Description
A rare, previously unreleased master recording of Delaney & Bonnie & Friends’ 1969 European tour, featuring Eric Clapton, has surfaced! While the official “DELANEY AND BONNIE AND FRIENDS ON TOUR WITH ERIC CLAPTON” and its expanded 4CD box edition, capturing their December 1969 UK tour, as well as the video of their December 10th Copenhagen performance, are well-known live recordings of Delaney & Bonnie & Friends with Eric Clapton, a historically significant unearthed recording previously unreleased in Japan has now appeared! This is a stereo audience recording of their November 28th performance in Munich, Germany, captured with sound quality that can be described as “superb” even by modern standards. Recorded using a 7-inch reel-to-reel tape deck and an external microphone, it must have been outstanding for a recording of that era. This astonishing master was provided by an overseas taper with whom our store has strong connections, and who has already gained a reputation for providing rare and high-quality unreleased Clapton recordings. While this is a superb stereo recording, it is, in a sense, a “historical discovery” due to the age-related deterioration of the original tape. There were random pitch inaccuracies and frequent dropouts in the left and right channels. However, in order to make the most of this precious “treasure” audio source, our engineers corrected the randomly inaccurate pitch as much as possible, and regarding the dropouts in the left and right channels, since hiss was present, adjusting the sound pressure would have made it sound unnatural, so we only adjusted the dropouts where it wouldn’t sound unnatural, making it easier to listen to. Some dropouts still remain, but the pitch inaccuracies have been almost completely eliminated, and it has been improved to a level where you can listen to it without stress. There are noticeable dropouts in the latter half of “Comin’ Home” and in the middle of “Don’t Want to Discuss It” due to the condition of the tape, but even then it returns to normal, so you can rest assured. Furthermore, while “I Don’t Want to Discuss It” is cut off at the end, Clapton’s solo in the middle section is still clearly audible, and since the cutoff occurs near the end of the performance, it should be acceptable to Clapton fans. Afterwards, there is someone’s voice (the recording engineer?), but it has been left as is to respect the record’s integrity. Although there are some shortcomings due to it being a master from that era, this release is a significant upgrade from the original master by an overseas taper. The most notable feature of this master is that Clapton’s playing resonates clearly in the center-right channel! Behind him, the powerful drumming of technical drummer Jim Gordon and the masterful bass of Carl Radle provide solid support in the center channel. Furthermore, a sharp, piercing horn section is positioned slightly to the left of the center channel. And if you listen carefully, you can even hear Bonnie Bramlett’s wild tambourine playing and Tex Johnson’s congas. The vocals are also perfectly fine. Clapton’s voice is clearly recorded in “I Don’t Know Why.” Listeners will surely be thrilled by this soundscape. This recording appears to have been released overseas, but it seems that the pitch and sound quality were left as they were. Therefore, this release is the first in Japan and can be said to be of the highest quality. A precious recording capturing the infamous German tour! Superstar Clapton was drawn to the earthy and soulful music of an unknown band that opened for Blind Faith, and the family-like bond between the band members. He cast aside his status and joined Delaney & Bonnie & Friends as a sideman. Clapton, a white man born in England, saw in this band the essence of white soul and white blues that he needed to learn in the birthplace of the blues, and this was a period when he took on a “big gamble” all by himself. Although it was a low-key activity in Clapton’s career, it was a time of honing his skills alone in the heartland of the blues. And in order to introduce them to Europe, Clapton himself planned a European and British tour from November to December 1969. Clapton wanted their music to be appreciated more widely in Europe and the UK, but a major problem arose in Germany, the first stop on the tour. The local promoter advertised the show under the name “Eric Clapton & Friends” and sold tickets under that name (to boost ticket sales). German Clapton fans, having only seen Cream in ’67, understood this to mean that Clapton was finally coming back with his own band after two years since Blind Faith. However, Clapton was merely a support guitarist for Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, so there was a huge disconnect between the performer’s perception and the audience’s. At the Cologne concert the following day, the audience, disappointed by the content which didn’t match the advertised name, started making noise during the concert, causing a temporary halt to the performance. Clapton even walked up to the microphone and apologized, saying, “I’m not ready to sing yet. I’m sorry.” However, the Munich audience that day seemed to have neutral ears and hearts, sincerely applauding the band’s powerful performance. When “I Don’t Know Why,” featuring Clapton’s vocals, was introduced, applause erupted, and more applause followed when Clapton began to sing. This song was included on Clapton’s first solo album, “ERIC CLAPTON,” released in August of the following year, 1970, but it seems to have been included in the setlist because it had already been recorded at Olympic Studios in London before this tour. The audience had bought tickets to see Clapton, but the excitement didn’t stop at just this song; they were enthusiastic throughout the entire performance. In other words, Delaney & Bonnie captivated the audience with their performance itself. Despite the short set, there are many highlights. “Tribute to Robert Johnson” and “Get Ourselves Together” are arranged as a medley in a form not found on the official live album, and Clapton’s solo is a completely different improvisation from the official live album. This video captures Eric Clapton’s band giving their all in uncharted territory, Germany. Clapton was the only rhythm guitarist on this tour, a greater responsibility than the following month’s UK tour which included Dave Mason and George Harrison. His impeccable obbligatos and solos, along with his lively rhythmic cutting, are immediately apparent (Delaney Bramlett’s guitar is positioned centrally and easily distinguishable from Clapton’s). While Delaney Bramlett’s numbers exude a swampy feel, they also possess a pop side with catchy melodies and chord progressions, a style that significantly influenced Clapton’s later career. Some Clapton fans may underestimate this band because it was a period when Clapton wasn’t the leader, but I hope you’ll once again appreciate the essence of blue-eyed soul that Clapton was striving to master. The refined sensibilities he cultivated here ultimately led to the album “LAYLA.” Listen to the dazzling playing of Clapton, who remained the unsung hero behind the scenes. It appears that the Little Richard Medley was played at the end of the set, and this nearly complete recording of the German tour is extremely rare, as is its first release in Japan—a truly shocking and historically significant discovery. This live album is a must-have for Delaney & Bonnie fans, LA swamp rock fans, and Clapton fans alike. Circus Krone, Munich, Germany, 28 November 1969. TRULY AMAZING/PERFECT SOUND (from Original Masters). UPGRADE & PITCH ADJUSTED (47:34) 1. Intro 2. Only You And I Know v3. Poor Elijah – Tribute to Robert Johnson 4. Get Ourselves Together 5. I Don’t Know Why 6. Where There’s a Will… 7. Pour Your Love On Me 8. Things Get Better 9. Comin’ Home ★The sound drops significantly from the middle onwards, possibly due to the tape condition. 10. I Don’t Want to Discuss It ★The end is cut off, and someone’s voice (the recorder?) can be heard afterwards, but it has been left as is. The pitch was randomly off, so I tried to correct it as much as possible. Delaney Bramlett – guitar, vocals Bonnie Bramlett – vocals Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals Carl Radle – bass Jim Gordon – drums Bobby Whitlock – organ, vocals Jim Price – trumpet, trombone Bobby Keys – saxophone Tex Johnson – conga, bongos Rita Coolidge – vocals
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