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[The definitive version of the 50th anniversary tour of professional debut is here!] A long-awaited secret master has been brought to us by Taper, a veteran of the UK who is familiar with Clapton’s sound sources. This is the finest DAT master from the last day of the 7-day performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on May 26, 2013. This was recorded by Taper himself, a veteran of the local area, and was a sound source from a day that had not been released in our shop until now. Listen to it and be surprised! As Taper himself said, “Definitive Version: DAT Master,” it was a complete recording of an impeccable, superb stereo audience recording that is comparable to a good quality soundboard recording. Therefore, even the engineers who are always skilled in mastering at our shop did not need to make any changes to this master. With that level of quality, it is a work that can be recommended not only to enthusiasts but also to general rock fans. 2013 was the year that marked the 50th anniversary of Clapton’s professional debut with the Yardbirds, and the year that he energetically toured the world to commemorate the occasion. Clapton was 68 years old at the time. Just as fans around the world were thinking that he would still be working hard even after reaching this milestone, Clapton made the following statement in an interview published in the March 14th issue of the American music magazine Rolling Stone at the beginning of the year, causing a stir. “(Omitted) So I’ll borrow a line from singer-songwriter J.J. Cale. I’m going to stop when I’m 70. Of course I’ll continue performing and one-off shows. But I think I’ll stop touring. (Omitted)” Fans were in a panic. Will he stop touring in two years? If so, this tour may be his last. However, in the end, Clapton is still touring. As he got older, his body got weaker, and he also suffered from rheumatism, which made it difficult for his fingers to move as he wanted. Since then, Clapton has repeatedly said that he would stop touring, but fans have become accustomed to his “boy who cried wolf” remarks, and everyone now thinks that he will continue as long as he has the energy and stamina. It is true that Clapton, who is now 77 years old, has become extremely weak as he has aged, but at the time, he was 68 years old, which must have been old. Still, Clapton’s playing here was wonderful, as he seemed to be full of energy as it was the 50th anniversary. Clapton is in full swing. In addition, the support members for this tour only, and the culmination set list for this tour only. Please enjoy the final performance of RAH with the superb sound quality that cannot be faulted. It is no exaggeration to say that this work is the definitive version of this tour. [The attractive set list that changed in the middle of the tour and the mature performance that impressed the local fans] 50th anniversary of professional debut tour. This is a turning point, so let’s review the tour schedule for this year, which was full of enthusiasm. <<March 12th: Release of the album “OLD SOCK”>>・March 14th to April 6th: American tour・April 12th and 13th: The 4th Crossroads Guitar Festival was held at Madison Square Garden in New York・May 9th to June 19th: European tour (however, the Vienna performance on June 11th and the Stuttgart performance on the 12th were canceled due to a herniated disc) ←★here★・November 13th and 14th: Appeared at the “Annual Indoor Music Festival” held in Basel, Switzerland. This was broadcast on the 18th by Swiss radio station SRF3) As part of the commemorative tour, Clapton first toured America and Europe, which are his biggest markets, but during the tour he also held the “Crossroads Guitar Festival” which he organized himself, and if you include the preparations for this and negotiations with performers, it can be said that it was a very energetic year. Among them, the London performances were held over seven days on May 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, and 26th, which is the middle of the tour. This album records the final day, but in fact, the highlight of this tour was the change in the set list. The first surprise was that Hello Old Friend, the first time since the 1976 tour, was performed as the opening number for the first time in 37 years, and the most pop number from the just-released new album “OLD SOCK” was played, Gotta Get Over. While placing an acoustic set in the middle, they put together representative songs suitable for the 50th anniversary, set up some old blues, and featured Paul Carrack, who has a track record as a solo artist, in the middle and encore, which was both convincing and surprising. This London performance alone had six different set lists, which means that the set list changed almost every performance. The final day featured the same 22 songs as the 21st, but it was a precious day with Lay Down Sally, which was only played three times in the seven days (and it was a rare version played in an acoustic set), Tears In Heaven, which was only played four times, and I Shot The Sheriff, which was also only played four times (the tension of the solo in the postlude was amazing!). Among them, Tears In Heaven, which is associated with sad memories, has been sealed off from concerts since 2003, when Clapton remarried and had a daughter, but it was a surprise that it was suddenly played for the first time in 10 years on this tour. Here, in order to let fans enjoy the popular songs, they are not as serious as before, but are arranged in a reggae style with a more straightforward feel. This also makes you feel that Clapton has overcome something. The highlights of the first half before the acoustic set were the Dominos number Got To Get Better In A Little While and the first live performance song Come Rain Or Come Shine from the 2000 album “RIDING WITH THE KING”. In the former, the rhythm section of Steve Jordan and Willie Weeks, two top-class session musicians, performed brilliantly, and Clapton played a fiery solo. In the latter, the vocal duet with Paul Carrack and the guitar solo interplay with second guitarist Doyle Bramhall II were worth listening to. The second half was packed with his signature songs, but rare numbers such as Blues Power and Love In Vain were accented, and Blues Power was the first set in 28 years (since the 1985 tour). It was a great arrangement, with the audience excited by the groove of the 70s, and then cooled down with Robert Johnson’s Love In Vain. It was surprising that the last encore was High Time We Went featuring Paul Carrack, and it was Clapton’s kind consideration to let talented guest musicians shine. (For the encore, Gary Clark Jr., a young guitarist whom Clapton had noticed and appointed as the opening act, appeared.) Listening to the whole set, the set included songs from his early career in Cream and Dominos, popular solo hits, and Clapton’s signature blues, making it a perfect setlist for the 50th anniversary tour. [A luxurious lineup of talented musicians exclusively for this tour] In addition to the best musicians who supported Clapton on this tour, such as Doyle Bramhall II, Willie Weeks, Steve Jordan, and Chris Stinton, Greg Rees, who played pedal steel and mandolin and Paul Carrack, a veteran British singer and keyboardist who participated in the album “OLD SOCK”, also participated. The participation of these two expanded the range of the songs and gave them a country and soul color. This is particularly evident in the opening song, My Father’s Eyes. This song was played with an acoustic arrangement that was different from the 1998-2001 tour, and it has a different charm. Jordan replaced the snare drum with a higher tuning, which was a small consideration. And High Time We Went. It is a cover of Joe Cocker, but it is a number that fits Carrack’s soulful vocals, and the composition of Clapton singing only the chorus of the chorus and inserting a guitar solo was a moment that showed Clapton’s side as a session player. Since all the members were talented players, the quality and thickness of the sound that came out was the highest level in modern times. They showed a wonderful support even in the acoustic set, creating a stage with no gaps. Not to be forgotten are the two women, Michelle John and Sharon White, who have been backing vocals since 2004. Their powerful chorus work makes the new song Gotta Get Over at that time more powerful than the studio version. This makes this number more lively and attractive. The final performance in his hometown of London. I think you can see from this work that Clapton’s culmination of the stage, celebrating his 50th anniversary with his hometown fans, was a victory for all the musicians. Perhaps Clapton reconsidered his retirement from touring after this tour and this stage. It is clear that it was a fulfilling night for him to think so. We hope you will add this commemorative work of the 50th anniversary tour, which can be listened to with the finest sound quality, to your collection.Royal Albert Hall, London, UK 26th May 2013 ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 (75:44) 1. Intro 2. Hello Old Friend 3. My Father’s Eyes 4. Tell The Truth 5. Gotta Get Over 6. Black Cat Bone 7. Got To Get Better In A Little While 8. Come Rain Or Come Shine 9. I Shot the Sheriff 10. Driftin’ Blues 11. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out 12. It Ain’t Easy 13 Layla 14. Tears in Heaven Disc 2 (58:33) 1. Lay Down Sally 2. Wonderful Tonight 3. Blues Power 4. Love In Vain 5. Crossroads 6. Little Queen Of Spades 7. Cocaine 8. Sunshine Of Your Love 9. High Time We Went (with Gary Clark Jr.) Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals Doyle Bramhall II – guitar, vocals Greg Leisz – pedal steel guitar, mandolin Chris Stainton – piano, keyboards Paul Carrack – organ, keyboards Willie Weeks – bass Steve Jordan – drums Michelle John – backing vocals Sharon White – backing vocals
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