Eric Clapton'S Lost Album Mystery: Phil Collins Collaboration Goes Mia

A Missing Piece in Music History

Los Angeles was buzzing with intrigue as Eric Clapton recently delved into a musical mystery revolving around an unreleased album he collaborated on with none other than Phil Collins. During a revealing interview, Clapton shared that this enigmatic project has slipped through the cracks over the years, and only a few might know where it truly lies.

Clapton confessed, "There’s a load of demos that he made which have kind of mysteriously disappeared." He went on to explain that when the album was initially sent to Warner Brothers, they weren't quite impressed, noting, "We can’t. There’s nothing here we can work with." Turns out, the album wasn't crafted with commercial success in mind but was more about the duo's creative synergy.

“You have to uh campaign with Lenny Waronker. He needs to look dig in his desk and find these demos because they are stupendous,” Clapton responded when asked who might hold the elusive tracks.

The Road to 'Behind the Sun'

This tale of lost tunes offers a peek into the creation of Clapton's ninth solo studio album, *Behind the Sun*, eventually released on March 11, 1985. Initially produced by Collins at the scenic Montserrat, the recording sessions captured Clapton's personal struggles and creative experiments. With his heart-baring lyrics and new tech like a Roland guitar synthesizer, Clapton and his crew were pleased with the result. Yet, Warner Brothers yearned for more marketable material.

To meet these demands, Clapton was asked to record tracks from Texas songwriter Jerry Lynn Williams, backed by a posse of LA's session pros. While the revised sessions eventually led to sure-fire hits like "Forever Man" and "See What Love Can Do," the original Collins-produced version faded into obscurity.

Where Are the Original Demos?

Despite the album's eventual success, the fate of the original collaboration hangs in limbo. Clapton suggests the demos might still be tucked away in Lenny Waronker's files. As fans and music historians hope for a rediscovery, this mystery adds another layer to Clapton's rich musical history and keeps the Malibu-style drama alive.

Could this be the year that Clapton and Collins’ lost work sees the SoCal sunlight? Only time will tell as this story develops.