Eric Clapton announces “Journeyman Deluxe Edition” with unreleased tracks

September 5, 2025 Pete Francis 0 Comments eric clapton

Eric Clapton’s acclaimed 1989 album Journeyman is set for a fresh release this fall. Bushbranch/Surfdog Records has announced Journeyman: Deluxe Edition, a newly remastered version of the record that includes four bonus tracks, three of which have never been released. The deluxe package will be available digitally and on CD/LP on November 21.

The announcement arrives alongside the debut of “Forever,” a previously unheard song written by Jerry Williams, complete with a brand-new music video.

Journeyman is widely regarded as a pivotal record in Clapton’s career. The original album featured standout cuts like “Pretending,” “Bad Love,” and “Running on Faith,” with an impressive roster of collaborators including George Harrison, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan, Daryl Hall, and Robert Cray. The deluxe edition breathes new life into the classic project with the addition of “Higher Power,” “Border Song,” “Forever,” and “That Kind of Woman,” all mixed and mastered from the original sessions.

The liner notes for the release reveal that the idea began when Clapton stumbled across fans uploading outtakes from the Journeyman sessions on YouTube. That discovery prompted a deep dive into his archives, leading to the recovery of these bonus tracks, now officially polished for release.

“Journeyman finds Clapton overcoming battles with alcohol, drugs, and record labels, while celebrating the thing that always kept him running: His endless capacity to chase his music on whatever journey it takes him on, reflecting his life back at him with his guitar playing,” the notes explain.

Clapton has stated the personal meaning behind the record: “Journeyman… It’s what I want to be known as; I like to think I’m a craftsman. I think I’m always working on mastering my craft.”