Eric Clapton/Shizuoka,Japan 10.29.1975 Complete Upgrade

The master recording of the 1975 Shizuoka concert has been upgraded and is back! Originally released on CD in 2015 and quickly sold out due to its excellent content, the complete recording of the October 29, 1975, concert at the Sumpu Kaikan in Shizuoka, has been remastered and re-released for the first time in 10 years, returning to the original source and further improving it! Recorded from the same excellent, expansive mono audience recording source as the only surviving recording of this performance, this recording uses a master dubbed from that master cassette, and has been corrected for any minor imperfections that may have been present due to Graf Zeppelin. This master recording features longer pre- and post-show cheers, while the pre-encore cheers are shorter, suggesting a different source dubbed from the master. However, compared to the previously released version, which features amplified mid-bass and treble frequencies, the entire recording is recorded with natural sound quality. The previously released version’s overall right-leaning phase shift has been corrected, and the occasional momentary audio cutoff in one channel and the volume reduction in the right channel from around Blues Power 1:50 and the left channel from around Badge 6:04 have been appropriately corrected, resulting in the most listenable upgraded version ever. One of the selling points of this year’s Japan tour was the unique blues tracks played at each show. While As The Years Go Passing By (Albert King’s number) on the second day of the Osaka performance on the 23rd was also extremely rare, the Shizuoka performance featured So Many Roads (Otis Rush’s number), a unique performance in Clapton’s live history. As symbolized by these events, this year’s Japan tour was a fascinating one, with a different setlist for each performance. Enjoy this release, featuring the best-ever recording of the master, acclaimed as one of the most iconic recordings from the 1975 Japan tour, for its concert content, high quality, and superb sound quality. The truth behind the performance that cleared Clapton’s name from the previous year and cemented his status in Japanese rock history: His first visit to Japan in 1974 was misunderstood and misjudged because he was drunk and trying to survive the tour while recovering from a drug addiction. (It was said that Clapton didn’t play many solos, leaving them to second guitarist George Terry, but later recordings reveal that he actually played quite a lot.) It’s unlikely Clapton himself was aware of this criticism, but despite still being heavily intoxicated, his appearance upon returning to Japan was nothing short of intrepid. This return performance came amidst his miraculous first visit to Japan the previous year, and the fact that he was voted number one in the guitarist category in the music magazine Music Life’s popularity poll that same year. Shizuoka fans were also excited, expecting “That Clapton is coming to Shizuoka! He’ll be full of energy as he’s visiting Shizuoka for the first time!” It’s no exaggeration to say that this year’s tour was the catalyst for Clapton’s huge popularity in Japan, which continues to this day. This was the moment he truly made a comeback. Let’s take a look back at Clapton’s activities in 1975. (* “-” indicates previously released titles) <April 1, 1975: Album “THERE’S ONE IN EVERY CROWD” released> ・April 7-28, 1975: Oceania tour ・June 14-August 30, 1975: US tour ・September 1975: Off ・October-November 1975: Second Japan tour October 22, 1975 – Osaka Festival Hall ← “Osaka 1975 1st Night (4CD)” October 23, 1975 – Osaka Festival Hall ← “Osaka 1975 2nd Night (2CD)” October 24, 1975 Kyoto Kaikan Daiichi Hall October 27, 1975 – Kitakyushu City General Gymnasium October 29th, 1975 – Sumpu Kaikan, Shizuoka Prefecture ←★[This album]★ “SHIZUOKA 1975″ November 1st, 1975 – Nippon Budokan ←”BUDOKAN 1975 1ST NIGHT: Unreleased Master (2CD)”, “Budokan 1975 1st Night (2CD)” November 2nd, 1975 – Nippon Budokan ←”Lord Have Mercy (2CD)” Looking at this, you can see that it was a year filled with touring, but just like the previous year, the Japan tour was arranged after the American tour, which is a major market. That shows how much importance Japan was given to him. Clapton’s appearance on this day was likely that of long, slightly permed hair that reached his shoulders. He had a thin beard and a face that clearly showed he was a handsome man. His slim build and long legs looked great in jeans. Clapton appeared on stage clutching a brand new blonde-finish Fender Telecaster, a gift from a friend, before rehearsing in the Bahamas for the Japan tour, revealing a superstar gifted with two gifts from heaven. The show kicked off with a stunning performance of the classic “Layla”! The setlist was a whirlwind of guitar work! It was a time-slip to the Sunpu Kaikan on the day! What was surprising was the fact that the setlist featured “Layla” as the opening song. The audience’s excitement was incredible, especially since the previous year’s performance began with a quiet acoustic number. That’s how shocking the opening was. The second song was Jimi Hendrix’s classic “Little Wing.” This string of Domino numbers, unique to Shizuoka performances, must have moved the audience. These opening two songs were performed with a truly majestic image. “Little Wing” in particular was a performance that maximized the band’s potential at the time. From then on, Clapton continued using the same blonde-finish Telecaster he purchased brand new at the time throughout the show. He utilizes a slightly fat, lustrous tone to create sustained tones, expressing a sense of scale with his expansive, laid-back playing. The much-talked-about slow blues track, “So Many Roads,” offers a deep, satisfying exploration of Clapton’s blues guitar. “There are many roads in life, and many trains to ride,” Clapton’s playing seems to speak through his guitar. Yet, Clapton’s playing here is incredibly aggressive, delivering a barrage of incredible phrases. This is arguably one of his greatest performances in Japan. Before the following “Badge,” Clapton introduces the song title with a rare “Badge! Badge!” In the middle, Clapton unleashes an ultra-long solo, utilizing the wah-wah effect. The super guitarist is here. This song typically begins with a bridge arpeggio section repeated twice, but on this day, Sergio Rodriguez’s percussion solo and Jamie Oldaker’s drum solo were inserted at length, creating a blistering 14-minute performance. This is an extremely rare live take. Clapton also plays the second solo that follows, playing with gusto. The final track, a twin lead with George Terry, adds to the excitement. It’s truly worth listening to. Tell the Truth, which closed the set, is also a truly groovy performance. The postlude solo is entirely left to George Terry’s slide playing. Perhaps Clapton intended to give Terry the upper hand here, having given the rhythm section the upper hand in Badge. This is proof of the strong bond that Clapton felt with this band. Looking at it this way, despite the limited number of songs in the set, each song is long, deliberate, and yet passionately performed. The fans present that day must have been ecstatic. The audience also erupted when the two female vocalists, Yvonne Elliman and Marcie Levy (who Clapton introduced as “Levy” at the time), were featured. Elliman borrowed Clapton’s Blackie Strat to play “Can’t Find My Way Home” (and the introduction to Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze was a fun addition). Clapton left the stage briefly, then reappeared for the final chorus. This rare moment of him joining the chorus was also heard. Levy prefaced the song with a “moshimoshi!” (moshimoshi!) in Japanese, apparently mistaking “moshimoshi” for a Japanese greeting after seeing someone make a phone call. This was also amusing. For the encore, they performed Eyesight to the Blind, a song featured in the film Tommy, which was released in Japan at the time. This number was not included in the set during the regional shows earlier in the tour. The medley featured Carnival, a number that had yet to be officially recorded (later included on the album “NO REASON TO CRY”). While this number was also performed at the Osaka premiere, this medley is uniquely available at this Shizuoka performance. It also features a Clapton solo, a feature not present in the later studio version. The setlist was entirely electric, a departure from the previous year. There was no drunken, rambling MC. Clapton’s true form, playing guitar, was here. This is one of the reasons for the popularity of the 1975 tour. Fifty years ago, Clapton’s second visit to Japan—half a century ago—was a 30-year-old at the peak of his popularity. The audience welcomed him with open arms, and Clapton responded with a blazing performance. This Shizuoka performance is a truly special and brilliant performance, even within Clapton’s entire career. An exceptionally good mono AUD recording. Corrections have been made to the phase shift that was leaning to the right throughout the recording, the momentary sound cutouts in one channel that were found in places, and the volume of the right channel from around Blues Power 1:50 and the left channel from around Badge 6:04, etc. The sound was good enough at the master tape stage that there was no need to adjust the EQ, so it was barely done. Sunpu Kaikan, Shizuoka, Japan 29th October 1975 TRULY PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) UPGRADE Disc 1(41:01) 1. Intro. 2. Layla 3. Little Wing 4. Blues Power 5. Can’t Find My Way Home Disc 2(69:05) 1. So Many Roads 2. Badge 3. The Sun Is Shining 4. Tell The Truth 5. Eyesight To The Blind 6. Carnival Eric Clapton – Guitar, Vocals George Terry – Guitar Carl Radle – Bass Dick Sims – Keyboards Jamie Oldaker – Drums Sergio Rodriguez – Percussion Yvonne Elliman – Backing Vocals Marcy Levy – Backing Vocals