Neha Patil (Editor)

No Alibis

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B-side
  
"Running on Faith"

Genre
  
Blues/rock

Writer(s)
  
Jerry Lynn Williams

Released
  
March 1990

Label
  
Reprise Records

Length
  
5:32 album 4:04 single edit

"No Alibis" is a track from Eric Clapton's 1989 album Journeyman. It was released as a single in a shortened version, with "Running on Faith" (also on the Journeyman album) as the b-side. The 12" single and CD maxi-singles, both released the following year, included the longer album version and also added live versions of "Behind the Mask" and "Cocaine," respectively. The live versions were recorded at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England in July 1986.

"No Alibis" is one of the more commercial rock songs from that record. Author Marc Roberty describes it as "a strong, anthem-like song." The song, written by longtime collaborator Jerry Lynn Williams, combines Eric Clapton's rough, seasoned vocals with guest vocalist Daryl Hall's light vocals. The lyrics are about a male person asking his girlfriend or wife not to lie to him further, suggesting that all the lies she tells make the situation worse. During the Journeyman World Tour, performances of this song were particularly energetic. It became a live favorite. The piece is in the key of D major.

In Clapton's autobiography, he describes that he wrote the songs with Williams, who was credited exclusively, but that Clapton was betrayed by his former partner Lory Del Santo.

The single release of the song reached number 53 on the British charts and stayed there for three weeks. On the US charts, the single reached number 4 on the mainstream rock charts, though it did not enter the Hot 100.

Personnel

  • Backing vocals – Chaka Khan, Lani Groves
  • Bass, backing vocals – Nathan East
  • Drum programming – Jimmy Bralower
  • Guitar, vocals – Eric Clapton
  • Harmony vocals – Daryl Hall
  • Keyboards, backing vocals – Greg Phillinganes
  • Percussion – Carol Steele
  • Piano – Richard Tee
  • Synthesizer programming – Robbie Kondor
  • References

    No Alibis Wikipedia