Eric Clapton/CA,USA 2.8.1983

Another amazing master has been brought in at the last minute from the heavyweight taper living in the UK who has a reputation for being Eric Clapton’s treasured master! We will also release it! This is a first generation original master that completely records the previously unreleased LA performance on February 8th from the 1983 US tour with a good and expansive monaural audience recording. Speaking of the sound source of this day, so far only one song, probably the same audience source I’ve Got A Rock And Roll Heart, was included in the compilation title. However, the heavyweight taper possessed the full-length version master. I was surprised. I thought that it had never seen the light of day because of poor sound quality or problems during recording, but that turned out to be a false assumption. It is an excellent recording that confirms the master quality with its attractive sound quality, and the sound image is full of realism. As usual, our engineers have corrected the pitch that had been distorted due to aging, and the quality of this record is such that you will feel that it is very easy to listen to. In terms of content, this album captures the US tour that started at the same time as the album’s release, and it was on this tour that we heard the hot numbers from the then new album “MONEY AND CIGARETTES”. Now, let’s look back on Clapton’s activity history this year. ≪February 1, 1983: Album “MONEY AND CIGARETTES” released≫ ・February 1, 1983 – March 3, 1983: U.S. tour, first leg ←★Here★ ・April 8, 1983 – May 23, 1983・June 5, 1983: Performed at a charity show in London ・June 24, 1983: Awarded the “Silver Clef” award in London ・June 25-7, 1983 September 17th: Second leg of US tour ・September 20th and 21st, 1983: “ARMS” concert held at the Royal Albert Hall in London ・November 28th – December 9th, 1983: “ARMS US” It can be said that it was a year of very energetic activities for Clapton, but it can be said that the driving force was the satisfaction with the ambitious work “MONEY AND CIGARETTES”. The first leg of this year’s U.S. tour, which showed that Clapton was alive and well, was the first leg of this album’s US tour, but this album has additional value in addition to being the first sound source released in Japan. The band members who supported the tour included all the session men who had collaborated on “MONEY AND CIGARETTES” with the addition of Chris Stinton (keyboards), but for some reason Roger Hawkins on drums was the only one who appeared on the tour at the 11th show. I suddenly withdrew from the group. So, I suddenly asked for help from my old friend, Jamie Oldacre, the drummer for the Tulsa Tops, and I was able to get through the rest of the tour. Speaking of Roger Hawkins, he is an important session man of Muscle Shoals and a drummer who is highly regarded as a master. In the early 70’s, Steve Winwood asked him to support Traffic on their European tour. The tour started with great enthusiasm after having him, but I never expected that such a situation would occur at the beginning of the tour. However, this board clearly captures the early stage of the tour, where Hawkins’ powerful drumming was clear, without the slightest sign of such a thing. They suddenly started with the high-tension After Midnight, and performed four songs from the new album: Crazy Country Hop, Crosscut Saw, Slow Down Linda, and I’ve Got A Rock ‘N Roll Heart. The four songs were performed only at the beginning of the US tour in which Hawkins participated, so it can be said to be a very valuable live take. After Worried Life Blues, Clapton announces, “I will continue with three new songs.” Since this was the first tour with a band that had disbanded their all-British band and formed a group of talented American and British session musicians, they were concerned about how the audience would receive their new songs. I can see that. On the other hand, Clapton’s confidence was rising on this stage. This was also the time when the combination with Albert Lee, the guitarist who had supported Clapton since 1979, was at its most brilliant. Therefore, Clapton himself later recalled that “The most exciting second guitarist was Albert Lee.” This is a good sound source that I would like you to listen to carefully. What you can hear on this album is not only numbers from “MONEY AND CIGARETTES” but also blues medleys and representative songs such as Let It Rain, Cocaine, and Layla. Clapton’s play, fueled by Roger Hawkins’ tight drumming, is amazing. A very rare first appearance during the very short time that Hawkins was participating in the tour ☆ The sound source drum is Roger Hawkins. Live at the Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA, USA 8th February 1983 TRULY AMAZING/PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 (54:22) 1. Intro 2. After Midnight 3. I Shot The Sheriff 4. Worried Life Blues 5. Crazy Country Hop 6. Crosscut Saw 7. Slow Down Linda 8. Sweet Little Lisa 9. Key To The Highway 10. Tulsa Time 11. I’ve Got A Rock n’ Roll Heart 12. Wonderful Tonight Disc 2 (43: 31) 1. Blues Power 2. Blues Medley : Who’s Loving You Tonight / Have You Ever Loved A Woman Rambling On My Mind 3. Let It Rain 4. Cocaine 5. Layla　6. Member Introduction 7. Further On Up The Road Eric Clapton – guitar / vocals Albert Lee – guitar / vocals Chris Stainton – keyboards Donald “Duck” Dunn – bass Roger Hawkins – drums