Eric Clapton / Belgium 11.02.1998 Complete DAT Master Edition

A high-quality stereo audience recording making its worldwide debut! We have acquired a previously unreleased DAT master from the 1998 *Pilgrim* tour! Once again, a sensational master recording has arrived from an overseas taper renowned for their Clapton recordings. This DAT master captures the complete concert from November 2 in Ghent, Belgium—part of the European leg that concluded the world tour launched alongside the *Pilgrim* album. While a bootleg featuring this show is listed on “Geetarz”—a site dedicated to reviewing Clapton bootlegs—that release was a limited, semi-private European issue with only average sound quality (rated “3”). The sound quality of this new master is far superior—truly “superb,” ​​offering exceptional clarity and a wide stereo image—indicating it comes from a completely different source. With clear instrument separation, excellent balance, and an outstanding stereo field that conveys the venue’s size and depth, the quality rivals that of the legendary Mike Millard. Consequently, this is a stunning master: not only has it never been released in Japan or anywhere else in the world, but the sound quality is also magnificent. Although conversations from the audience can be heard in the left and right channels at the start, the fact that they are in German actually enhances the sense of being there. Many excellent recordings from the 1998 tour have been released, including soundboard sources; however, given its superb sound quality, the high-caliber performance of the main set, and the notable guest appearance during the encore, this release undoubtedly ranks among the top ten of the tour. It is certainly a top-tier audience recording. Here lies the true essence of Clapton, shredding away in a triple-guitar lineup! What significance did the 1998 *Pilgrim* tour hold in Clapton’s career? Let’s take a moment to review the tour schedule for that year: March 10, 1998—Simultaneous worldwide release of the album *Pilgrim*; March 30–April 26—First leg of the US tour; May 11–June 6—Second leg of the US tour; September 5–18—Short US and Canada tour; October 13–December 11—European tour (including the UK and Scandinavia). As you can see, this was a tour undertaken with immense dedication and intensity; it involved a simultaneous global album release, kicked off on his 53rd birthday, and spanned the remainder of the year. Although he did not tour Asia—having visited Japan the previous year—the scale of the tour was essentially that of a world tour. The reason for such intense commitment was that the album was a deeply personal work, created as he re-examined his life and honored the memory of his four-year-old son, who had tragically passed away in an accident in 1991. For Clapton, making this album—composed almost entirely of original material—was something he felt absolutely compelled to do, both as a human being and as a musician. Rich in introspective messages, the album was the heart of the tour; Clapton intended to convey those sentiments directly to fans worldwide through live performances. This intent is clearly demonstrated by the fact that he played six consecutive songs from the new album right at the start of the show. During these six tracks, Clapton is firing on all cylinders, delivering performances that are even more passionate and emotional than the studio recordings. His guitar work in this segment is simply extraordinary—it reaches a level that defies the ordinary, as if his fingers are conjuring sounds from another dimension, or perhaps as if his very spirit has transcended to a different plane. “She’s Gone,” which closes out this section, is particularly impressive. Newly recruited guitarist Alan Darby shines during the obbligato passages, building excitement and effectively going toe-to-toe with Clapton. This segment alone is enough to satisfy any listener. To bring the album tracks to life even more vividly than the original versions, Clapton employed a triple-guitar lineup for this tour, adding Andy Fairweather Low and Alan Darby (formerly of Asia) as side guitarists (complemented by a dual-keyboard setup that provides exceptional sonic depth)—a first in Clapton’s career. After successfully pulling this off and marking a milestone, he transitions to an acoustic set—playing with a mellow, intimate touch as if to cool things down. Here, he performs the masterpiece “Tears in Heaven,” a song deeply connected to the album and dedicated to his son. The middle solo in “Layla” is an organ solo performed by Kenny Crutchfield. A major highlight is “Change the World”; the improvised jam leading into the intro builds in intensity and length, delighting the audience. The crowd goes wild, clapping along to Clapton’s extended solo at the end—a truly magnificent performance. Returning to the electric set, the first song is “Old Love.” Before the intro begins, Clapton plays a delicate solo passage—the nuance is exquisite! Then, the initial string bend and flurry of notes that kick off the intro are superb. In this take, Clapton’s playing is emotionally charged to the max; he delivers a grand performance that also features a synthesizer solo by keyboardist Tim Carmon. It is as if the guitar itself is speaking poignantly; the playing is an explosion of emotion—an outpouring of raw passion. This is a performance you simply must hear. The two blues numbers that follow, as well as “I Shot the Sheriff,” are also incredible! Alan Darby shines once again during “Crossroads.” He delivers a resonant, soaring slide guitar performance during the obbligato sections and showcases fluid playing in the first solo. Although he shares the same pentatonic-based style as Clapton, he constructs his solos using phrases Clapton likely wouldn’t play, creating a fascinating contrast with Clapton’s own third solo (the second solo is an organ solo by Kenny Crutchfield). “Have You Ever Loved A Woman” becomes Clapton’s exclusive showcase; immerse yourself fully in his blues guitar mastery. The set then builds to a grand finale with “Cocaine.” Clapton’s fingerwork during this period was nothing short of miraculous, making the entire performance a highlight. A unique treat exclusive to this tour: the number one female blues guitarist, Bonnie Raitt, makes a surprise appearance for the encore! The show had already delivered a succession of brilliant performances, but the encore held a special surprise: a guest appearance by Bonnie Raitt, a leading figure in female blues slide guitar. Raitt had been the opening act for this European tour—personally selected by Clapton himself—and he invited her back for the encore to acknowledge her spirit. Surprisingly, the song wasn’t a blues number, but “Sunshine Of Your Love.” While one might have wondered how a renowned slide guitarist like Raitt would fit into the mix, she is featured on slide guitar no fewer than three times: between the first and second choruses, during the middle solo, and again in the ending solo. In the middle and ending solos, she goes head-to-head with Clapton in a powerful twin-lead exchange. It is an intense yet joyful session where Raitt’s majestic slide playing seems to overwhelm Clapton’s rapid-fire single-note runs. This is a performance you simply must hear! (As a side note, Alan Darby of Clapton’s band hit it off with Raitt during this tour and ended up joining her band after the tour concluded.) This release features a high-quality master recording making its world debut. Moreover, the performance itself is truly spectacular! It also includes a guest appearance by Bonnie Raitt—a rare occurrence in Clapton’s career. This is a live album worthy of permanent preservation. Flanders Expo, Ghent, Belgium – November 2, 1998 – TRULY PERFECT SOUND. Disc 1 (64:40): 1. Intro 2. My Father’s Eyes 3. Pilgrim 4. One Chance 5. River of Tears 6. Going Down Slow 7. She’s Gone 8. Driftin’ Blues 9. Tears in Heaven 10. Layla 11. Change The World. Disc 2 (54:42): 1. Old Love 2. Crossroads 3. Have You Ever Loved A Woman 4. I Shot The Sheriff 5. Wonderful Tonight 6. Cocaine 7. Sunshine Of Your Love (with Bonnie Raitt). Eric Clapton – guitar / vocals; Andy Fairweather Low – guitar / vocals; Nathan East – bass / vocals; Alan Darby – guitar / vocals; Tim Carmon – keyboards / vocals; Kenneth Crouch – keyboards; Steve Gadd – drums; Katie Kissoon – backing vocals; Chyna – backing vocals; Charlean Hines – backing vocals.