Eric Clapton has spent over half a century collaborating with some of the biggest names in music, because of course he has. When you’re one of the greatest guitarists of all time, people tend to want you in the room. And when you are Eric Clapton, you say yes—then casually lay down a solo that becomes the most memorable part of the song. These 20 collaborations are historical documents of what happens when musical legends collide.
Here are 20 of the best Eric Clapton collaborations that prove one thing: when Clapton shows up, the song levels up.
1. “I Had a Dream” – B.B. King and Eric Clapton
Two blues giants in one studio sounds like a fantasy, but this track from Riding with the King makes it real. Clapton holds back just enough to let B.B. King shine, then sneaks in with solos that feel like conversations. It’s blues with royalty written all over it.
2. “Runaway Train” – Elton John featuring Eric Clapton
Elton John brought the melodies, Eric Clapton brought the firepower. This early-’90s anthem proves that pop and blues can go full speed ahead on the same track. The result? A radio-ready ride with serious chops under the hood.
3. “It’s Probably Me” – Sting featuring Eric Clapton
On this sultry soundtrack standout, Sting’s smoky delivery dances perfectly around Clapton’s silky guitar lines. It’s cool, understated, and endlessly replayable. The kind of collaboration where no one’s showing off—and it still sounds flawless.
4. “Good to Me as I Am to You” – Aretha Franklin featuring Eric Clapton
If the Queen of Soul invites you in, you don’t just play—you serve. Clapton drops into Aretha’s world of gospel-blues brilliance with total grace, adding subtle licks that lift the song without ever stepping on the vocals. Soul music with six-string class.
5. “Give Me Strength” – Eric Clapton and Yvonne Elliman
Yvonne Elliman’s harmonies add warmth and light to this slow-burning Clapton tune. The two voices blend like whiskey and honey, and the result is both heartbreaking and healing. A gem from his 461 Ocean Boulevard era that still cuts deep.
6. “Before You Accuse Me” – Eric Clapton and Robert Cray
Eric Clapton teams up with fellow blues master Robert Cray for a studio version that drips with style. It’s old-school in all the right ways—tight, tasteful, and irresistibly groovy. When bluesmen talk, we listen.
7. “My Father’s Eyes” – Eric Clapton and Babyface
Yes, Babyface. And yes, it works. The smoothest R&B producer in the game helped shape one of Clapton’s most emotional songs into a crossover classic. When soul meets blues, everybody wins.
8. “All Our Past Times” – Eric Clapton and Rick Danko
The Band’s Rick Danko brought the heart, and Clapton brought the heartbreak. Together, they created a tender, underrated duet that feels like a campfire confession. Quietly devastating and absolutely gorgeous.
9. “Badge” – Cream (co-written with George Harrison)
What do you get when a Beatle writes lyrics and Clapton writes riffs? A psych-rock classic with a bridge that still knocks you sideways. “Badge” is a song where even the silence sounds musical.
10. “Born Under a Bad Sign” – Eric Clapton and Albert King
Clapton knew better than to try to outplay Albert King—so he matched him in vibe and groove instead. Their version of this blues staple is electric in the way only two masters trading licks can be. A masterclass in restraint and respect.
11. “Holy Mother” – Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood
These two reunited old friends for a track that’s as spiritual as it is sonically rich. Winwood’s keys and Clapton’s guitar create something between prayer and power ballad. It’s the sound of healing, through and through.
12. “Tearing Us Apart” – Eric Clapton and Tina Turner
Tina brings the fire, Clapton brings the grit, and the combination is explosive. This ’80s stormer is a breakup song turned battlefield anthem. Nobody gets out clean—and that’s the point.
13. “Old Love” – Eric Clapton and Robert Cray
When heartbreak meets maturity, you get “Old Love.” Cray’s smooth guitar tone pairs beautifully with Clapton’s smoky sadness. It’s not just a song—it’s a sigh.
14. “Riding with the King” – B.B. King and Eric Clapton
Back to the blues with this album title track, where the duo sounds like they’ve been trading stories for centuries. Clapton lets B.B. take the wheel—and still manages to steer the whole thing straight into greatness.
15. “I’ve Got a Rock ‘n’ Roll Heart” – Eric Clapton and Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder’s slide guitar slips in alongside Clapton’s easy swagger, giving this tune extra soul. It’s laid-back rock ‘n’ roll that doesn’t need to shout to prove its point. Just cool vibes and cool hands.
16. “Little Wing” – Derek and the Dominos (tribute to Jimi Hendrix)
Clapton doesn’t just cover Hendrix—he paints in his spirit. This studio version with Duane Allman feels like both a salute and a reinvention. One of the best guitar homages ever put to tape.
17. “Beautiful Thing” – Eric Clapton and Simon Climie
Pop meets blues in this mid-’90s standout, with Clapton crafting silky solos under Climie’s clean vocals. It’s soft, sweet, and sneakily emotional. Proof that less can still be more.
18. “Bad Love” – Eric Clapton and Phil Collins
When Eric Clapton needed a drummer who could also deliver big, bold production, he turned to Phil Collins. The result? A Grammy-winning rocker with a riff that hits like a freight train and a chorus built to echo through arenas. Clapton shreds, Collins pounds, and “Bad Love” delivers exactly what it promises.
19. “Circus” – Eric Clapton and Simon Climie
Another Climie co-write, this deeply personal ballad finds Clapton at his most vulnerable. The delicate production gives the song room to breathe. It’s sad, stunning, and unforgettable.
20. “Let It Grow” – Eric Clapton and Yvonne Elliman
This soft-rock spiritual feels like the sunrise after a long night. Elliman’s harmonies give it lightness, while Clapton’s guitar grows quietly beneath. A reminder that even rock gods need to reflect.
Bonus Entry – “Layla” – Derek and the Dominos
When heartbreak hits hard, you form a band with Duane Allman and pour your soul into a six-minute masterpiece. “Layla” is Clapton at his most raw—obsessed, unfiltered, and unforgettable. That piano coda? Still breaking hearts, decades later.
