Description
[In addition, the definitive version of the 2011 RAH performance will also be released for the first time!] In addition to the “Royal Albert Hall 2009 9th Night DAT Master”, another first-time release of the finest DAT master was brought to us by Taper, a heavyweight in the UK who is well-known for his Clapton sound sources. This is the finest DAT master from the fourth day of the 11-day consecutive performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on May 21, 2011, recorded by a friend of Taper, who is also a heavyweight. This was also a complete recording of an impeccable, superb stereo audience recording that is comparable to a good quality soundboard recording. With this level of quality, it is a work that can be recommended not only to Clapton enthusiasts but also to general rock fans. This time, we will release the definitive version of the RAH performance in 2009 and 2011 with the finest quality, but since both are of the finest quality, if you are wondering “which one should I choose?”, we can only say with confidence, “I recommend both.” Anyway, both works are excellent recordings without a single cloud or trouble. In addition, Clapton usually doesn’t change his set list much in an interval of about two years, but the set list is quite different between 2009 and 2011, and even if the songs in both sets are performed completely differently, I have no choice but to recommend both. The main reason is that Clapton’s playing on these albums is amazing. [The charm of a performance just after the release of a new studio album!] The previous year, Clapton released a new studio album that was almost a cover album. In Clapton’s words, it was a selection of songs from his “Mental Juke Box.” Naturally, new songs were performed on this tour. Here, let’s look back on Clapton’s activities in 2011. September 27, 2010: Release of the album “CLAPTON”・January 13, 2011: Appeared in a charity show held at Cranley Arts Centre in Surrey, England・February 11-20: Middle East and Asian tour・February 25-March 21: American tour・April 7-9: Appeared in a charity concert for “Jazz at Lincoln Center” in New York, performing with a jazz band led by Wynton Marsalis・May 7: Appeared in a charity concert at Grosvenor House Hotel in London・May 9-June 1: UK tour including 11 consecutive performances at the RAH←★Here★・June 4: Appeared in the charity concert “Picnic by the Lake” held in Bromley, Surrey, England・June 6-11: Nordic tour・June 24: Performed at a charity concert organized by guitarist Pino Daniel in Cava de’ Tirreni, Italy ・August 27: Performed at the wedding of Miss Petra Excelstone (daughter of the president of the F-1 Racing Association) in Bracciano, Italy ・October 6-16: South American tour ・November 17-December 10: Joint Japan tour with Steve Winwood ・December 15: Performed at the 90th birthday celebration of the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace, London ・December 31: Held the annual “New Year’s Eve Dance” In conjunction with the release of the new album, he performed a proper world tour, and also performed at many related events and charity concerts that reflected his wide network of contacts. It was an activity that can only be described as energetic. It seems that he was on a roll with the release of the new studio album. The Japan tour at the end of the year was a joint one with Steve Winwood. Considering the rehearsals for each tour, it seems that he really wanted to perform live. The characteristic of the RAH performance captured in this work is that the guitarist was Clapton alone. A second guitarist was not prepared. Naturally, the weight of the guitar playing on Clapton is much higher. Considering that it was a performance that was prepared with that in mind, I think that fans will naturally want to hear it. The number from the new album that is attracting attention was a bit of a disappointment, with only one song, When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful, but this was only available on the tour last year and this year, so this alone is sure to be valuable. However, in fact, a number that reflects Clapton’s intentions was prepared that is even deeper. [Unique set list and song arrangement] At first glance, you might think, “Isn’t this close to the usual concert?” from the opening, but in fact, there were a series of surprises from the opening Key To The Highway. The intro of this song was actually an arrangement of the “Derek & The Dominos era live version” that was put into practice in the middle of the 2006 Japan tour. The reason for the change from the orthodox intro to this arrangement during the 2006 Japan tour was that a Japanese fan gave Derek Trucks, who was in the band at the time, a bootleg of a 1970 Tampa performance in which Duane Allman made a surprise appearance with the Dominos, and Derek played it for Clapton, who liked the intro of this song recorded there, so he immediately rehearsed it with his band and played it with this arrangement from the next performance onwards. Did Clapton suddenly remember it at this point five years later? The truth is a mystery, but it is a valuable take to be able to hear this intro version. Furthermore, Going Down Slow is also included in the set of the “Royal Albert Hall 2009 9th Night DAT Master” released at the same time, but the rhythm pattern is completely different. The intro is also different. And the following Hoochie Coochie Man has a completely different rhythm pattern than the usual one. It is not played with the usual pattern of a heavy rhythm of “back groove”, but with a “forward groove” rhythm. This is also interesting! Also, Tim Carmon’s solo in Old Love is played with the rhythm of classical composer Ravel’s famous “Bolero”, which is a noticeable difference from the 2009 tour. And the best part is the postlude of I Shot The Sheriff, which was revived in the set on this tour. Clapton’s solo, which follows the rising melody and plays with momentum, is amazing! There are some dangerous moments where it seems like he is back to back with a mistone, but he just plays as he pleases, or rather, as his fingers go. This is a take that you should definitely listen to. This song marks the end of the stage and moves to an acoustic set, where two new songs, Still Got The Blues and Same Old Blues, are performed. The former is a Gary Moore number, and was set in memory of Moore, who died suddenly at the beginning of the year. While Moore’s version was played electric, Clapton played his own acoustic arrangement. This is also very touching. After the performance, Clapton calls out “Gary Moore!”. Thinking back, when Cream performed a concert in Ireland, the three members were drinking at a club at night, and a 14-year-old boy appeared and asked for an autograph. When the boy said he played guitar, Jack Bruce encouraged him, saying “Good luck.” The boy went home happy. This boy was Gary Moore. Clapton must have had a passionate and lonely feeling for Moore, who returned to the blues in his later years. And the latter was a cover of J.J. Cale. Clapton also wrote a number of the same name, but he must have written the song inspired by Cale in the first place. Here, he sings with a longing for Cale. The second half is the usual royal road, but it’s rare to see him play Tearing Us Apart for the first time in a while. Clapton’s solos are sharp in both Badge and this song. And the solo in Little Queen Of Spades is also… I have no words. Listening to this, you can see that the set list and performance are quite different from the simultaneously released “Royal Albert Hall 2009 9th Night DAT Master”, which is only a two-year interval. Both works are excellent stereo audience recordings, and are complete recordings with no problems. And both are very satisfying to listen to. The whole album is full of high-quality performances that say, “This is Clapton in the 21st century!” Royal Albert Hall, London, UK 21st May 2011 ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters)*New Source Disc 1 (74:41) 1. Intro 2. Key To The Highway 3. Going Down Slow 4. Hoochie Coochie Man 5. Old Love 6. I Shot The Sheriff 7. Drifting 8. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out 9. Still Got The Blues 10. Same Old Blues 1 1. When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful 12. Layla Disc 2 (47:52) 1. Badge 2. Wonderful Tonight 3. Tearing Us Apart 4. Little Queen Of Spades 5. Cocaine 6. Crossroads Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals Chris Stainton – keyboards Tim Carmon – keyboards Willie Weeks – bass Steve Gadd – drums Michelle John – backing vocals Sharon White – backing vocals
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.