Cream:

Disraeli Gears:(1967)

Wheels On Fire:(1968)

I can't imagine a record collection without these two classics. In fact, I have two copies of Wheels On Fire. Up front I'll say, I like Clapton best when he's pushed, and surely Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker could do that. Dayglo and flare, Disraeli Gears picks up with all the psychedelia where Fresh Cream left off, but by Wheels On Fire, all things are striped down to drive and thrust. Side note, Wheels was the first double album to go platinum. I'm sure you know these albums, or can at least name the hit songs off them. I'll just listen and enjoy.

Eric Clapton:

Guitar Boogie:(1971)

Ok, yes, I'm starting off an Eric Clapton post with a compilation album. This is a particularly decent one. There was a time, before I had done any diggin' or learnin' that I was a big Clapton fan, but once I had heard Freddie King, that was over. That said, there are some tasty jams on this record. 

Clapton:(1973)

Another compilation album of early Clapton stuff. Key track on this one is Bell Bottom Blues, which of course is from Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which is a killer album.

There's One In Every Crowd:(1975)

Eric Clapton's first proper solo album. A mixture of country flavor and reggae. Personally I live Clapton more when he's not playing the guitar hero, and just laying back being the singer rhythm player. Key track: Don't Blame Me

E.C. Was Here:(1975)

A live album containing six jammed out tracks. Check out Further On Up The Road, which is good, but doesn't come close to the awesomeness of the performance from The Last Waltz.

No Reason To Cry:(1976)

The second proper solo album. I really like this one, like I said, I like Clapton best when he's just singing, and playing, and that's what you get here. Oh yeah, and Ron Wood, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, and Richard Manuel are backing Clapton up. Favorite track on this album is the duet with Bob Dylan on Sign Language. 

Slowhand:(1977)

Every artist has that big career defining album, the one they'll never escape, and this is Clapton's. Spawning three huge radio hits, and selling the most copies of any Clapton album. See: Cocaine, Wonderful Tonight, and Lay Down Sally.

Backless:(1978)

This may be my favorite Clapton solo album, from the cover to the music. Side A and B start off with Bob Dylan songs you can only find here. But, perhaps my favorite track is Promises.

Money And Cigarettes:(1983)

And in come the 80's... In comes the transition to overly smooth, middle aged, don't rock the boat...

Blind Faith:

Blind Faith: (1969)

Blind Faith, a pesky "Super Group" made up of members of Cream and Traffic, except...this one works. At least for one album. This album also comes with a legendary controversy over its cover art. Hence the two different ones above. Americans have always been squeamish about nudity, our puritan genes running wild and such. So the record company stateside released the very vanilla cover art of the band sitting around. It was the naughty cover version that fell into my hands at the age of fourteen. All cover art aside, the music on this record overshadows any frivolous BS. I've always found Eric Clapton to work better as a sideman rather than a front, and here who better for him to side for than Steve Winwood. Those soaring vocals on Presence of The Lord, fucking awesome. The guitar exchanges between Winwood and Clapton are incredible. And then when you set all that on top of the Ginger Baker/Ric Grech rhythm section, off to the moon. Can't Find My Way Home is a key track for me, so gentle and understated.