Eric Clapton/CA,USA 1988 Millard Tapes

Legendary taper Mike Millard recorded another Eric Clapton performance following LA in 1975! This is the Laguna Hills performance on September 23rd of the Celebrate US tour held in 1988 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their debut. We have already released the DAT master’s superb stereo audience title “Laguna Hills 1988” on this day, but we cannot afford to overlook it if it becomes the mirrored tape that became the biggest topic of the year. Of course it’s a first generation cassette master. Although it is a cassette tape, the entire story is captured with Millard’s powerful high-quality sound. However, on that day, he seemed to be a little impatient with the preparations, and when changing the cassette from side A to side B, and again when changing to the second cassette, a missing part was created. Furthermore, there were some defective parts of the tape, probably due to deterioration over time. Also, side A had a high drop on the left, and side B had a high drop on the right. However, regarding these points, we have made up for it by aligning the sound pressure from the previous release, and have also successfully corrected the high drop, creating a complete version that does not feel strange (part ■ in the song list). Now you can immerse yourself in Mirrored Tape with peace of mind. Now, regarding this day’s performance, let’s first take a look at where it was placed in the 25th anniversary tour that took place this year.・January 22, 1988 – February 7, 1988: UK tour including 9 consecutive performances at the Royal Albert Hall (Mark Knopfler participated) <<April 18, 1988: Anthology box set “CROSSROADS” released>・June 5-6, 1988: Appeared with his band at the “Prince’s Trust Concert” held at the Royal Albert Hall (Elton John participated) ・June 8-9, 1988 : Rehearsal with Dire Straits at Brixton Academy ・June 11, 1988: Appeared with Dire Straits in “Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert” ・July 2, 1988: Surrey, England Appeared at the charity event “Picnic Concert” held at “Picnic Concert” September 1, 1988 – October 8, 1988: U.S. tour ←★Here★ October 11, 1988: Performed at the Bottom Line club in New York・October 31, 1988 – November 5, 1988: Japan tour ・November 28, 1988: Appeared at a charity event held at the Hard Rock Cafe in London. Performed on stage with Jeff Beck, Mitch Mitchell and others December 23, 1988: Participated in Gary Brooker’s Stiletto Shoes gig in Dunsfold, Surrey, England to celebrate his 25th anniversary since his debut. It was a large-scale world tour that was carried out to express gratitude to the fans who have supported us over the years in conjunction with the release of the anthology work, but the early UK tour was centered on consecutive RAH performances, and guest musicians were invited. There were various topics such as the Japanese performance at the end of the tour, but this US tour, which became a full-fledged road, was the main event of this year that lasted the longest. The performance date of this edition was in the middle of that period. Clapton was in great shape on this day. I’ve been playing it from the beginning, but especially after Badge, which features Nathan East’s Can’t Find My Way Home, it’s a series of amazing plays. It feels like a complete switch has been turned on. It is worth noting that Dire Straits leader and guitarist Mark Knopfler was on this tour as a friend. White Room, I Shot The Sheriff, and Badge, where you can listen to obbligato containing his own melancholy and melancholy, are also wonderful, and there is also the deliciousness of being able to listen to his band’s biggest hit song Money For Nothing with the backing of the Clapton band. The set list consisted of famous songs that represent their 25-year career. After Midnight, which is played with a strong groove of a remake arrangement that was lost in the set during the Japan tour, you can feel the outstanding stability, and the long original blues that even creates a bewitching atmosphere with a solo that uses a lot of sustain and vent. Clapton’s play on Same Old Blues gives me goosebumps. Also, Clapton’s solo on Layla, which has Knopfler play that seven-string phrase, is so long that it has never been matched in recent years! And it’s hot! It is. The potential of this band is fully demonstrated throughout the album. It is also noteworthy that the prologue of Layla from this period included A Remark You Made, which was given by Weather Report’s Joe Zawinul to his late ally Jaco Pastorius. This was made possible by Nathan’s desire to respect Jaco. The difference from the later Japan tour was that the percussion this time was not Ray Cooper, formerly of Elton John’s band, who later became a regular member, but Jodi Linscott, the leading British female percussionist. (She was asked by Pete Townshend to join The Who on their reunion tour the following year). This tour was the only time she supported Clapton, having supported countless artists. One of the points of listening is the interaction between her and Steve Ferrone, who handles more percussion than Cooper. Laguna Hills was definitely one of the signature performances of the 1988 Celebrate US tour. The sound quality of the previously released version was excellent, but I think you can enjoy Mr. Millard’s master version with a different flavor. Live at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater, Laguna Hills, CA, USA 23rd September 1988 TRULY PEREFCT SOUND Disc 1 (55:26) 1. Intro 2. Crossroads 3. White Room 4. I Shot The Sheriff 5. Lay Down Sally 6. Wonderful Tonight 7. Tearing Us Apart 8. After Midnight 9. Can’t Find My Way Home Disc 2 (60:01) 1. Badge 2. Same Old Blues 3. Member Introduction 4. Cocaine 5. A Remark You Made 6. Layla 7 Money For Nothing 8. Sunshine Of Your Love Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals Mark Knopfler – guitar, vocals Alan Clark – keyboards Nathan East – bass Steve Ferrone – drums Jody Linscott – percussion Katie Kissoon – backing vocals Tessa Niles – backing vocals