4/5 A Fantastic piece of work
  by
This album is incredibly strong even with Phil Collins helping on it. The Concert tour which I was fortunate enough to see in England was one of the best ever. She's waiting, Same old blues, knock on wood, are really driving tracks.
But number 10 Just like a prisoner, I feel, is the best on the album, the way he closes it up with Behind the sun makes this an album that should be in everyone's collection.

3/5 Clapton Meet Genesis And The 80's
  by dc777 (Austin, Texas United States)
While I don't think this is a vintage Clapton recording I don't think you should over look it either. There are vintage Claptonian solo's and well written lyrics but I don't like the overall production. It was fine for the 80's but doesn't stand the test of time. I don't think this combo, in practical terms, makes sense. Collins is a great drummer and a fine pop producer, his colaboration with Robert Plant was great. I think a pop artist producing a bluesman like Clapton isn't smart.

I like "She's Waiting" but it seems to be about a minute too long and the end sounds like Phil Collins is about to break into a refrein of "Johnny Comes Marching Home". I think the synthesizer sounds out of place and makes the song have a choppy feel to it. Remove the keyboard and add a Hammon B3 and you've got a great song.

"See What Love Can Do" and "Knock On Wood" sound more Genesis than Claptonian but they are good tracks. I like "Same Old Blues" but again, the keyboard sounds out of place, overall vintage soloing by Clapton.

"Tangled In Love" sounds like a leftover Genesis track.

"Forever Man" is definately the strongest track on the cd, probably his best solo since "Layla". "Just Like A Prisoner" is another strong track with a great solo as well. These last two tracks the overall production is great.

Overall, this set is ok. I'd take it on a road trip.

3/5 Good, but definately inconsistent.
  by Funky D (Bayou Country)
This is the so-called "comeback album" which hailed Eric Clapton's entry into the MTv age, circa 1985. While it certainly accomplished his goal, the overall album was a decidedly mixed bag, partially the fault of Clapton's label, Warner Brothers.

After the disappointment of "Money & Cigarettes", Clapton turned to the then-red-hot Phil Collins to produce his next record. The finished product was sent to Warner Brothers and WB tinkered with it, insisting that EC add a few new Ted Templeman-produced tracks: "Forever Man", "Something's Happening", and "See What Love Can Do". These tunes were heavily promoted by WB and ended up being a big help to the album's success. However, this tinkering caused the album to have an uneven feel between the Templeman and Collins-produced tracks. Also evident is that the Clapton/Collins team were still searching for synergy.

"Forever Man", one of the Templeman tunes, is easily the strongest tune on the album, containing one of the best intros on record. It spools up, then flies! It is worth buying this album just to get this tune.

The best of the Collins tracks are "She's Waiting" & "Just like a Prisoner. Although both are examples of solid songwriting and performing, none of the tracks are particular standouts which would have produced a big hit, thus the reason WB felt compelled to intervene.

On the down side "Never Make You Cry" & "Same Old Blues" went on way too long and started to drag, even though the latter was the closest EC came to a true blues tune.

Despite its limitations, it is still a decent album, although the Collins/Clapton team would not gel until their next ablum, "August".

5/5 Produced by Phil Collins / Templeton - rebirth of Clapton
  by Darren S. Wools (minneapolis)
(1985) I think this album is a new dawning for Clapton. He's clean & reinvigorated & for the first time really focused on production & muscianship. First of all, Clapton & Collins (by this time) had been friends for almost ten years. They had played togther with John Martyn (1981), Steven Bishop (1981), & on Collins's Face Value (1981). So clapton didn't just recruit collins because he was the most sought-after producer/drummer of the 80s. He recruited him because he deeply respected Phil's ability to produce, motivate musicians, unlock hidden talent, & take them to a higher peak of perfection. Another notable about Collins was he was never a drunk or junky. He was a music man & very professional. 12-16 hour studio days aren't possible if you're all screwed up on dope. Now that Clapton was clean from heroin he could seriously focus on his music & there was noone better to recruit then Collins(known as the busiest man in Rock). Clapton's best attribute is being humble & modest. he has played with so many people because he wants to constantly change & improve. This is why Phil Collins produced & toured with him. ted Templeton (van halen / doobie brothers) also produced 3 of the 11 tracks here (forever man / something's happening / see what love can do). There are alot of musicians on this one including nathan east (bass), greg phillinganes (keyboards), john robinson (brand x & phil collins touring keyboardist), jamie oldaker (drums), jeff porcoro of TOTO (drums), ray cooper (percussion), steve lukather of TOTO (guitar), Donald duck Dunn (bass), marcy levy (long time clapton vocalist/cowriter), & many others. The opening track "She's Waiting" explodes with strong drumming & hard rhythm keyboard tracks indicating that Phil Collins was conducting this train & Clapton was more than happy to let him. Even though Jamie Oldaker was drumming there's no doubt who was fuelling his rhythm patterns (Collins). There is also a great bluesy track called same old blues that is more or less a 1980s blues song that is powerful & compelling. Throughout the album you can hear the strong Phil Collins trademark drum patterns & production. On "Tangled in Love" the sequencer pattern used is so genesis-like that you would think that rutherford & banks (genesis pals) are in the studio as well. Clapton's vocal performances are also the strongest he's ever recorded again indicating that Collins must have pushed him to push himself vocally. The collins/clapton relationship would continue on the road (phil at drums) at LIVE AID, on tour with East & Phillinganes (producing an awesome 1986 Montreaux Festival appearance), & on another album in 1986 called August which would prove to be another huge album. A great producer can bring out amazing potential in a musician & that is what Phil Collins did with Clapton & also Robert Plant. Clapton & Collins continued to work together on other albums including But Seriously & Journeyman. This relationship, I think, created some of the best produced & most mature music of the 1980s & early 1990s. At this time (1985-86) Collins was very busy balancing his own solo work (no jacket required - 1985) & genesis's 1986 invisible touch but he would find breaks during tours & albums to work with clapton again & again indicating that their relationship was very important to them.

5/5 An Underrated Clapton Classic
  by Steven R. Seim (Beaver Dam, WI United States)
"Behind the Sun" is not a favorite of most fans or critics, but it's one of mine. With this album, Clapton finally abandoned the mellow, laid-back (and often boring) country rock of the late 1970s and mastered the more electronic (and energetic) sound of '80s radio. The sound is more dense and satisfying. "She's Waiting" and "Forever Man" are Clapton's hardest - and most convincing - rockers since "Layla." "Something's Happening" is pure pop-rock joy, and "See What Love Can Do" is uniquely beautiful. Don't miss out on this gem!