Just as Eric Clapton enjoyed another great year for the 1990's, he would once again top the album charts and rock charts in 1998 with this highly supercharged rock classic. What would be his first album of new material since his 1991 chart-topping hit Tears Of Heaven, Pilgrim is highly showcased by stark compositions, an exhilarating production, and electrifying guitar solos as The Guitar God gives another tour de force which make this CD a moving and optimistic masterwork.

Headed by a high-octane track list beginning with the Grammy-winning single 'My Father's Eyes,' it proceeds extremely well with 'Broken Hearted' (Clapton and John Mayer performed it together in 2005), 'One Chance,' 'She's Gone' and 'Born In Time.' Indeed, Clapton wrote or co-wrote every song except Bob Dylan's 'Born In Time' and 'Going Down Slow,' a classic blues song written by St. Louis Jimmy.

What really makes this free-spirited, Simon Climie-produced album rather appealing is that producer Simon Climie sculpts electronic orchestration which features chipped synthesizer backed rhythms. Clapton himself eschews his once-dominant climactic guitar solos for potent acoustic filigree, staccato riffs and fluid rhythms, letting loose with a rougher biting edge that give this timeless masterwork the artistic piece of mind that ranks as one of Clapton's greatest and most important achievements.

After the CD's release, Clapton said during a interview that, "Pilgrim is the work of someone who has learned in the hardest way imaginable he cannot change the world, he might be able to change himself". Fair enough. Fair enough.

This numbered limited edition Hybrid SACD version of Eric Clapton's Pilgrim from Audio Fidelity has been mastered by Steve Hoffman at Stephen Marsh Mastering and is compatible with both CD and SACD players.