An up-tempo, funky single debut for Eric Clapton as a solo artist, "After Midnight" clearly showed Clapton going in a more simplified, soul/ rock direction after Blind Faith and Cream. The influence of the song's writer, J.J. Cale, and current musical collaborator, Delaney Bramlett, is clearly evident. Clapton's guitar playing is also much different, and he was utilizing the stinging tones of a Fender Stratocaster, exclusively. Clapton revisited the song in the late '80s, when he re-recorded it for a very successful Michelob beer commercial.
(Matthew Greenwald, allmusic.com)