the Sun, this one - August, and the great Journeyman, from 1989.  Eric, I read in his booked, loved the songs by Texas songwriter Jerry Lynn Williams.  Jerry wrote the bookends Pretending and No Alibis, both from Journeyman, and three classics from Behind the Sun.  Sadly, Mr. Williams passed away in November of 2005.