Eric Clapton Misses Top Chart Spot, Overtaken by Major Movie Soundtrack

Eric Clapton changed the trajectory of his career when he released Slowhand. The fifth solo set by the celebrated guitarist dropped in the mid-’70s and produced some of the most popular singles in his catalog. Tracks like “Lay Down Sally,” “Cocaine,” and “Wonderful Tonight” still rank among Clapton’s most familiar hits, and they continue to power the full-length to this day – and nearly back to the top of a Billboard ranking this week.

Eric Clapton Almost Hits No. 1

Slowhand returns to the Blues Albums chart this week in America. Clapton’s project nearly climbs back to the summit – where it didn’t manage to find space just a few days ago – on the tally of the most consumed blues full-lengths and EPs in the nation, but it misses the top spot by just one space, and it’s a somewhat surprising title that keeps him from reaching No. 1 again.

Sinners Blocks Eric Clapton

The soundtrack that accompanies the movie Sinners blocks Slowhand from another turn at No. 1. The album — built around the largely blues tracks performed in the Ryan Coogler-directed box office smash — has now spent five weeks on the Blues Albums chart. The full-length debuted in that position a month ago and has yet to budge from the top position.

Slowhand Was a Slow Riser

While it was originally released in 1977, Slowhand didn’t appear on the Blues Albums ranking until just a few months ago, in January of this year. The set has bounced on and off the genre-specific roster and has now spent seven nonconsecutive frames somewhere on the 15-spot list.

Three of those frames have seen it rule the tally, though interestingly, it didn’t debut in first place. Clapton’s full-length waited until April to reach the summit. When it did, it became his twelfth leader after first breaking in and becoming one of his 14 top 10s on the tally.

Throughout his career, Clapton has pushed 15 titles to the Blues Albums chart. Just one of them has missed out on the loftiest space on the roster.