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I have to start my review by agreeing with those writers who've stated that this is primarily a greatest hits album, but then find myself asking how exactly do you fit 40 years output onto two compact discs??

The majority of people reading these reviews will ask 'John who?' when asked about John Mayall, and I don't say that to slight my readers in any way at all, honestly!

If you are thinking of getting into Mr. Clapton there is no better way to start than with this double album. The majority of his hits are included here, and if it gives you a taste to search out what is now a huge back catalogue then I would imagine that Eric, his recording company, and those who quite correctly describe this collection as incomplete will all benefit.

Buy it, enjoy it, then buy some of his older stuff - you'll find something to love on every solo and collaborative album. Who knows, maybe some people will become more aware of John Mayall, Bluesbreakers, Cream....

Rating: 4 out of 5

This is a double CD and with getting for 40 years of back catalogue and I do understand how its not always going to be possible to please everyone's expectations or hopes for any 'best of'..

However, I am particularly disppointed that The 'Complete' is far from anything remotely approaching 'Complete'. Essentially, its a greatest hits package, yet some of his biggest singles successes are missing. I refer in particular to songs such as 'Behind the Mask' (a number 15 hit in 1987), the live version of 'Wonderful tonight' (number 30 in 1991) and 'Love can build a bridge' (the only UK no.1 he's ever featured on!) but mainly I'm disappointed that 'Swing low sweet Chariot' is not included. His second most (solo) successful single of the 70's (and a single-only release) is greatly missed. (I shall have to keep my non-remastered version of 'Time pieces' if I want to hear that) ! Furthermore theres nothing from his John Mayall, Yardbird or Beatle work-outs and only 1 track from Blind Faith.

Given that his Golden period was mid 60's to Mid 90's (at best?) , why not concentrate on that period rather than Robert Johnson covers, BB King mish-mash, etc.

I do appreciate that different labels can sometimes play an important part in compilations. However, his major labels are mostly represented on this compilation (Excepting the London single 'Love can build a bridge') so what is the excuse for these omissions?

'Complete' means everything! Clearly, Polydor can't be expected to include all of his output on two discs, but for a 'best of' under a different name its track selection is appalling. What, may I ask, is 'complete' about this compilation?

Rating: 2 out of 5

For years on British TV, we have had to put up with adverts for the latest album as being 'fantastic' (or some equally abused superlative), for an instantly forgettable, worse than mediocre, band recording. I don't tolerate: I just ignore these regularly rolled out and meaningless cliches. It's the marketing people seemingly having a vocabulary in 3 figures, thinking the younger age group are similarly afflicted and naive to believe this tosh.

But when marketing hype gets printed up as the title of a respected musician's latest CD, I feel comment should be made, with the tiny hope that these illiterate ************(put your own obscenity here),don't try to feed this rubbish to us in the future. The case in point is the heavily advertised Eric Clapton compilation The Complete Eric Clapton. As already said: Complete??? On 2 CDs??? Come on!! Worse, nothing is here representing the period Clapton became known as 'God 'i.e. in particularly the Yardbirds and Bluesbreakers periods. With so much marketing money thrown at promoting the set, surely there would have been money to pay EMI and Decca for the privilege of providing examples of Clapton's music from the early to mid 60's? Could this be a typo, should the cover really read The Incomplete Eric Clapton? With so many Clapton compilations out already, this triplication of what you probably have already, is clearly another Christmas stocking-filler-come-exploitation job on the back of Clapton's recently published "autobiography"? The cynic record company pushing back catalogue yet again. Indeed I wonder how much Clapton was involved, especially after the comments Clapton made on the Cream biographic DVD issued last year, bemoaning that Jack Bruce made most out of Cream through song royalties - the Complete Eric Clapton kicks off with Jack Bruce's I Feel Free. Doesn't smack of Eric being in control and having much say here - so much for this 'god's' omnipotence .

If we haven't heard all before in many packaged forms then we would be close to 5 star set here , but not for the umpteenth variant.

Rating: 2 out of 5

I'm not going to buy this because (like most Clapton fans) I've already got most of the tracks here. While it's not a bad selection, I don't think it can be called "complete" when it omits anything from that 1965-66 John Mayall period which is what actually brought EC to fame beyond the haunts of West London, and, indeed, pretty much sparked off the Tortured Guitar God syndrome which continues to this day. And what about some of his terrific session work, such as "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (a favourite of mine) or Delaney & Bonnie's "Comin' Home"? As a reflection of his career, B+ at best.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Clapton has built an entire career based on the Blues, an African American art form, yet he is a small minded racist, he funds right wing groups and his views were the motivation for the creation of Rock against Racism and the Anti Nazi League. Avoid him and his records at all costs. That shouldn't be too difficult since his records are rubbish anyway.

Rating: 1 out of 5