Eric Clapton/Germany 1998 DAT Master Complete

[The world’s first appearance and the best stereo audience recording! We have obtained the DAT master of the ’98 Pilgrim tour!] A long-awaited shock master has been brought to us by the heavyweight taper, who lives in the UK and has a good reputation for Clapton sound sources! This DAT master is a complete recording of the Munich performance in Germany on October 19th in a stereo audience recording that can be called the best, from the European tour at the end of the world tour that began at the same time as the release of the album “PILGRIM” in 1998. The bootleg introduction and evaluation site “Geetarz” of Clapton and others has a bootleg that contains the sound source of this day, but it is a CDR boot that can be said to be a privately made one that was distributed only in Europe, and was produced based on a completely different master, with a sound jump in the opening number and an encore number not recorded. The master of this heavyweight taper was a complete recording of the encore number, with no sound jumps in the opening number. Moreover, the sound quality was at the “best” level, which can be said to be the highest peak imaginable. The musical sound that approaches from the front, yet the clear separation of each instrument, the width of the venue, the outstanding stereo feeling that makes you feel the depth, all points have a quality comparable to that of Mike Millard. Therefore, this master has never been released in Japan, let alone the world, and it was an astonishing master with the best sound quality. Many famous sound sources have been released since the 1998 tour, including sound board sources, but the value of this board is not only this superb sound quality, but also the high quality performance in the main set and the encore of the guest who jumped in, which became a topic, so it can be said that it is one of the top ten on this tour. Of course, it is top class in audience recording. [The true essence of Clapton playing with a triple guitar configuration is here! ] What did the 1998 “Pilgrim Tour” mean in Clapton’s career? Here is a recap of the tour schedule for this year: ・March 10, 1998 <Worldwide simultaneous release of the album “PILGRIM”> ・March 30 to April 26, 1998: First leg of the American tour ・May 11 to June 6, 1998: Second leg of the American tour ・September 5 to 18, 1998: Short-term US and Canadian tour ・October 13 to December 11, 1998: European tour including the UK and Scandinavia ← [here] As you can see, it was a very spirited tour that released the album simultaneously all over the world, started on his 53rd birthday, and continued for a long period until the end of the year. Since he had come to Japan the previous year, he did not tour Asia, but it was a tour that was almost on the scale of a world tour. The reason why he was so enthusiastic is because the album was created in the process of Clapton reexamining his life, in memory of his son who died at the age of four in an accident in 1991, and it was something that he had to do as a person and as a musician. Most of the album was filled with self-composed songs, and was full of introspective messages from Clapton, so by featuring songs from the album on the tour, Clapton wanted to deliver that message to his fans around the world on the live stage. This is proven by the fact that he played six songs in a row from the new album from the opening. In these six songs, Clapton is at full throttle, playing more passionately and emotionally than in the studio versions. Clapton’s playing in this part is amazing! It’s an extraordinary level, as if his fingers are playing sounds from another dimension, or perhaps Clapton’s mind has gone to another dimension. Listeners will be satisfied with just this part. In order to express the songs on the album better than the original versions, Clapton appointed Andy Fairweather Low and Alan Darby (formerly of Asia) as side guitarists on this tour, creating a triple guitar system (plus the thickness of the sound from the double keyboard is outstanding). It was the first attempt in Clapton’s career. After successfully completing it and making a break, he moved to a soft acoustic set, as if to cool himself down. Here he plays Tears In Heaven, a masterpiece dedicated to his son, which is closely related to the album. And Layla is a rare take in which the middle solo is not Clapton, but Nathan East, who is featured on the electric acoustic bass (and this solo is good!). The first song after returning to the electric set is Old Love. Unlike the usual gentle intro, this take starts with a sudden intense playing, and while featuring keyboardist Tim Carmon’s solo, he shows off a performance that can be said to be the height of emotion. It was as if the guitar was telling her heartfelt stories, and her emotions finally exploded. The two blues songs that followed were also amazing! After that, they played a string of classic hits and representative songs, and ended with Cocaine. [A special feature of this tour. The No. 1 female blues guitarist, Bonnie Raitt, appeared for the encore!] Even up to this point, the stage presented a quality that could be said to be full of great performances, but there was a special topic in the encore that day. Bonnie Raitt, the leading female blues slide guitarist, appeared. Raitt was the opening act for this European tour. Clapton had appointed her as a fellow blues guitarist, and in response to her spirit, Clapton invited her for the encore. Moreover, the song was not a blues number, but Sunshine Of Your Love. I was expecting to see how Raitt, who is well-known as a slide guitarist, would get involved, but she is featured with slides three times: between the first and second choruses, in the middle solo, and even in the ending solo. Moreover, in the middle and ending solos, she and Clapton clash with a twin lead that is tightly interlocked. The two of them have an intense and fun session, with Raitt overwhelming Clapton with her majestic slide playing as Clapton pounds on single notes. This is a must-listen! (As an aside, Alan Darby of Clapton’s band got along well with Raitt during this tour, and ended up moving to Raitt’s band after the tour ended). This is the world’s first superb sound source. And this performance is seriously amazing! In addition, Bonnie Raitt, who has performed with Clapton only a few times in his career, makes a surprise appearance. This is a live album worthy of being preserved forever. Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany 19th October 1998 TRULY PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 (63:05) 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. The Change World Disc 2 (52:41) 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 Special Guest Bonnie Raitt – guitar