[1] It's in the Way That You Use It (Clapton/Robertson) - 4:09
[2] Run (Dozier) - 3:38
[3] Tearing Us Apart (Clapton/Phillinganes) - 4:14
[4] Bad Influence (Cray/Vannice) - 5:06
[5] Walk Away (Feldman/Levy) - 3:51
[6] Hung up on Your Love (Dozier) - 3:42
[7] Take a Chance (Clapton/East/Phillinganes) - 4:52
[8] Hold On (Clapton/Collins) - 4:55
[9] Miss You (Clapton/Columby/Phillinganes) - 5:03
[10] Holy Mother (Bishop/Clapton) - 4:53
[11] Behind the Mask (Jackson/Mosdell/Sakamoto) - 4:46
[12] Grand Illusion (Farrell/Robbins/Stephenson) - 6:22
Eric Clapton adopted a new, tougher, hard R&B approach on August,
employing a stripped-down band featuring keyboard player Greg
Phillinganes, bassist Nathan East, and drummer/producer Phil Collins,
plus, on several tracks, a horn section and, on a couple of tracks,
backup vocals by Tina Turner, and performing songs written by old
Motown hand Lamont Dozier, among others. The excellent, but
incongruous, leadoff track, however, was "It's in the Way That You Use
It," which Clapton and Robbie Robertson had written for Robertson's
score to the film The Color of Money. Elsewhere, Clapton sang and
played fiercely on songs like "Tearing Us Apart," "Run," and "Miss
You," all of which earned AOR radio play. That radio support may have
helped the album to achieve gold status in less than six months,
Clapton's best commercial showing since 1981's Another Ticket, despite
the album's failure to generate a hit single. The title commemorates
the birth in August 1986 of Clapton's son Conor. (The CD version of the
album contains the bonus track "Grand Illusion.")
William Ruhlmann, All-Music Guide
"...the official start of Clapton's career renaissance with its mainstream commercial feel and real-life hits..."
Q Magazine 5/95, p.124 3 Stars - Good
When Clapton's name comes up, you think guitar-bluesy and hot-and if
you've seen a recent live performance you know the man's still got most
of what he had when, fifteen years ago, he was the most respected rock
guitarist on earth. But when you release August in December and have
Phil Collins produce (and play drums), things could start sounding a
tad iffy. Collins calls in Greg Philinganes (keyboards), and the
Brecker Brothers and Jon Faddis (horns) to add punch and flash, but
they come at the expense of hearing E.C. play, and often bury his
vocals. For Clapton at his best, scuse the fluff and get right to stuff
that matters: "Tearing Us Apart" (a rockin' duet with Tina Turner),
"Miss You," the extended solo on "Bad Influence," and the ballad "Holy
Mother" (stunning live-nobody can make a guitar weep like E.C. can),
dedicated to the late Richard Manuel of The Band. John Mayall, where
are you?
Phil Collins, der hier als Produzent tätig war hatte wohl leider
nicht das richtige Gespür für Clapton#s Musik. Die Songs sind
eigentlich schön und so richtig Clapton-like, aber die
Instrumentierung und der Mixdown sind kaum zu ertragen. Neben dem
bombastischen Schlagzeugspiel von Collins geht das Clapton#sche
Gitarrenspiel völlig unter und wird durch einen
übermäßigen Keyboard-Einsatz dann endgültig unter
die musikalische Wasseroberfläche gedrückt. Zwar bleiben dem
"Master Slowhand" einige Intros und Zwischenspiele, in denen er
ungestört bleibt - doch das kann auf einer Clapton-Scheibe doch
nun wirklich nicht alles sein! Selbst Gaststar Tina Turner leidet sehr
unter dem effektüberladenen Mixdown. Ihre Stimme (wie auch die
Claptons) versandet in einer Hallfahne. Collins hat versucht Clapton
wie Genesis zu produzieren, doch was bei Genesis stimmig ist, nimmt dem
Blues das "erdige" etwas. Schaaaaade!
It's in the way that you use it,
It comes and it goes.
It's in the way that you use it,
Boy don't you know.
And if you lie you will lose it,
Feelings will show.
So don't you ever abuse it,
Don't let it go.
Nobody's right till somebody's wrong.
Nobody's weak till somebody's strong.
No one gets lucky till luck comes along.
Nobody's lonely till somebody's gone.
Chorus
Chorus
First Verse
I've seen dark skies, never like this.
Walked on some thin ice, never like this.
I've told you white lies, never like this.
Looked into true eyes, never like this.
Chorus
Tearing Us Apart
You know the sun is shining; it's raining in my heart.
I don't know what to do since we've been apart.
Why don't you tell me, babe, what is going on?
You know I love you darling, don't want to be alone.
They're tearing us apart,
They're breaking up my heart.
I knew it from the start:
Your friends are tearing us apart.
You know I can't go on, feeling this old way.
You know my heart is burning, it's burning everyday.
You know I love you, baby, no one else will do.
Why don't you reconsider, do what I want you to?
Chorus
Chorus
Your friends are tearing us apart,
Tearing us apart.
Bad Influence
You use me to get you anything you wanted.
Oh, but I'm a changed man now, baby,
And your other friend can get you what you want now.
If I go through those same things again,
I'll be worse off than I started.
Girl, you're such a bad influence
And you've got ways to make me do what you want.
Girl, you're such a bad influence;
I've got to stay away.
I've been hurt in all of the worst kind of ways,
And it's you pretty baby,
I've just got to stay away from.
I won't go through those same things again;
I'm so glad that we parted.
Chorus
Somebody please, you've got to help me break away.
You know I don't like this lonely feeling.
It wasn't meant to be this way.
I won't go through those same things again;
I'm so glad we parted.
Chorus
You're such a bad influence;
And I have got to stay away.
You're such a bad influence;
I've got to stay away from you, baby.
I've got to stay away.
Walk Away
You leave a trail of tears wherever you go.
One of us will hold you, the other one won't.
But I could never share your love or leave it behind.
Break his heart, not mine.
Do you remember tender moments we shared?
How could this true affection vanish into thin air?
He's not worth the trouble, baby; he's just a waste of your time.
Oh, break his heart, not mine.
Don't you walk away,
You know you're gonna miss me.
Don't you walk away, walk away.
You're gonna miss me,
You're gonna miss my love.
So don't you walk away,
Don't you walk away, walk away.
Don't you walk away, walk away.
So I'll be waiting in the backroom, baby, when you kiss him goodbye.
Oh, break his heart not mine, but...
Chorus
Don't you walk away, walk away.
Oh don't you walk away.
I know you're gonna miss my love.
Don't you walk away, walk away.
Don't you walk away.
You're gonna miss my love.
Don't you walk away, walk away.
Hung Up On Your Love
I was ready to take a chance,
I found myself a new romance.
Then you call that same old night,
Always change my mind.
Oh no, not again.
Oh no, not again.
Just when I thought it was over, you come back
And I'm hung up on your love again.
Just when I thought I was free, you come back.
Now I'm hung up on your love again.
Just as I was doing good,
You come back, just to prove you could.
Things will always be the same,
With me the victim of the game.
Oh no, not again.
Oh no, not again.
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Take A Chance
If I don't take a chance,
If I don't make a move,
If I don't go looking for new romance,
How will I ever find my groove?
If I don't play around,
How am I gonna have my fun?
If I tried to settle down,
Would I be fooling anyone?
I'm out on a limb above a sea of bliss;
I don't know why I feel this way.
I only know I love it.
And I feel so free today.
You know I feel so free today.
That's right, I feel so free, no matter where I go,
But I feel so free today.
If I don't make mistakes,
If I don't play the fool,
If I have to worry 'bout the heart I break,
How am I ever gonna learn the rules?
I'm looking for danger inside the sweetest smile;
I don't know why I feel this way.
I only know I love it.
Chorus
Chorus
Hold On
Deep down in the dead of night I call out your name.
It seems now that nothing is right, there's nothing but pain.
If only I'd told you I love you, now all I can do is...
Hold on, hold on to the feeling.
You've got to hold on, hold on to the feeling.
I don't feel right on this sad night.
Lord, I've got thistles growing in my pillow.
If you could believe in me, then I could be strong,
And then we could set our love free and right all these wrongs.
You'll know when I touch you how much you still mean to me, baby.
Chorus
Hold on, hold on.
Just give me one more chance.
Please give me one more chance.
Don't tell me our romance is through.
Chorus
Hold on, hold on to the feeling.
Hold on, hold on to the feeling.
You've got to hold on, hold on to the feeling.
Hold on, hold on to the feeling.
Miss You
Don't change your mind,
I ain't got the time to sit and wonder.
I'm doing fine.
If you decide to leave, I won't go under.
You know I've come this far without you;
It won't be too hard to be alone.
I've got choices all around me,
So I won't be spending too much time at home.
Girl, I'm gonna miss you.
I'm gonna miss you, baby.
I can't forgive you,
Instead I'm gonna miss you, baby.
No, don't say a word.
I already heard that you don't love me.
In your state of mind,
I don't need to hear your side of the story.
Your friends all said we had a future
And I don't think I really want to know.
My friends keep telling me to lose you
And how glad they'll be when you decide to go.
Chorus
I broke my back to make you happy.
Sometime, somehow, someone's got to care.
If you think you're better off without me,
Just remember, it's a dirty world out there.
Chorus
I'm gonna miss the ground you walk on,
Gonna miss the air you breathe.
I'm just not quite happy, baby,
'bout your crazy plans to leave.
Holy Mother
Holy Mother, where are you?
Tonight I feel broken in two.
I've seen the stars fall from the sky.
Holy mother, can't keep from crying.
Oh I need your help this time,
Get me through this lonely night.
Tell me please which way to turn
To find myself again.
Holy mother, hear my prayer,
Somehow I know you're still there.
Send me please some peace of mind;
Take away this pain.
I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait any longer.
I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait for you.
Holy mother, hear my cry,
I've cursed your name a thousand times.
I've felt the anger running through my soul;
All I need is a hand to hold.
Oh I feel the end has come,
No longer my legs will run.
You know I would rather be
In your arms tonight.
When my hands no longer play,
My voice is still, I fade away.
Holy mother, then I'll be
Lying in, safe within your arms.
Behind The Mask
All along, had to talk about it,
Like a two-edged sword, he touched you and it stabs me.
All along, knew you were a phony girl,
Sit behind the mask where you control your world.
Yesterday he had you in his arms;
When I'm holding you, I feel his bitter charms.
I can't judge what you do to me.
Camoflage the truth, indulge your fantasy.
Who do you love? Is it me now, is it him babe? I don't know.
Who do you love? Is it me babe, is it him now? I don't know.
There is nothing in your eyes; that's the way you cry.
All is grand, all is bright. You're just studying my mind.
There is nothing in your eyes; that's the way you cry.
All is grand, all is bright. You're just studying my mind.
Was I invited to your masquerade?
Well the party's over so now take off your face.
You say you love, but it's hard to see
When you're in his arms, throwing rocks at me.
Chorus
I walk around suffering in my doom.
When I come to you, you're sitting in your room.
The truth is news, I have longed to trace.
So take off the mask so I can see your face.
Who do you love? Is it me baby, is it him now? I don't know.
Who do you love? Is it me babe, is it him baby? I don't know.
Who do you love? Is it me babe, is it him now? I don't know.
Who do you love? Is it me now, is it him baby? I don't know.
Who do you love? Is it me baby, is it him now? I don't know.
Who do you love? Is it me baby, is it him now? I don't know.
Who do you love? Is it me baby, is it him? I want to know.
Who do you love?
Grand Illusion
I saw you in a dream, it hit me like a bright light
Flashing on a screen, visions of my whole life.
I used to chase the moment of desire
Back to when my young heart burned like a fire.
It was just a, nothing but a grand illusion.
Heart was quicker than the eye.
Nothing but a grand illusion,
Legend in my own mind.
I held you in my arms till the other side of midnight.
Kept you in my mind, you got me through some long nights.
Standing on the threshold of desire,
Caught between the madness and the fire.
Chorus
It was all a grand illusion.
Hand was quicker than the eye.
Nothing but a grand illusion,
Legends in our own minds.
I used to chase the moments of desire
Back to when my young heart burned like a fire.
It was just a, nothing but a, it was all a grand illusion.
Nothing but a grand illusion.
It was all a grand illusion,
Legend in my own mind.
It was just a grand illusion.
Nothing but a grand illusion.
It was just a grand illusion,
Legend in our own mind.