The album was originally released by RSO/Polydor Records in April 1982 (see 1982 in music).

The following year a second volume, Time Pieces Vol.II Live in the Seventies, was released by the label.

The album has been reissued several times and has been awarded certifications in several regions.

[1] In 1982, Eric Clapton left RSO and Polydor to form his own label, Duck Records, with distribution through Warner Bros. With the loss of the artist, the two Time Pieces albums were compiled and released.

The original vinyl and cassette releases contained the live version of "Cocaine" from the 1980 release "Just One Night"; the later CD issue deleted this for the studio version from "Slowhand", and also included the song "Let It Grow" from "461 Ocean Boulevard".