Eric Clapton/Osaka 11.17.2003

From Eric Clapton’s Japan tour from November to December 2003, we will release the best stereo audience master of the Osaka Castle Hall performance on November 17th, which was the second day of the tour and the first day of the three consecutive performances in Osaka! The recorder of this master is the same person who recorded the already released title “Osaka 2003 2nd Night”. That being said, the sound quality is guaranteed. Moreover, this time, the press release will be handed over to the first generation master. Before explaining the contents, let’s first look at the topics before and after this performance to see what position it occupied in Clapton’s activities this year. – March 18, 2003: Appeared at “Careers Night” (a project where people who are active in society perform) at Birkdale Middle School in Sheffield, England. This school was where Clapton’s daughter Ruth attended at the time, and the school welcomed her daughter’s idea, which led to Clapton appearing. – March 25, 2003: Performed at the Teenage Cancer Trust charity concert to support teenage cancer patients at the Royal Albert Hall in London. – April 9, 2003: Performed at Willie Nelson’s 70th birthday concert at the Beacon Theatre in New York. – May 27, 2003: Performed at a benefit concert for opera singer Luciano Pavarotti in Modena, Italy. – June 2, 2003: Guest appearance at jazz musician Wynton Marsalis’ benefit concert at the Apollo Theatre in New York. – July 9, 2003: Performed at John Mayall’s 70th birthday concert at the King’s Dock Arena in Liverpool. ★November 15th to December 13th, 2003: Almost a month-long Japan tour ・December 20th, 2003: Guest appearance at Gary Brooker’s band ‘No Stiletto Shoes’ concert in Chindingford, Surrey, England. ・December 31st, 2003: Held the annual charity concert “New Year’s Eve Dance” for AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). As you can see, this year was full of spot charity events other than this Japan tour. In other words, Clapton was off until the winter this year, and his main job was the Japan tour in November. That’s why it’s safe to say that he focused his attention and put all his effort into this tour. The tour was named the “JUST FOR YOU” tour to show that it was only for his beloved Japan and his Japanese fans. At the Hiroshima Green Arena performance on the first day of this tour, Clapton performed a set of 26 songs, the most in Clapton’s history in Japan, but the show ended late and he was tired, so the set was shortened to 22 songs on the first day in Osaka, and that became the regular set thereafter. However, the stage with a narrowed-down number of songs could be said to have increased the concentration, and the tension of each song heard on this album is one of the best in the history of Japan tours. Above all, it should be noted that the band at this time was only five elite members, the minimum necessary for Clapton. Four veteran musicians with a long career firmly supported Clapton, and there were no sweet female choruses here. Andy and Nathan worked hard to add choruses. The set list was varied, ranging from numbers from the Cream era to songs from the most recent album “REPTILE”. The set-in of Holy Mother from 1986 and Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door from 1975 gave a very fresh impression. Moreover, when you go to the next album “ME AND MR. JOHNSON” that was already planned at that time, “When You Got A Good Friend” and “Kind Hearted Woman” are shown. In “When You Got A Good Friend”, Clapton appears on the stage alone and plays acoustically, while the band members gradually stand by, and while connecting with Andy’s solo, Clapton changes to that “Crashed Caster”, and the electric and powerful Crossroads medley is exciting. As for the sound quality, the sound of Steve Gadd’s drum beats introduced at the part where the band members gather and start playing at the same time was the key to judgment. Please listen to the raging sound of this board. This power, this clarity, it’s perfect. And I Shot The Sheriff on this day is also wonderful. In the White Room, Clapton himself is thorough in adding the chorus of the chorus. I think this is probably the first time since the complaint. The wah-stomping solo in the latter half is also good. The performance continues with a very high level of tension. The highlight is Layla. This is the original electric version, which is unlikely to be heard any more these days. In this version, the famous seven-part phrase in the song is deliberately omitted, leaving only the intro. That said, Clapton’s solo in the latter half is the best! Am I the only one who wants to hear this live again? This is the main album, which contains the best master from the first day in Osaka, which can be summed up in one word: fulfilling. Live at Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka, Japan 17th November 2003 TRULY PERFECT MASTERS(from Original Masters) Disc 1(61:31) 1. When You Got A Good Friend / Crossroads 2. I Shot The Sheriff 3. Bell Bottom Blues 4. Reconsider Baby 5. Can’t Find My Way Home 6. White Room 7. I Want A Little Girl 8. Got My Mojo Working 9. Hoochie ie Man 10. Change The World 11. Five Long Years Disc 2(62:29) 1. Kind Hearted Woman 2. Badge 3. Holy Mother 4. Lay Down Sally 5. Wonderful Tonight 6. Cocaine 7. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door 8. Layla 9. Sunshine Of Your Love 10. Somewhere Over The Rainbow Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals Nathan East – bass, vocals Steve Gadd – drums Andy Fairweather Low – guitar, vocals Chris Stainton – keyboards