Eric Clapton - Concert Commentary 1990s

Concert Commentary 1990's ______________________________________________________________

Updated: 7-13-05

1-15-90 1st NIGHT NEC 1990 (REMASTERED BY ME) - MUCH MORE OF AN EASY LISTEN WITH THE REMASTER. THE LOWER VOLUME AND ABSENCE OF THE TAPE HISS MAKE THIS A GOOD AUD5.
GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS SHOW. THE BAND SOUNDS UNDER-REHEARSED (FIRST NIGHT OF THE TOUR), AND I DON'T FIND ANY GREAT SOLO'S. ON THE OTHER HAND THIS IS A RARE SHOW, AND IT IS GOOD AT TIMES. DECENT "WHITE ROOM / I SHOT THE SHERIFF".

1-24-90 WONDERFUL NIGHT - A very rare CD that has a little history behind it. The Audio Quality here blows away the official "24 Nights" Official Release! Also take note that this CD has "Crossroads" included in the set-many versions of this concert do not! This show may also be known as "7291 RAH", that's probably where it was sourced from. Do not pay any attention to the date Feb.7,1990 or 1991, these are not valid dates.

1-24-90 QUARTET - MANY, MANY VERSIONS OF THIS PARTICULAR SHOW EXIST IN VIDEO AS WELL AS AUDIO FORMATS. TO MAKE THINGS SIMPLE THIS IS THE COMPLETE SHOW AND THE MOST WIDELY REGARDED VERSION.

1-24-90 LOVE - One of the very best that I own!!! Excellent! A must have. Songs from this show are on the CD/DVD/VHS "24 Nights." For some reason, this is not the complete show and tracks are of course out of order.

1-26-90 FOUR FACES: 13 PIECE BAND - Lots of energy in this show! Very nice opening couple of songs "Pretending" is quite nice.

1-28-90 RAH - DECENT SOUND HERE, VERY LISTENABLE. THE LAST 2 TRACKS ON DISC 1 SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY SOME SORT OF TECHNICAL PROBLEM (NOT PLAYED AT FULL SPEED.) THOSE CAN SOUND LIKE A GARBLED RECORD, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE ONLY ON THOSE TRACKS.

1-31-90 JOURNEYMAN U.K. TOUR - SURPRISINGLY CLEAR AUDIENCE RECORDING FROM THE RAH.

2-5-90 BLUES NIGHT - Very few hisses and cracks on my new updated version.. Oddly, not one of my favorites.

2-10-90 ROYAL ORCHESTRA NIGHTS - Very slight missed editing, but who cares? Every EC fan must hear "Concerto for Electric Guitar" - A 30 minute Classical masterpiece! To my ears I can hear a dfferent guitar tone-in my opinion i say it's from lots of reverb with very little distortion, or effects. It creats quite a unique tone- perfect to play with the Orchestra. Some people who have spoken to me say tha this CD does not truly represent the sound in the show that they attended. The sound does sound "very soundboard", and EC's guitar produces more of a high pitched tone in the recording. As far as I know, this is the only available source for this show, so we'll all have to live with it. Still a very nice show.

2-10-90 ORCHESTRA NIGHTS - MUCH BETTER SOUND, MORE OF A REAL MIX.

2-16-90 LIVE IN STOCKHOLM (REMASTERED BY ME) - A VERY GOOD AUDIENCE RECORDING THAT MOST PEOPLE OVERLOOK. A NEW QUALITY REMASTER, VERY WORTHY.

2-23-90 ESSEN - Very bad clicks and skips on "Tearing Us Apart" Besides that an above average performance. Interesting set list, differs from the usual pace. "Old Love" features some very rare Wah-Wah guitar in this version-quite a good performance.

2-24-90 TULIPS & COCAINE (REMASTERED BY ME) - EXCELLENT SOUND THAT WILL CERTAINLY PLEASE YOUR EARS. THE SHOW IS EDITED IN CERTAIN PARTS, BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO AFFECT THE MUSIC THAT MUCH. PERHAPS NOTHING THAT WILL STAND OUT, JUST A GOOD SHOW.

2-27-90 PALASTRUSSARDI - MUCH BETTER SOUND THAN THE DISSAPOINTING "PAPER JAM". THE LAST 2 TRACKS ON CD1 HAVE QUITE A BIT OF DIAGNOISE. "TEARING US APART" WAS DELETED BECAUSE THE ERRORS FOR THIS TRACK WERE TOO MUCH.

3-3-90 PARIS FIRST NIGHT - PRETTY GOOD AUDIENCE RECORDING, VERY LISTENABLE. EXCELLENT "OLD LOVE."

3-5-90 PRETENDING - Bar none one of the best shows you'll ever hear! This show has everything. Sound is excellent!

3-28-90 ATLANTA (REMASTERED BY ME) - The sound is pretty good considering I've attempted to master it a bit and make it more listenable. It is still and AUD4 at best. Opening Night of the 1990 U.S. Tour. Features great playing all around-The opening song "Pretending" is fabulous! The crowd is really into this one and this audience recording features plenty of screaming girls. Hold your ears!

4-12-90 HARTFORD - For details of the video go to the "sysabend.org" site in the links section. I am unavailable to copy VHS. Referred to as the show where EC and most of the band put on "caps" during "A Remark You Made." This CD version has the audio improved to a solid AUD4+. Wild solos on "White Rooom" and an unusual extended solo on "Before You Accuse Me." More of a fun show to listen to than anything else. A typical "Rock Concert."

4-15-90 DETROIT - GREAT ROCK GUITAR. EC SEEMS TO BREAK A STRING OR MESS UP DURING " I SHOT" AND MAKES UP FOR IT GREATLY WITH SOME WILD SOLOS. HE ALSO SEEMED TO BE INSPIRED BY THE VISIT FROM SRV THIS NIGHT. MORE COMPLETE AND BETTER SOUND THAN ANY OTHER REPORTED VERSION. SRV GUESTS ON BEFORE YOU ACCUSE ME AND AFTER MIDNIGHT (ALL REFERENCES DO NOT LIST AFTER MIDNIGHT).

4-25-90 DALLAS NIGHTS - Cassette tape transfer to CD-R, by me! Audio is about as good as can be expected considering the source. It is a solid Aud4. Wonderful show-"Pretending," "I Shot The Sheriff", "Old Love," are excellent. Very loud guitar at times.

8-15-90 SPECTRUM 1990 (REMASTERED BY ME) - As stated, brought out the audio a bit from a very average aud4 to a decent aud5. Lots of crowd noise and talking near the taper, but that's to be expected sometimes. Take note of a collectors no-no on badge...Someone somewhere edited the first minute of "Badge" with a performance from 1986. Wish this would never happen, but it does. Also take note of "I Shot The Sheriff." Interesting to me that EC starts off the second solo playing as quiet as he can; the goes straight into a wild fury of banging those strings louder and louder. Interesting role for Clapton, don't know if it was meant to be or just aggression on his part. Regardless, it spices things up.
Pretty tough show to find. This show is also edited in parts; missing the beginning of Bad Love.

8-26-90 LAST THUNDER W/SRV SET (REMASTERED BY ME) ALTHOUGH CLEARLY NOTED FOR THE OBVIOUS HISTORY OF THE SHOW, SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO TEND TO OVERLOOK CLAPTON'S SET THAT NIGHT; A VERY GOOD ONE. THE "JAMMING" HOWEVER FOR THE ENCORE IS THE CREAM OF THE CROP. FOR THE ENCORE, BUDDY GUY, STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN, JIMMY VAUGHAN, AND ROBERT CRAY JOIN EC ON STAGE FOR A VERY MEMORABLE VERSION OF "SWEET HOME CHICAGO." VERY RARELY DO THESE "JAMS" WORK FOR ME, BUT THIS ONE IS AS PERFECT AS IT GETS. VERY WILD, AND AGGRESSIVE CLAPTON. ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT DISTANT, THE SOUND IS VERY LISTENABLE.

10-7-90 LIVE IN RIO (IMPROVED) - ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE IMPROVED VERSION, IT HAS WAY TOO MUCH DIGINOISE. HARD TO BELIEVE THIS COULD BE FROM THE MASTER AS IT TAKES UP HALF OF DISC ONE. CANNOT RATE AT THIS TIME.

12-6-90 MOTTO! MOTTO! - PRETTY DARN GOOD AUDIENCE RECORDING, IF NOT A BIT TOO LOUD. BEWARE, THERE IS LOTS OF CLAPPING NEAR THE TAPER.

1-31-91 DUBLIN 1991 FIRST NIGHT (SLIGHT REMASTER) - LOTS OF ENERGY IN THIS SHOW, AND A GOOD PERFORMANCE. VERY LISTENABLE AUD5. GOOD "OLD LOVE" SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE WILD THAN ALL THE OTHER PERFORMANCES.

2-2-91 STRAIGHT TO THE POINT - An unusual sound at times- my best guess is that this show was re-mastered using a mix of soundboard and audience. The instruments sound clear, but the vocals from EC and his guitar have too much of an effect or delay at times. After some experience however, this is clearly sourced from mp3. I would avoid this copy as mp3 conversions to normal CD Audio are not reccomended and can be quite aweful. Nice version of "I Shot The Sheriff, and Old Love."

2-5-91 RAH 1ST NIGHT - LOTS OF ENERGY. GREAT SHOW. FOR SOME REASON THIS ONE SEEMS TO GO UNDER THE RADAR. IF YOU'RE A COLLECTOR YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS ONE. AS NOTED ON OTHER SITES, THE BAND IS FABULOUS. PHIL COLLINS REALLY ADDS A LOT TO THIS SHOW ON DRUMS.

2-6-91 RAH 2ND NIGHT- THE BAND IS STILL IN TOP FORM FROM THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. SLIGHTLY LESS QUALITY THAN FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE, BUT STILL VERY WORTHY.

2-9-91 24 CARAT FOUR PIECE NIGHT - DISSAPOINTING SHOW IN BOTH SOUND AND PERFORMANCE. BELOW THE 1990/1991 STANDARDS.

2-15-91 24 CARAT NINE PIECE - A very listenable audience recording. Of note here, the outro solo of "Pretending" on the audio and video releases of "24 Nights" are from different shows. The outro solo on the CD release of "24 Nights" is from this performance. EC also gets in a blistering, and uncharacteristically frantic solo on "White Room", it's as if he comes up with a half dozen ideas about which way he wants to go with the solo and decides to do them all at once. He gets a bit out of control and then reins it in, to good effect. EC also quotes "Hideaway" in his solo on "Before You Accuse Me", which is a nice touch. Some diginoise at the very end of disc 2.

2-17-91 PLAY WITH FIRE - One of the best! Listen and be amazed. A must have.

2-18-91 RAH 11TH NIGHT (SLIGHT REMASTER) - MANY OF THE SONGS HERE WERE INCLUDED ON THE "24 NIGHTS" RELEASE. GREAT SHOW WITH THE LEGENDARY "OLD LOVE" VERSION HERE.
SOUND IS A BIT DISTANT, BUT ABOVE AVERAGE.

2-19-91 RAH 12TH NIGHT (ORIGINAL) - GREAT SHOW, SOMEWHAT OVERLOOKED. LAST NIGHT OF THE "BIG BAND" RUN. WAY TOO MUCH CLAPPING NEAR THE TAPER TAKE AWAY A BIT FROM THIS RELEASE - THIS IS SOME OF THE MOST CLAPPING I'VE HEARD FROM THE RAH. THE SOUND OF THE ACTUAL SHOW IS VERY GOOD (VERY CLEAR), THE CLAPPING JUST GET'S IN THE WAY.

2-19-91 RAH 12TH NIGHT REMASTERED (REMASTERED BY ME) - WITH SO MUCH CROWD NOISE AND CLAPPING NEAR THE TAPER, THIS SHOW WAS DYING FOR A REMASTER. ALTOUGH A LOT OF THE AUDIENCE CLAPPING IS DELETED, SOME HIGH END NOTES DON'T SEEM TO SHOW UP AS WELL. IT'S A TRADE OFF, BUT ONE THING'S FOR SURE - YOUR EARS WILL APPRECIATE THIS VERISON A LOT MORE. CONTAINS A GREAT "I SHOT THE SHERIFF."

2-24-91 14TH NIGHT-BLUES - VERY LISTENABLE AUDIENCE RECORDING, A GOOD AUD5. NOT A HUGE FAN OF THE '91 BLUES SHOWS, IF IT WEREN'T FOR "HIDEAWAY" AND "ALL YOUR LOVE" I REALLY WOULDN'T LISTEN TO THEM. THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION.

2-25-91 BLUES NIGHT - Sourced from a BBC radio broadcast. This show is certainly an above average blues only performance. This is one of the very few instances that the "Raido" adds a bit of life and energy to the show. This 1-Disc version has all the best songs from the show.

2-28-91 RAH-BLUES BAND (REMASTERED BY ME) AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE "MASTERFILE" RELEASE. THIS IS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT OVER ANY VERSION OUT THERE FOM THIS DATE. CLOSE TO A SB6, WITH THE ONLY DRAWBACK BEING SLIGHTLY "TOO MUCH" VOLUME. A HARD SHOW TO RATE AS EC CLEARLY WANTS TO BE THE SIDEMAN AND LET THE OTHER BLUES ARTISTS COME FORWARD. I THINK THERE ARE BETTER BLUES SHOWS OUT THERE.

3-4-91 ORCHESTRA 2ND NIGHT (REMASTERED BY ME) - PERHAPS A BIT TOO HIGH OF A TONE ON THIS REMASTER, BUT IT WAS A DIFFICULT CHOICE IN THAT YOU'D LIKE TO CLEARLY HEAR THE VOCALS. DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ONE OF THE BEST NIGHTS EXCEPT FOR AN AMAZING "WHITE ROOM." SIMPLY, ONE OF THE GREATEST VERSIONS OF WHITE ROOM WITH MORE OF A JAZZ FEEL.

3-9-91 24 CARAR WITH NPO - SLIGHTLY BETTER SOUND THAN STATED, VERY LISTENABLE AUDIENCE RECORDING. OF COURSE THE REAL HIGHLIGHTS MUST BE THE INSTRUMENTALS "CONCERTO FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR AND EDGE OF DARKNESS." BOTH ARE DONE WELL, BUT I AM CERTAIN THE HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER. LAST SHOW OF THE TOUR-VERY PROFESSIONAL AND A "RIGHT-ON" PERFORMANCE WITH VERY LITTLE OR NO MISTAKES.

1-16-92 COMPLETELY UNPLUGGED - Although this is the complete version of the "Unplugged" show, it is heavily edited. It was probably done this way to get rid of the silences between songs. This is also a soundboard recording, and I'm not really too fond of it. The quality is good, but the vocals and especially the guitar don't sound right. Truthfully, I don't think you can appreciate this great show in this form. However, this is a collector's item, and you can learn a lot about the specifics of the show and how it was truly made for TV.

2-13-92 RAH (SLIGHT REMASTER) - ONE OF THE MORE COLLECTABLE SHOWS FOR THE MERE FACT THAT THE TAPER HIMSELF LENDS HIS OWN COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE SHOW. UNUSUAL THAT THE TAPER WOULD OFFER HIS OWN OPINIONS ABOUT THE SHOW, BUT IT WAS INTERESTING. WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THE NERVE TO DO THIS AND EXPLAIN JUST HOW THEY RECORD THESE SHOWS. A GOOD RECORDING EXCEPT FOR THE LACK OF BASS IN THE ORIGINAL, BUT THAT WAS SOMEWHAT CORRECTED. GOOD SHOW.

2-14-92 IN CONCERT (REMASTERED BY ME) - NOT THE GREAT SHOW AS WAS THE CASE THE NIGHT BEFORE. ALSO HAS SLIGHTLY LESS AUDIO QUALITY.

2-22-92 RAH 1992 (REMASTERED BY ME) IN TERMS OF SOUND AT THE RAH, THIS ONE IS CLEARLY ABOVE AVERAGE AND LISTENABLE. VERY LONG SHOW, SEEMS TO RUN ABOUT 140 MINUTES. AS USUAL THE '92 SHOWS SIMPLY DO NOT DISSAPOINT. GREAT "SUNSHINE" WITH SOME MUCH NEEDED FEEDBACK THROWN IN. TO DATE, THE BEST OF THE '92 RAH SHOWS.

2-28-92 RAH LAST NIGHT (REMASTERED BY ME) - PERHAPS A BIT TOO MUCH TREBLE IN THE REMASTER, BUT A CLEAR RECORDING.

5-4-92 PHILADELPHIA - FROM A VHS TAPE. SOUND IS VERY CLEAR, BUT INCLUDES QUITE A BIT OF ANALOG STATIC THAT I HAVE TRIED MY BEST TO GET RID OF. AS USUAL, THIS IS A '92 SHOW WHICH MEANS IT IS AUTOMATICALLY EXCELLENT. SET SEEMS INCOMPLETE.

5-6-92 FASCINATING NIGHT (SLIGHT REMASTER BY ME) - Probably the greatest concert I have ever heard, no doubt! Sound is good, not great. A must have! Skips on a few tracks- mostly on "Tearing Us Apart" Monster guitar playing from start to end.

5-10-92 CAPITOL CENTER - PERHAPS NOT THE AUD5 AS STATED ON THE "GEETARZ" SITE, BUT ONLY JUST SLIGHTLY LOWER.

5-14-92 ROSEMONT 2nd NIGHT - Interesting show - it has everything, including a few mistakes. More and more it's becoming clear that the '92 shows just might be a tribute to the fans, with EC giving them exactly what they want to hear, the guitar. Hot solos on "White Room & I Shot the Sheriff." There are also many other guitar solos that EC seems to throw in and play beyond his normal standard, this resulting in a few mistakes here and there. To understand this you have to know that EC almost always plays a very strict style of guitar - even in the wild parts, they are very controlled. It's sort of a template he has built over the years and what has made him famous. Do not confuse this style with a "lesser talented guitarist" - that is very untrue. Only the best players can find their "tone" and stick to it - it's very difficult. Besides, EC has proven time and time again his mastery of all kinds of music. The CD may be slightly edited at times, but it doesn't seem to affect the show that much. Also, there are a few clicks and minor skips, this also is very minor. Good sound, very listenable. An extremely rare show to have!

5-23-92 THE OMNI - SOME DISTORTION AT THE HIGH NOTES, BUT OTHERWISE A DECENT SHOW. PERHAPS NOT AS AGGRESSIVE AS MOST OTHER '92 SHOWS, AND THE SETLIST SEEMS SHORTER. EC'S VOCALS ARE A BIT DISTANT.

6-19-92 SUMMER '92 DE KUIP 2 - VERY POOR SOUND, PERHAPS WORSE THAN INDICATED. HARD TO GIVE AN ACCURATE COMMENT - DOES SOUND LIKE A TYPICAL SHOW HOWEVER.

6-23-92 DORTMUND '92 - GOOD "ROCKER" PERFORMANCE, BUT NOT TOO MUCH BEYOND THAT. I HEAR A LOT OF "BAND" PLAYING AND NOT TOO MUCH ELSE.

6-26-92 WEBLEY ARENA - DON'T KNOW WHER THIS BRILLIANT COPY SURFACED FROM, BUT IT BLOWS AWAY ANY OTHER COPIES OF THIS SHOW. THE SOUND IS VERY GOOD AND PERFECT FOR MY EARS. MAYBE NOT AN EXCELLENT SHOW, BUT STILL A GOOD ONE TO HAVE.

7-12-92 SO MUCH GUITAR - Yet another masterpiece from 1992! Monster guitar playin'.

8-17-92 MANSFIELD FIRST NIGHT (SLIGHT REMASTER) - THIS ONE FALLS JUST SHY OF AN AUD6 RATING. SEEMS LIKE THIS ONE WAS RECORDED WITH SOME SORT OF AUTOMATED DEVICE AS THE VOLUME RISES OR LOWERS A BIT TOO OFTEN. HOWEVER, THIS IS A GREAT RECORDING OF A TRULY GREAT SHOW: AND ONE THAT'S HARD TO FIND NO DOUBT.

8-18-92 MANSFIELD SECOND NIGHT (SLIGHT REMASTER) - SLIGHTLY LOWER IN TERMS OF QUALITY THAN THE NIGHT BEFORE, BUT THAT ONLY HAS TO DO WITH SOME DISTORTION AT THE HIGHER VOLUMES. THE ORIGINAL MIX WAS EXTREMELY LOUD, TOO LOUD. ALSO MIGHT BE SOURCED FROM MP3, BUT THAT IS NOT CERTAIN.

8-22-92 SHEA STADIUM - ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS CDS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THIS IS A VERY ACCEPTABLE AUDIENCE RECORDING AND A DECENT SHOW. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT AT LEAST 2 SONGS ARE MISSING FROM THE SETLIST. 2 OF MY PARTICULAR FAVORITES, "ANYTHING FOR YOUR LOVE, AND TEARING US APART" ARE DELETED. OME OF THE FEW VERSIONS OF "RUNNING ON FAITH" THAT I ACTUALLY LIKE.

8-30-92 BIG BLUE - The actual concert date is not known, it could be August 29 or 30, 1992. I chose the second performance because according to statistics, the second show is more often recorded and copied. It is also usually the better show, and this is certainly a great show. Many sources refer to this as an Audience recording and it is, but not completely. The grade of AUD4 is quite misleading, as it is much better than that. I am also certain that this is a Soundboard/Audience mix. The crowd noise is consistenly at a much lower volume, and you can often hear Electronic flutter between songs. Only a soundboard would pick up these changes in equipment and sound after each song. I was actually surprised by how much Clapton seems to show off and give the crowd what it always wants - monster guitar playin'. This is very easy to listen to and actually a very good recording. Just before EC walks off the stage he goofs and says, "Drive home safely... wait!, after you stick around for the encore.....drive home safely." I am glad to own this show.

2-20-93 RAH FIRST PERFORMANCE - AS THE TITLE MAY SUGGEST THIS IS THE FIRST NIGHT AT THE RAH, AND THE RUSTINESS SHOWS. ONE OF THOSE SHOWS WHERE YOU CAN TELL THE BAND IS JUST NOT TOGETHER. SOUNDS MORE LIKE A REHARSAL THAN A REAL SHOW. AVOID.

2-21-93 HEAR ME CALLING (REMASTERED BY ME) CERTAINLY BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. EVEN THOUGH THE ACOUSTIC PORTION ISN'T AS POLISHED, IT'S STILL QUITE NICE. PRETTY LOUD CROWD. LISTEN CAREFULLY BEFORE "FORTY-FOUR" AND YOU CAN HEAR A FAN YELL FOR LAYLA, THE BASS PLAYER TEASES WITH ONE NOTE FROM LAYLA - THAT'S IT.

2-23-93 KID MEN BLUES (REMASTERED BY ME) ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT SHOWS TO REMASTER. THE END RESULT HOWEVER, IS WONDERFUL. THE SET IS ROUNDING UP INTO FORM OF SORTS AS THIS IS THE FIRST GREAT SHOW OF THE TOUR. YOU CAN EASILY HEAR THE PICKING FROM "ALABAMA WOMEN" - THAT'S WHAT I LIKE. EXCELLENT "MEET ME IN THE BOTTOM" AND "BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN." I CAN'T STRESS HOW LOUD AND DIFFICULT THE ORIGINAL VERSION IS. AN AUTOMATED VOLUME CONTROL MUST HAVE BEEN USED BECAUSE EVERY SOUND IS SET TO THE MAX. FOR NOVELTY PURPOSES, I LEFT SOME OF THAT DISTORTION ON DISC 2. HENCE, DISC 2 WILL SOUND SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

2-26-93 ROYAL ALBERT HALL (REMASTERED BY ME) - EC'S VOCALS ARE VERY UP FRONT IN THIS MIX, MAYBE JUST A TAD TOO MUCH, BUT CERTAINLY MUCH BETTER THAN THE LATTER. THE BAND DOES NOT SEEM AS POLISHED AS THE SHOWS FROM LATER ON IN THE TOUR. THE "ODD" SONGS FROM THIS SET; "COMING HOME AND MEET ME IN THE BOTTOM" ARE MY FAVORITES - VERY NICE JAM ON "MEET ME." I USUSALLY DON'T MAKE MUCH OF EC'S SPEECHES IN BETWEEN SONGS BUT THESE COMMENTS SEEM VERY ODD - ALMOST, UNINSPIRED.

3-2-93 WELCOME TO THE ALBERT HALL - One of the best of the "all blues" shows, with a magnificent setlist, more varied than on the 1994/1995 blues tours. Half acoustic, half electric, the performance starts off quietly and then bursts into a rowdy electric set with a blistering, if abbreviated, version of "Going Away". Of note, "Hear Me Calling" features a defining riff which would be used on the later blues tours as a framework to "Crossroads".

3-6-93 AIN'T NOBODY'S BUSINESS IF I YELL (REMASTERED BY ME) - CERTAINLY COMPETES WITH THE FOLLOWING NIGHT FOR SHOW OF THE YEAR. SIMPLY WONDERFUL VERSIONS OF
"TERRAPLANE" AND "WALKIN BLUES," WITH A LOUD AND GROOVY "GOING AWAY." CONSIDERING THE SOUND, EASILY THE BEST '93 RAH SHOW.

3-7-93 SLOWHAND BLUES - One of the best ever of EC's blues-only concerts. Although this was one of the very first of the blues concerts, it feels very fresh and exciting. Excellent version of the Robert Johnson classics "Terraplane" and "Walkin' Blues", which interestingly is performed electric.

10-1-93 FEELIN ALRIGHT - This release features the entire show complete. Very slight editing (not skips) before each song. The editing featured is only added to remove crowd noise it seems. Guests include Joe Cocker, and his performance is wonderful. Eric speaks for a few seconds before "Stone Free", about Jimi Hendrix and how his friend, "Just couldn't make it here tonight."

10-2-93 FEELIN ALRIGHT - This show probably has the greatest version of "Wonderful Tonight" I've ever come across. Extremely rare performance of "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" by Jimi Hendrix. No misses in this show! Special Guests include Joe Cocker. This Bootleg does not feature the entire show, each CD is approx. 45 min.

10-12-93 BUDOKAN - FOR SOME REASON, A RARE SHOW TO FIND. ONE OF THE BETTER '93 OR ALL BLUES SHOWS WITH LOTS OF ENERGY. SECRETLY ONE OF THE BEST VERSIONS OF "KIDMAN BLUES" YOU'LL COME ACROSS. VERY POWERFUL "WHITE ROOM." VERY LISTENABLE AUDIENCE RECORDING, VERY CLEAR.

10-17-93 FUKUOKA '93 - ALMOST CERTAINLY SOURCED FROM MP3. ALTHOUGH A TOUGH FIND, I WOULD TEND TO AVOID THIS SHOW, UNLESS YOU CAN STAND THE PAIN FROM LISTENING TO AN MP3 CONVERSION. THE CONCERT DOES SEEM DECENT.

10-18-93 10 DAYS - Very good performance for the entire band. As usual with the '93 shows, there is a wide variety of material here. This show contains a very memorable version of "Tears In Heaven." I am a fan of the no frills intro to "Cocaine", sort of '70's style. The last track on Disc 2, "Layla", is most likely filler but from what date I do not know.

10-19-93 STONE FREE NIGHT II - A VERY POOR, DISSAPOINTING RECORDING. THE SOUND IS WELL BELOW AVERAGE AND THAT'S SURPRISING DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS IN JAPAN - MANY MANY GOOD RECORDINGS HAVE BEEN DONE HERE.

10-26-93 BUDOKAN THE 6TH DAY - COULD BE THE WIDELY REGARDED VERSION OF AUD5 QUALITY OR NOT, THIS IS NOT CONFIRMED. REGARDLESS THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO AN AUD5 RECORDING, BUT WITH FAIR AMOUNT OF NOISE NEAR THE TAPER. CLEARLY ONE OF THE BETTER 1993 SHOWS.

2-20-94 RAH 1994 - A SKIP CERTAINLY FROM THE MASTER SHOULD BE ON KIDMAN BLUES., GREAT VERSION OF COME ON IN MY KITCHEN, A RARE PERFORMANCE OF THIS SONG ALSO.. ORIGINAL SOUND DISTORTS AT HIGH NOTES, BUT IS VERY CLEAR. FOR MY TASTES, A VERY RARE AND POWERFUL SECOND HALF TO THE SHOW, AS EC TENDS TO GO ON AUTO-PILOT DURING THE SECOND HALF.

2-21-94 BACK AGAIN 1994 - This is a "Pre-From The Cradle Concert" Either EC was about to record, or just finished this album. It's not as polished as some other shows, but man what a selection of old and new songs! Terraplane Blues, White Room, Stone Free - WOW! Sound is noticeably louder on the right side.

2-26-94 RAH - VERY DIFFICULT TO RATE AS IF THIS MAY BE SOURCED FROM MP3. THERE IS HOWEVER A GREAT "STONE FREE" HERE - PROBABLY THE BEST EC HAS DONE. CERTAINLY ONE OF THE BEST FROM THE TOUR.

3-5-94 BLUES AT THE ALBERT HALL - A very listenable recording, albiet from the "Boomy" Albert Hall. Strong performances all around, and is energetic at times. Surprisingly good versions of "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight." "Stone Free" is yet again, a pleasure, but it's still not in "perfect form." Thankfully, this show does not seem to loose much energy during the later parts of the show - this can happen with EC.

10-12-94 CAPITOL CENTER (SLIGHT REMASTER) - AMAZING SOUND - QUITE A SURPRISE. RANKS AS ONE OF THE BEST AUDIENCE RECORDINGS OF THE TOUR. "HAVE YOU EVER LOVED A WOMAN" HAS SOME NICE VOCALS THROWN IN, SORT OF A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL RECORDING MANY YEARS AGO. VERY WORTHWHILE.

10-14-94 BLUES ALL DAY LONG (REMASTERED BY ME) - THE ORIGINAL RECORDING HAD PLENTY OF ISSUES WITH UN-EVEN SOUND AND POOR TRACK EDITING, MOST OF THOSE HAVE BEEN FIXED. HOWEVER, THIS RECORDING IS STILL DOMINANT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SOUNDS AS IF THE LEFT SIDE MIC WAS SIMPLY NOT WORKING. IT CAN BE A LITTLE ODD TO LISTEN TO ON HEADPHONES, BUT IT'S STILL VERY LISTENABLE. THE VOCALS ACTUALLY COME THROUGH CRYSTAL CLEAR. DON'T LET THE AUDIO FOOL YOU, THIS IS STILL A TOP SHOW.

10-24-94 ALL INSPIRATION - VERY LOW VOLUME IN THE AUDIO, AND THE PERFORMANCE IS NOT WORTH A DIFFICULT LISTEN. AVOID.

10-30-94 McNICHOLS ARENA (SLIGHT REMASTER) - VERY WORTHY BLUES SHOW AND YES, THE CROWD CAN BE A PAIN TO LISTEN TO. THIS IS A BETTER THAN AVERAGE AUDIENCE RECORDING, AND QUITE LISTENABLE.

11-4-94 GROANING THE BLUES (REMASTERED BY ME) - A Flawless show, I was there. Groaning the Blues is perfect-monster guitar playin'! Audio is average. Wish it was better! Includes the Jimmy Vaughan Set.

11-7-94 FRM THE CRADLE TO THE FILLMORE - The sound in this show is crisp and clear, but I just don't care for the mix in this soundboard recording. This show certainly is not as good as "Nuthin but the Blues."

11-7-94 BLUES FROM THE HEART (SLIGHT REMASTER) - ALTHOUGH MOST LIKELY A SOUNDBOARD, THIS SHOW FEATURES A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MIX. TO ME, IT IS MUCH MORE LIFELIKE THAN THE OTHER. THE SOUND MAY LACK SOME DYNAMIC RANGE, BUT IT'S STILL A PRETTY GOOD SB5.

11-9-94 NUTHIN' BUT THE BLUES - If you want the blues, get this show! The best of the Fillmore shows, and a very good recording. The last 3-4 songs are filler from the 1970's.

11-11-94 HOUSE OF BLUES (I) - A great recording in a small venue. A tad "distant" sounding, but great fun, kind of like being there, but in seats that aren't the best in the house. As usual with the blues tour shows, excellent performances all around from the band, including a nice hot version of "Let Me Love You Baby", which sadly didn't get played all that much. A complete show.

11-12-94 HOUSE OF BLUES (II) - Another incredible quality audience recording, so clear you can hear the clink of bottles as the tables are cleared. All the dynamics of the band are preserved, all instruments are clearly defined and audible. Unfortunately missing "Motherless Child" and the very beginning of "Malted Milk", as well as the encore of "Ain't Nobody's Busines", but makes up for those omissions with a great recording of a great show.

11-17-94 LOST CLUB SHOWS - INCORRECT DATE. ACTUAL DATE IS MARCH 5, 1995.

11-22-94 LOST CLUB SHOWS - This is the first of 2 performances at The House Of Blues in New Orleans. Very good sound and a very good show. "Sinner's Prayer, Have You Ever Loved A Woman", stand out. A Blues Jam and "What A Shame" with Clarence Gatemouth Brown is the encore, and a very nice encore at that.

11-23-94 LOST CLUB SHOWS - Probably the best of the 3 shows in the set. The audience is really into this one and you can hear it influence Clapton. You might hear some things EC do in this show that you don't normally hear. It may not be much, but at times he goes away from the "template" and plays beyond the band, adding new notes to each song. The fans of EC should know exactly what I mean! Clapton seems in great spirits and really performs a superb version of, "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" ; completely extending the solo and finger-picking like only he can. "Let Me Love You Baby", is certainly a treat - I wish it was performed more often during this tour, it works perfect. One of my all-time favorite EC shows!

11-26/28-94 BLUE: NBTB '94 - AT THIS POINT THIS IS 8-CD SET IS A GOOD, BUT NOT GREAT MID VALLEY RELEASE. AT LEAST 2 CD'S HAVE HORRIBLE DIGINOISE; GO FIGURE. ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, I'D STICK TO THE OTHER VERSIONS OF THESE SHOWS.

11-26-94 - IRVING PLAZA I - Very good sound in a small club in New York. Not as polished as some shows, but that makes no difference. You can hear EC say, "Great, Good Job," when referring to "How Long." He was probably very satisfied at that performance. Sort of rare to hear EC's approval like that. Wow! The next best thing to being there ... a perfect audience recording. Sounds as if you are sitting front row center in this small venue - every instrument is clear as a bell, the dynamics of the band are preserved perfectly. Except for a touch of room echo (which in this case simply adds ambience), this recording could be confused for a soundboard at times. Moreover, the performance quality matches the recording. Overall the performance isn't quite as "over the top" like the last of the Irving Plaza shows featured on Club Full of Blues but it does feature an absolutely jaw-dropping performance of "Early In the Morning". Clapton's use of dynamics, phrasing, and fluid phrasing sets this one apart. "Every Day" also features some great horn work from the Kick Horns, in a great, jazzy interlude. Recommended.

11-27-94 - IRVING PLAZA II - ODDLY, NOT UP TO SNUFF IN TERMS OF QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE AS ANY OF THE OTHER "IRVING PLAZA SHOWS". ACTUALLY SEEMS A BIT WEAK IF YOU ASK ME. CLICKS AND POPS THROUGHOUT ALSO. PERHAPS I NEED A BETTER COPY.

11-28-94 CLUB FULL OF BLUES - This small venue really adds character to the show-if this concert was played in an arena, it would have totally lost the feel. This show sounds just like EC is in your own home. Very nice show, recommended. "Black Cat Bone" was only performed on this date during the tour. EC really gets into "Third Degree."

11-28-94 BLUE: NBTB '94 (DIFFERET SOURCE) - THIS CD IS FROM THE SET BUT FEATURES AN ALTERNATE RECORDING. HARD TO SAY WHICH IS BEST. THIS ONE FEATURES LESS CROWD NOISE, BUT EC IS MORE DISTANT. ALSO OF NOTE, THERE'S A LOT OF DIGINOISE IN THE MIDDLE AND END OF THE CD. THIS SOUNDS TO BE FROM THE MASTER, NOT JUST A SKIPPING CD. KIND OF SHOCKING IF THAT'S TRUE SINCE THIS IS A MID VALLEY RELEASE.

2-16-95 THE BLUES IN ME (REMSTERED BY ME) - CLEARLY NOT A GREAT RECORDING: THE REMASTER ONLY TAKES AWAY SOME OF THE TAPE HISS. THE SHOW SEEMS TO TAKE OFF ON THE SECOND DISC. EASILY ONE OF THE BEST EARLY '95 SHOWS.

2-23-95 RAH, LONDON - JUST ABOUT AS BAD AS AUDIENCE RECORDINGS GET. SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE PUT A TAPE RECORDER IN THEIR SHOE. AVOID.

2-27-95 FROM THE CRADLE TO THE RAH (REMASTERED BY ME) - ALTHOUGH LISTED AS AN AUDIENCE RECORDING, I AM BETTING THIS IS FROM A SOUNDBOARD.

3-4-95 RAH LONDON THE 11th NIGHT - SLIGHTLY LESS QUALITY YOU'D LIKE FOR AN EASY LISTENING CD. "DOUBLE TROUBLE" IS OKAY, BUT NOTHING LIKE THE NEXT DAY. ALSO A FEW SONGS SEEM TO BE MISSING THE FIRST MINUTE, MOST IMPORTANT OF THOSE, "DOUBLE TROUBLE."

3-5-95 LOST CLUB SHOWS - DURING THE PAST 2 YEARS THIS SHOW HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS 11-17-94 LEGENDS, CHICAGO,IL. THIS IS NOT TRUE. NEW INFORMATION HAS COME OUT THAT CONFIRMS MARCH 5,1995 AT RAH IS THE CORRECT DATE AND VENUE. A WONDERFUL SHOW AND A MUST HAVE FOR THE COLLECTORS. SIMPLY AMAZING VERSION OF "DOUBLE TROUBLE." I WOULD SAY THIS VERSION WOULD HAVE TO BEAT THE APRIL 24, 1995 VERSION WHICH IS LEGENDARY IN IT'S OWN RIGHT. THE SOUND IS TYPICAL TO THE RAH, DISTANT AND NOT PERFECT. BUT YET AGAIN, IT IS STILL LISTENABLE.

4-13-95 BLUES IN BERLIN - VERY DECENT AUDIENCE RECORDING, BORDERS ON A VERY DIFFICULT LISTEN.

4-15-95 GENT - A DIFFICULT SHOW TO LISTEN TO AND VERY HARSH ON YOUR EARS. SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS RECORDED WITH A POCKET RECORDER WHICH OFFERS NO BASS AND HIGH VOLUME. YOU CAN HEAR THE BAND PRETTY GOOD, SPECIALLY EC'S VOCAL'S BUT THE PITCH IS JUST TOO HIGH. THIS IS A FRUSTRATING SHOW TO LISTEN TO AND RATE.

4-17-95 E.C. 1995 (REMASTERED BY ME) - A KIND OF RARE SHOW TO OBTAIN. AS STATED IN "GEETARZ" THE TRUE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SHOW IS JERRY PORTNOY ON HARMONICA. CHECK OUT "EARLY IN THE MORNING", IT'S SWEET.

4-18-95 Happy Birthday, Dear Gatemouth - Typical "Blues Tour" setlist. "Gatemouth" Brown guests on guitar on "Sweet Home Chicago" - it was his birthday. Recorded right off the PA stack, sound is crisp and clear, and just a tad "flat" from the PA, but very listenable. Nice performance, really capped by a blistering rendition of "Sinner's Prayer". "Someday After a While" is also a standout track, rather than launching into the song with a flurry of notes, EC comes in sweetly and quietly, builing to a crescendo. Recommended.

4-21-95 BERCY - A SOLID SHOW, VERY WORTHY OF A LISTEN. DISC 1, IN PARTICULAR SHINES.

4-24-95 BRING ME NO MORE BLUES - The much sought after "Double Trouble", which seems to be on countless bootleg collections, is from this show. Good sound.

4-25-95 DORTMUND (EDITED/NO 2-SECOND GAPS) - VERY LOUD VOLUME TO THIS RECORDING. TOO MANY DRAWBACKS TO THIS SHOW. THE ORIGINAL HAD 2-SECOND GAPS, EXTREMELY LOUD VOLUME, AND THE SHOW WAS INCOMPLETE. THE SOUND IS OKAY HOWEVER, JUST VERY LOUD AND BASS HEAVY. SADLY MORE OF A REMASTER JUST WOULD NOT KEEP THE AUDIO QUALITY.

4-28-95 ADDICTED TO THE BLUES - This show is updated and I now own copies with no cracking and skipping. "Everyday I Have The Blues", has great guitar work - nice sound from the show.

8-31-95 DOWN HOME COUNTRY BLUES (SLIGHT REMASTER) - EXCEPTIONAL BLUES SHOW. IN MANY WAYS IT WAS THE '95 BLUES SHOWS THAT WERE CLEARLY BETTER THAN '93 AND '94. THE SOUND IS INTERESTING - ALTHOUGH VERY CLEAR, IT IS A BIT BOOMY. IT SOUNDS AUTHENTIC, HOWEVER AND IT'S THE WAY "IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE." DIFFERENT ARENAS PRODUCE DIFFERENT SOUNDS IN CONCERT AND PERHAPS THIS ARENA REALLY ACCENTUATED THE HEAVY NOTES. THE CROWD NOISE AND TALKING NEAR THE TAPER CAN BE A DISTRACTION.

9-2-95 THE OMNI THEATRE (SLIGH REMASTER) GREAT GREAT SHOW - CLOSELY MISSES MY A+ RATING. BETTER SOUND THAT EVEN I EXPECTED, THIS IS A DECENT AUD5. IMPRESSIVE DISC 1 TO THE SHOW - REALLY KICKS IT OFF QUITE NICE.

9-5-95 OCEAN BOULEVARD BLUES - PRETTY DECENT SHOW, PERHAPS NOTHING SPECIAL EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT DESPITE THE COVER ART, "DOUBLE TROUBLE" WAS INDEED PLAYED. THAT'S NOT CONFIRMED YET - PERHAPS I HAVE THE WRONG SHOW, BUT I DOUBT IT. THE SOUND IS A BIT BOOMY, BUT OVERALL VERY MUCH ABOVE AVERAGE.

9-7-95 THUNDERDOME (REMASTERED BY ME) - THIS SHOW IS SOURCED FROM THE ORIGINAL, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE SIMILARITIES END. THIS IS YET ANOTHER SHOW FROM MY "RE-MASTERING" SKILLS. I HAVE MANAGED TO TURN A DIFFICULT LISTEN INTO A DECENT AUD5- RECORDING. IT MAY STILL HAVE TOO MUCH BASS AND "BOOM" IN THE RECORDING, BUT CONSIDERING THE ORIGINAL YOU CAN CERTAINLY LIVE WITH IT. THE ORIGINAL WAS INDEED FULL OF DEFECTS, ALBIET MORE ANNOYING THAN ANYTHING ELSE. THIS CD IS MUCH BETTER, AND A DECENT SHOW TO GO ALONG WITH IT. HIGHLIGHTS PROBABLY INCLUDE THE ACOUSTIC NUMBERS AND A SURPRISING VERSION OF "MOTHERLESS CHILD", WITH A DIFFERENT TAKE ON THE VOCALS.

9-9-95 THE MAN AND HIG GUITAR - AMAZING SHOW, AN A+. PERHAPS THE VOLUME IS A TAD LOW, BUT I LEFT IT THAT WAY AS I FELT IT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THE TRUE SOUND OF THE SHOW. SOMETHINGS ARE BETTER LEFT UNTOUCHED. ONE OF THOSE "IN THE ZONE" SHOWS FROM START TO FINISH.

9-13-95 THE SPECTRUM (REMASTERED BY ME) - Excellent story of how EC used a guitar given to him by a fan before this show-I do not know on which song EC uses the fans' guitar. This show is flawless, one of the best "Blues" Concerts by EC.

9-15-95 IN GOD WE TRUST - PERHAPS IT'S THE STRANGE AUDIO WHICH IS DISTANT MUFFLED, BUT THIS SHOW MISSES THE MARK-VERY MUCH A SUB-PAR PERFORMANCE.

9-17-95 MSG '95 (SLIGHT REMASTER) - A PRETTY MELLOW SHOW, IT SEEMS. THE ONLY REAL FIRE I HEARD WAS FROM "THIRD DEGREE." THE SOUND IS CLEAR, AND WORTHY OF A LISTEN. THANKFULLY NOT TOO MUCH CROWD NOISE DIRECTLY NEAR THE TAPER.

9-18-95 CLAPTON'S BLUES - An exceptional version of "Double Trouble." Sound is an AUD4, wish it was better!

9-19-95 NASSAU COLLISEUM (REMASTERED BY ME) - A MUCH MORE EASY LISTEN. EXCELLENT "RECONSIER" AND "SINNER'S PRAYER."

9-21-95 MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM - VERY POWERFUL AND EXCITING, DISC 1 OF THE SHOW. SEEMS TO LOOSE A BIT FROM THERE, BUT NONE THE LESS AN ABOVE AVERAGE SHOW.

9-24-95 UNITED CENTER (SLIGHT REMASTER) - EASILY ONE OF THE BEST AND WORST AUDIENCE RECORDINGS THAT I OWN! KEEP IN MIND THAT FOR ALL MY COMPLAINING, THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY BEST SHOWS FOR EC. THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SHOW 2 PEOPLE CONTINUE TO TALK AND CHAT RIGHT NEXT TO THE MIC. THIS CAN BE ANNOYING! THEY EVEN TALK RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME OF THE SOLO'S AND THAT IS A TERROR. THE RECORDING ITSELF ALSO HAS ISSUES - EXPECT VOLUME CHANGES AND ODD SOUNDS THAT JUST COULD NOT BE FIXED UNLESS I HAD 9 MONTHS TO WORK ON THE ENTIRE CD. THIS IS A PRETTY RARE SHOW TO HAVE AND THE PERFORMACE JUST ABOUT MAKES UP FOR IT. IF A CLEAN COPY COMES OUT IN THE FUTURE, IT WOULD SELL AT A VERY HIGH PRICE. BUDDY GUY JOINS EC FOR THE ENCORE "SWEET HOME CHICAGO."

10-2-95 10 DAYS - FIERY INTRO TO "RECONSIDER BABY" MAKES THIS SHOW WORTH A LOOK. A BIT OF A "CHATTY" EC AS HE THROWS OUT COMMENTS BEFORE EVERY SONG IT SEEMS. NOT ONE OF THOSE PERFECT, FLAWLESS SHOWS, BUT THE BAND DOES SEEM IN GOOD SPIRITS. AS USUAL THE SOUND OF THIS SHOW AND THE ENTIRE SET ARE AN AMAZING AUD6-.

2-16-96 MANCHESTER - PRETTY BAD SOUND HERE. IT IS A RARE SHOW, HOWEVER. ON THE BOREDER LINE OF BEING LISTENABLE.

2-18-96 THIRD DEGREE - AUDIO IS DECENT, LISTENABLE. ONE OF THE MORE ENJOYABLE '96 SHOWS WITH A GOOD "OLD LOVE." SOME REAL POWERFUL VERSIONS OF "HAVE YOU EVER LOVED A WOMAN" AND "EVERYDAY I HAVE THE BLUES." VERY VERY GOOD SHOW. POSSIBLY SOURCHED FROM MP3, BUT IT IS HARD TO TELL FOR SURE.

2-20-96 TEN LONG YEARS - A very wide selection of material covering 30+ years. Even though the large tour band may be too much, there are many good points about this show. An excellent version of "White Room" which includes a superb wah-wah guitar solo is quite nice. Interestingly "Crossroads" also has an amazing wah-wah guitar solo - kind of rare for EC to do that during Crossroads, but it works well. A much better show than I expected.

2-22-96 NOBODY'S BUSINESS - Very good sounding audience recording, and an all around good performance. Interesting opening song of "Ain't Nobody's Business"- usually reserved as a closing number. A good show to have.

2-28-96 RAH LONDON 1996 9TH NIGHT - THIS GETS 2 TOP VOTES FOR BEING THE BEST OF THE '96 SHOWS AND HAVING SOME OF THE BEST SOUND TO COME OUT OF THE RAH. ONE OF THE VERY FEW '96 SHOWS THAT DON'T SEEM LAZY. EXCELLENT ALL AROUND.

3-1-96 PRESENCE OF THE LORD - NOT THAT GREAT OF A RECORDING, COULD BE SOURCED FROM MP3. SO SO IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE, HARD TO TELL DUE TO THE SOUND.

3-2-96 RAH 1996 11TH NIGHT (REMASTERED BY ME) - VERY GOOD "OLD LOVE" AND "WHITE ROOM" HERE. ONE OF THE BEST FROM 1996. VERY CLEAR AND LISTENABLE.

6-29-96 LIVE AT HYDE PARK - Audio is mastered by me VHS>CD-R. Sound just may be SB6. An excellent all around show sure to please everyone. Take note of "I Shot The Sheriff and Everyday I Have the Blues" - Wow!

6-29-96 HYDE PARK: LIVE IN 1996 (OPM RELEASE) - THIS IS STRAIGHT FROM THE DVD - PERFECT QUALITY, AND THE COMPLETE SHOW..INCLUDED IN THIS SET AS FILLER IS THE 5-9-96 SHOW WITH DR. JOHN.

9-12-96 THE ARMANI GALA - EXCELLENT SB6 FROM THIS ONE. THE FIRST 9 OR 10 TRACKS ARE REHEARSALS FOR THE GALA AND THE REST ARE FROM THE SHOW. INTERESTING TO SEE THAT "PRETENDING" IS PERFORMED HERE. ODD AS EC HASN'T PLAYED THAT SINCE '92.

7-4-97 GOD'S MEETING - A very good SB5+ recording. Classical performances of "Ruthie" and "Snakes". This is "Legends" in top form. (Said to be the first ever public show for the Band)

7-5-97 JAZZ A VIENNE - Very good sound quality, the best "Legends" show I've heard. "Snakes" is awesome!

7-11-97 LEGENDS AT NORTH SEA - Above average sound. The tracks with Robert Cray are very nice. Nothing spectacular from my perspective.

10-10-97 SEOUL SECOND NIGHT - A good audience recording although the levels and audio source do change at times. "Going Down Slow" is excellent! It's aggressive and EC really digs down deep for this one. You can easily hear the fans applaud loudly during the many wah-wah solos EC puts together. A very unusual thing is that for the first 3 or 4 electric songs Eric sits down on a chair and plays Electric Guitar while using the wah-wah. Now, that's the first time I've seen him do that. "I Shot The Sheriff" also deserves some mention. The version here is a little different with EC trying to put as many "new" chords as he can into the solo. Eric seems to challenge himself in this show, and you can hear the difference. A must have.

10-14-97 ON GUITAR & VOCALS, ME! PT.2 - A nice crisp audience recording. This is the show where EC announces "here are some new songs - we played them in Korea, they are probably available in the Ginza on CD now..." Whatever fun and excitement is in the show, doesn't really carry over to the performance. The Band sounds too much like they are rehearsing rather than playing. It's hard to knock EC, but he and the whole band just don't live up to their standards. EC also sounds unsure of himself during much of the vocals. I hate to say it, but this may be for collectors only.

10-17-97 ON GUITAR & VOCALS, ME PT.4 - ALTHOUGH THIS CD IS OF MUCH BETTER QUALITY THAN BELOW, YOU LOOSE THE AUTHENTIC LIVE FEELING OF THE SHOW. PERHAPS IN THIS CASE THE BETTER QUALITY IS NOT AS DESIREABLE?

10-17-97 BUDOKAN - Great, great show from '97. I really enjoy EC's wah-wah and effects work. This show does not even seem to loose its feel at the end, which sometimes happen with Clapton shows. More than the great songs, it is the other things that happen during the show that makes this memorable. First, EC doesn't know the title for "Broken Hearted" and you can hear him asking the band for help. Second, this is indeed the 100th show that Clapton has performed at the Budokan. Just before the encore, he is presented an award and I believe also gives some sort of gift also to the Japanese promoter, Mr. Hito? It's this speech that I find quite funny as EC says he started playing the Budokan during 1973 or 1972. For you Clapton enthousiests, you know that's not possible. EC made no more than 2 public performances for those 2 years combined, and absolutely nothing from 1972. EC has often gotten dates mixed up, but hey, can you blame him? Between his drug problems and massive touring, he readily admits there are times in his career he can't remember. This show is sourced from the VCD of this show. I have upgraded the sound myself to an AUD5-, it's very listenable with lots of echo, but that's to be expected. I am really starting to like these 1997 shows, especially early on in the tour. "Goin Down Slow" and "I Shot The Sheriff again steal the show, as they do in most cases.

10-20-97 IN THE WEST OF JAPAN - An audience recording, but a very good one. I hear a lot of experimentation in this show and I like that. I think you'll enjoy this one.

10-21-97 IN THE WEST OF JAPAN (REMASTERED BY ME) - DON'T KNOW IF THE ORIGINAL IS LIKE THIS, BUT MY COPY WAS AT A VERY LOW VOLUME. I PROBABLY JUST BROUGHT THIS OUT TO IT'S ORIGINAL FORM, BUT IN ANY CASE THIS IS A VERY GOOD AUDIENCE RECORDING. THE SHOW IS SO SO, WITH A SOMEWHAT "QUIET" CLAPTON.

10-22-97 IN THE WEST OF JAPAN - DON'T HEAR ANY MAGIC IN THIS ONE, JUST SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN HIS "AUTO-PILOT" SHOWS.

10-24-97 IN THE WEST OF JAPAN (REMASTERED BY ME) - SURPRISING "OLD LOVE," MAYBE THE BEST VERSION OF THAT ERA.

10-27-97 WONDERFUL NIGHT - Great show. Lots of WAH WAH Guitar in the first half of the show. A louder more aggressive Clapton. Sound is nearly perfect, with the only drawback being too much bass, and a low volume in the recording. Also present are some minor analog cracks here and there.

10-28-97 ON GUITAR AND VOCALS, ME!-PT.6 - A superlative audience recording - Very close to soundboard quality in some parts. Only the vocals are a bit "tiny" at times. Excellent performance of "Wonderful Tonight" and "Sunshine." EC really cranks the amplifiers up for this one. At the end, EC faces the amplifier and coaxes some wonderful feedback. Easily one of the best for 1997.

10-30-97 ON GUITAR AND VOCALS, ME!-PT.7 - Not the best performance of the tour, this show is fairly "businesslike" and has no real highlights. Avoid unless you are a compleatest.

10-31-97 ON GUITAR AND VOCALS, ME! (REMASTERED BY ME) - FROM WHAT USED TO BE A GOOD SHOW TO LISTEN TO, BUT THE VOLUME HORRIBLY LOW, IS NOW FIXED. A SUPERB IMPROVEMENT ACTUALLY MAKES THIS A MUCH BETTER SHOW. THE SOUND IS NOW "VERY WIDE" AND AUTHENTIC, SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE A SOUNDBOARD. VERY GOOD "GOIN DOWN SLOW AND BROKEN HEARTED," EC GIVES HIS APPROVAL WITH COMMENTS DURING THE APPLAUSE. SURPRISING VERY WILD "CREAM" STYLE GUITAR FROM ERIC DURING "SUNSHINE." ALTHOUGH "SUNSHINE" WAS PERFORMED THIS WAY FOR THE TOUR, THIS SEEMS TO BE THE BEST OF THE BEST-MONSTER GUITAR WITH WHAT MUST BE THE FASTEST RIFFS YOU'VE EVER HEARD!. A TOP SHOW FROM THE TOUR.

3-30-98 BEST BIRTHDAY - First show of the tour and a bit rusty, although nice to listen to. Many "Rare" songs performed from the "Pilgrim" album here. These songs were replaced with others later on in the tour.

4-3-98 ST.LOUIS - To me, the first GREAT Show of the tour. All of the rust seems to be gone and this concert flows very well. A tough find.

4-5-98 SHOTGUN BLUES - ALTHOUGH CLEARLY AN AUDIENCE RECORDING, THE SOUND IS EXCELLENT AND ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES. IT REALLY PRESERVES THE "ACTUAL" SOUND OF A LIVE CONCERT. FROM TIME TO TIME, EC WILL PLAY LOUDER AND PRETTY MUCH OVERLOOK HIS SOFT TOUCH. THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THOSE TIMES - MORE OF A ROCK CONCERT AND GREATLY APPRECIATED BY ME. NICE "OLD LOVE" AND "ONE CHANCE."

4-6-98 MILWAUKEE - SOUND IS CLOSE TO THAT OF A SOUNDBOARD, BUT OBVIOUSLY A GOOD AUDIENCE RECORDING. A HARD FIND RECORDING THAT HAS ONLY RECENTLY SURFACED. CONTAINS THE INFAMOUS "SICK AND TIRED" WHICH WAS PULLED OUT OF THE TOUR SOON AFTER DUE TO CONTROVERSY.

4-12-98 HAPPY EASTER - TOUGH SHOW TO RATE. AFTER A FEW LISTENS, I AM ALMOST CERTAIN OF A SOUNDBOARD SOURCE FOR EC'S GUITAR. VERY TOUGH TO RATE A GUITAR PERFORMANCE WHEN LISTENING TO IT FROM THE SOUNDBOARD BECAUSE YOU JUST DO NOT HEAR IT THAT WAY LIVE IN CONCERT - ANY SOUNDBOARD IN FACT, TAKES MUCH AWAY FROM THE GUITAR, SO BE CAREFUL TO JUDGE. WHAT IS EASY TO HEAR IS A SOMEWHAT UNDER-REHEARSED BAND. I WOULD SAY THIS IS BELOW AVERAGE.

4-14-98 BOSTON - JUST ABOUT THE PERFECT SOUNDING AUDIENCE RECORDING FOR MY EARS. MAYBE NOT A GREAT OR MAGICAL SHOW, BUT A DARN GOOD ONE. THE ONLY DRAWBACK TO THIS ENTIRE SHOW IS SOME BAD AUDIO ON "OLD LOVE." IT CRACKS AND DROPS-OUT FOR A SECOND. BEYOND, THAT A PROFESSIONAL SHOW IN SOUND AND PERFORMANCE. ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES OF "SUNSHINE" - LOTS OF VOLUME AND SCREAMING GUITAR IN THIS ONE! (WISH THE RECORD COMPANIES WOULD RELEASE SHOWS LIKE THIS!)

4-15-98 ONE NIGHT OF PILGRIMAGE (This version replaces the older one of slightly less quality) - Although this is a newer, better version of sorts, it is very much identical to "River Of Tears." ..Another Winner! Very loud and aggressive Clapton! "She's Gone" and "I Shot the Sheriff," are legendary. One of the more flashy guitar endings for "Sunshine."

4-16-98 RIVER OF TEARS - Not as good of a show as the night before, but this show is still above average. The sound however, is superior.

4-25-98 MIAMI (SLIGHT REMASTER) - VERY GOOD SOUND AS IT BRINGS OUT AN UNUSUAL GUITAR TONE AT TIMES FOR EC. HE EITHER USED A "UNIVIBE?" OR MORE PERHAPS A CHORUS EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE GUITAR SOLOS. IT SOUNDS NICE, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO MAKE THIS A GREAT SHOW. IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN, BUT RARELY WILL YOU HEAR ONLY A "GLIMPSE" OF A GREAT EC SHOW - IT IS GREAT, OR NOT SO GREAT. THIS IS ONE OF THE RARE SHOWS WHERE A GREAT PERFORMANCE WANTS TO APPEAR, BUT NEVER REALLY HAPPENS. EITHER MORE THAN THE USUAL AMOUNT OF GUITAR FLUBBS, OR EC'S EQUIPMENT HAD PROBLEMS - VERY HARD TO TELL FOR SURE. REGARDLESS. THIS IS STILL ABOVE AVERAGE AND DOES SOUND QUITE NICE. A RARE SHOW NOT TO MENTION.

5-11-98 RIGHT BEFORE THE ACOUSTIC NUMBERS EC SAYS, "I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE AND PLAY JUST ALL BY MYSELF." UNLESS I'M CRAZY EC HAS DONE THIS FROM TIME TO TIME, CERTAINLY IN 1993. STILL CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT HE ACTUALLY MEANT BY THAT. VERY GOOD AUDIENCE RECORING.

5-14-98 CAROLINA BLUES - VERY BOOMY, BUT A CLEAR LISTEN. MIGHT HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT SAYING THIS CD HAS DEFECTS-MANY SEEM TO BE FROM THE MASTER INCLUDING
ALL TRACKS IN NON-DAO FORMAT. ANANLOG CRACKS AND DROP-OUTS ALSO TO BE FROM THE MASTER. THIS SHOW IS STILL VERY LISTENABLE. NICE "ONE CHANCE" AND GODD
R&B VOCALS ON "GOIN DOWN SLOW". GREAT VERSION OF "SHE'S GONE" & "OLD LOVE" WITHSOME VERY HARD RIFFS ON BOTH. "SHERIFF" HAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE IT'S PERFORMED WELL, BUT STILL LEAVES SOMETHING TO BE DESIRED. A SHOW WHERE YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT THE DEFECTS AND LISTEN TO A GOOD, NOT GREAT SHOW.

5-23-98 MOST TRACKS, AT LEAST ON DISC 2 ARE IN NON-DAO FORMAT. MY FAVORITE VERSION OF "RIVER OF TEARS" REMINISCIANT OF HIS 2001 TOURS. I THINK I DETECT A BIT OF A DELAY BEING USED BY EC; THAT ALONG WITH SOME GREAT SOLOING MAKES THIS ONE GREAT. VERY LOOSE INTRO TO COCAINE AS THIS JAM WOULD SEEM MORE AT PLACE AT A "PHISH" CONCERT. ABOVE AVERAGE SHOW.

5-27-98 LA FORUM - SURPRISING SOUND. A GREAT AUDIENCE RECORDING.

5-30-98 MGM GRAND (REMASTERED BY ME) - THIS SHOW STILL HAS CRACKS AND SKIPS ON DISC 2, BUT THOSE ARE FROM THE ORIGINAL AND UNAVOIDABLE. THIS VERSION IS A MUCH MORE OF AN EASY LISTEN WITH CONSIDERABLY LESS BOOM IN THE MIX, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE VERY LOW BOOMS AND CLICKS CAN STILL BE HEARD. ABOVE AVERAGE SHOW. EXCELLENT "SHE'S GONE" VERY, VERY WILD!

6-1-98 SAN JOSE 1998 (REMASTERED BY ME) - THE HORRIBLE ORIGINAL AUDIO GREATLY DESERVED A TOUCH UP-THIS SHOW IS VERY LISTENABLE AND ACTUALLY A DECENT RECORDING NOW. SOME TROUBLES FROM THE ORIGINAL STILL CAN BE HEARD LIKE A FEW SKIPS AND CLICKS, SPECIALLY ON THE ACOUSTIC NUMBERS WHICH JUST DO NOT SOUND RIGHT.. ALSO OF NOTE IS AN ODD COMBINATION OF VERY CLEAR GUITAR/VOCALS, BUT A VERY DISTANT DRUMS AND BASS. ALTHOUGH THIS SHOW APPEARED BETTER WHEN I ATTENDED, LISTENING TO IT THE ONLY REAL HIGHLIGHT IS A GREAT "SHE'S GONE" , AND A RATHER NICE "OLD LOVE."

6-2-98 BLACK AND BLUE - THIS ONE MISSES JUST SHY OF AN A+ RATING. GOOD SOUND AS IT IS HARD TO TELL IF IT'S SB OR AUD.

6-4-98 IDAHO CENTER - FIERY CLAPTON HERE - THE SHOW CERTAINLY SEEMS TO HAVE A HARDER EDGE TO IT. SOUND IS A BIT DISTANT, BUT LOUD.

6-6-98 KEY ARENA (REMASTERED BY ME) - TAKEN AWAY ARE ALL THE BOOMS. MONSTER VERSION OF "SHE'S GONE." DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE OTHER WEBSITE WHO CLAIMED EC FLUTTERED THIS SOLO. NOT THE CASE AT ALL, JUST A BIT OF LOUD RIFFS PUT IN.

9-5-98 SUPREME BEING AGAIN (REMASTERED BY ME) - A show that I never knew existed in my hometown! I feel bad about that. The audio is excellent, but it is slightly too much soundboard for my tastes. This was a Narcotics Anonymous Concert and before a certain song, EC says "I had doubts about playing this...but I met a nice man named Marcus and he said I should do it, If you have a problem with it you can blame him." Just after that he ripped into a very memorable version of Cocaine. A few songs (Pilgrim/Goin Down Slow) have audio difficulties - still, very good! A recent Re-master has made this show much better; gone is the heavy bass and booms and it's certainly more clear to listen to. Although listed as a Soundboard, this show is mostly a pretty good audience recording. Certainly a SB/AUD Mix.

9-6-98 OAKLAND ARENA (Remaster By Me) - Some shifting in sound from left to right throughout the show is here, but it's not that bad. Also, this recording may run a tad slow, but this is again hardly noticeable. I attended this show and this CD reminded me just how good this concert actually was. The one thing I remember vividly about the show is how EC seemed to be having a great time - I've never seen him smile or joke around with the band this much. "Old Love" basically steals the show. The whole band, especially Tim Carmon, the Keyboardist, are great. Very nice closing numbers also, with "Cocaine" and "Sunshine." Good performance of a somewhat rare, and forgotten concert. This show actually kicked off the Canadian/European tour, but in Oakland,CA. I'm glad they decided to come to the U.S. for this one date.

9-11-98 DOUBLE IMAGE PT.1/EDMONTON - Okay, the sound quality is a SB7, but to me I get that no distortion, no sustain sound from the soundboard. Sorry, this does bother me-I am a guitar player so I am picky! Great Show.

10-15-98 DOUBLE IMAGE PT.2/EARL'S COURT - What can I say? Really good show, but this soundboard annoys me. You may like it, but not me. Very rare "You Were There" for the Encore. It is a complete wonder why this was not played more. Sounds just like "River Of Tears" at times with just as good of a solo. The Volume for the vocals may be a bit too much.

10-16-98 EC EC - To me, the sound is a mix of soundboard and audience and it's okay. Overall I prefer this to "Double Image." INTERESTING TO HEAR SOME "FLUBBS" ON "HAVE YOU" IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SONG, BUT IN THE SECOND HALF EC TURNS ON THE FIRE. BEST PART OF THE SHOW IS THE WONDERFUL JAM AT THE END WITH BONNIE RAITT AND B.B. KING. I'VE NEVER HEARD B.B. PLAY SO WELL, AND THAT SAYS A LOT!

10-17-98 EC EC - VERY NICE SOUNDING AUDIENCE RECORDING AND TO MY EARS THE BEST
OF THE 3 GIGS AT EARL'S COURT. "SHERIFF" MAY JUST BE PERFORMED WITH A LITTLE
TOO MUCH UP-TEMPO ALTHOUGH IT DOES SOUND GROOVY. POWERFUL VERSION OF "OLD LOVE" WITH SOME REAL PASSION ON "HAVE YOU". VERY LOUD, VERY WILD "SHE'S GONE."

10-31-98 HALLENSTADIAN - Analog skips on Track 1 of Disc 1. Besides that, very few instances of cracks/pops. A very "Soulful" show in some ways. Nice versions of "She's Gone and I Shot The Sheriff." EC seems to be in great spirits.

11-3-98 ROTTERDAM - A surprisingly great show. EC really has his R&B shoes on doing a wonderful version of "One Chance". Sound is above average with slight cracks here and there. A good, authentic audience recording.

11-25-98 ONE CHANCE IN OSLO - NOT VERY GOOD SOUND, A REMASTER WOULD HAVE PRODUCED ONLY MINIMAL RESULTS.

12-2-98 ANOTHER NIGHT - VERY VERY BAD DISTORTION ON THIS SHOW - ALMOST LIKE THE VOLUME IS SET WAY TOO HIGH. I WOULDN'T LISTEN TO THIS ONE MUCH.

11-4-99 L.A. SESSION - Pretty decent recording of a Tour Rehearsal. Audio sounds more like Radio than anything else. Decent stuff, nothing noteworthy. Just good to have.

11-4-99 GET READY - Same as above, but with Interviews at the end. Short interview, but it's cool.

11-9-99 14 GIGS PT.1 - Above average sound (aud5-), although it's good it makes it the worst sound from the '99 Japanese shows. Most of the other shows sound better to me too.

11-15-99 BLUES EYES - Wow, Excellent performance of "Gin House". A few hisses and cracks. Great show. As is somewhat of a standard for Japanese performances, this show has EC using heavy guitar effects-they are a real treat! Nice version of She's Gone.

11-24-99 LIVE IN YOKOHAMA - MAYBE NOT THE TRUE SB6 AS STATED AS THE SOUND PEAKS AND CRACKS AT THE HIGH NOTES. THIS VERSION HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FEEL AS TO THE OTHER AVAILABLE VERSION FROM VCD. JUST MAY HAVE A MORE "LIVE" FEEL TO IT.

11-24-99 LIVE IN JAPAN - THIS IS A DIRECT VCD to CD COPY. YOU CAN IDENTIFY THIS VERSION BY THE 3 MINUTE INTERVIEW JUST BEFORE "SUNSHINE." THIS SHOW HAS A DIFFERENT FEEL THAN THE OTHER VERSION. IT DEPENDS ON YOUR OWN EARS WHICH VERSION IS BETTER, BUT THIS VERSION IS CLEARLY A MORE "PERFECT" RECORDING IN TERMS OF EDITING AND QUALITY. A GOOD SHOW WORTHY OF 2 VERSIONS, ALTHOUGH NOTHING SPECTACULAR HERE.

11-26-99 14 GIGS Pt.11 - A top show for 1999 or any other year for that matter- a true legendary show. Several highlights from this show. "Stormy Monday" is good, and "Rambling" really hits home. A must have.

11-29-99 14 GIGS Pt.13 - IF IT WERE UP TO ME, I'D HAIL THIS VERSION OF "STORMY MONDAY" AS THE BEST EVER. BOLD STATEMENT, BUT IT JUST SO PERFECT HERE. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE MAYBE SOMETHING CAN BE AS GOOD AS THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYTHING CAN TOP IT. THE REST OF THE SHOW IS EXCELLENT AND RIGHT ON THE BEAT, LITERALLY NO MISTAKES. YOU AREN'T A TRUE CLAPTON COLLECTOR UNLUESS YOU'VE HEARD THIS ONE!

11-30-99 BUDOKAN - Program material is a little more "distant" than some of the 1999 shows, but the recording itself is still incredibly clear and listenable. The last show of the 1999 Japan Tour. Before "Layla", Steve Gadd makes a rumbling noise and EC quips, "that's the drummer's idea of a joke!". EC introduces the band before "Sunshine".

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