Clapton's 10 Most Popular Songs

By Ben York
Posted: Feb. 26, 2013

One could make a compelling case that Eric Clapton is more popular today than he has ever been in his nearly 50-year career.   

• Eric Clapton Tickets

There's good reason for his popularity, however -- he continues to make amazing music that appeals to people of all ages. Furthermore, his live shows are something to behold. Certainly, as one of the greatest guitarists of all-time, that goes without saying. He has a new album (Old Sock) due in March along with the launch of a gigantic U.S. tour beginning at US Airways Center on March 14.

Recently, Rolling Stone Magazine asked readers to vote on Clapton's 10 most popular songs. With an enormous catalog, the choice was far more difficult than you'd think. 

Below is a sampling of the fan voting. For the entire top 10 list, click here. 

10. 'The Core'

"One song off the album that didn't get much attention was 'The Core,' a nearly nine-minute duet with backup singer Marcy Levy, who also co-wrote the tune. The song has slowly developed a following over the years, and today it's seen as one of Clapton's finest love songs."

7. 'Old Love'

"The standout track is 'Old Love' (co-written with Robert Cray), though it's hard to argue that the definitive version of the track came three years later on Clapton's Unplugged album. His pain sounds far more real when the 1980s production is removed in favor of acoustic guitar and piano."

4. 'Tears in Heaven'

"Eric Clapton composed the soundtrack, and he included a new song he wrote about the tragic death of his four-year-old son, Conor. The video played in a constant loop on VH1 for months on end and shortly afterward, Clapton rerecorded the song for Unplugged, giving it another boost on the charts. It became one of the biggest hits of Clapton's career, but by 2004, he could no longer face singing the song and he dropped it from his setlist."

2. 'Bell Bottom Blues'

"'Pattie asked me to get her some pairs of these jeans we used to call Landlubbers,' Clapton wrote in his memoir. 'Which were hipsters with two little slip pockets at the front. She had asked for flared rather than straight bottoms.' That simple request led to one of the all-time great unrequited love songs in rock history, and Clapton's anguish is painfully clear in every note of this song."

Click here to see the entire top 10 list from Rolling Stone.