1987 Eric Clapton – Behind The Mask (UK:#15)
“Behind the Mask” is a synthpop song by electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra, written by member Ryuichi Sakamoto and first produced in 1978 for a Seiko commercial. It was later released in 1979 as part of the band’s album Solid State Survivor with English lyrics added by Chris Mosdell.
It was also a single from Michael Jackson’s keyboardist Greg Phillinganes’s 1985 album Pulse. Phillinganes first met Michael and his brothers during the sessions for The Jacksons’ Destiny album in 1978, and went on to serve as musical director for Michael’s Bad World Tour.
Greg Phillinganes, who had previously covered the song himself, brought the composition to Eric Clapton. Phillinganes played keyboards on this track, as well as singing background vocals. This version failed to credit Michael Jackson as one of the song’s co-writers, but Chris Mosdell has confirmed that Jackson’s estate does in fact take 50% of the song-writing royalties.
The song was released as a single, and peaked at No. 15 in the UK on January 17, 1987.
Album
August is an album by Eric Clapton, released in 1986 by Duck Records/Warner Bros. Records. Primarily produced by Phil Collins, in association with longtime Clapton associate Tom Dowd, August became Clapton’s biggest-selling album to date. Among the songs on the album are the Dowd/Clapton-produced signature tune “It’s in the Way That You Use It” (co-written […]
Musicians
| Bass | Nathan East |
| Percussion | Phil Collins |
| Guitar | Eric Clapton |
| Keyboards | Greg Phillinganes |
| Background Vocals | Phil Collins |
| Background Vocals | Katie Kissoon |
| Background Vocals | Tessa Niles |
| Background Vocals | Greg Phillinganes |
| Vocals | Eric Clapton |
Produced By
Phil Collins
Songwriters
Chris Mosdell
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Michael Jackson
Charts
US: –
UK:#15
Eric Roberts
July 20, 2024 @ 16:51
Clapton’s voice never sounded so powerful and right on it. Wonderful production by Phil Collins. For instance the long pedal point at the very beginning to introduce the song. The synths are very low key. I only noticed them at the end really. This is by far the best version.