BOOZE ROCK
Despite the Rainbow Concert in 1973 signaling his rehab from addiction, Eric Clapton remained under the influence well beyond 461 Ocean Boulevard. His record label was unwilling to wait “two or three decades” for a return on investment. Hence, Clapton was on the road again and the tapes were rolling for a possible live album that never arrived.
ERIC CLAPTON
Laidback (Do Not Disturb! Going Solo) [MidValley 079-082, 4CD]
Live at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, June 30 and September 29, 1974.
The fuel that drove the Eric Clapton band during the 1974 tour was alcohol. Clapton was a heavy drinker by then and his playing was erratic but the unpredictability made it exciting to watch and listen. To everyone’s benefit practically every show was recorded.
To appreciate the strain Clapton must have been under, you have to see how packed was his itinerary. Clapton kicked off his world tour in Europe in June. At the end of June, he was in New York at the start of the U.S. leg. He ended the U.S. portion early in October and took a much needed holiday. The world tour continued a few weeks later in Japan on Oct 31 at the Budokan in Tokyo. Leaving Japan, Clapton took another short break before starting the European leg of his tour. This time he played in Hamburg, Germany on November 26. The 1974 tour ended in England with a homecoming show at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, where Clapton played two nights on December 4 and 5 in front of his peers and fans. The members of Led Zeppelin were said to be in the audience.
What Clapton played in ‘74 was an extension of his Derek & The Dominoes period relying on songs from the Layla album, some new songs off the new album 461 Ocean Boulevard and, at almost every concert, a brief but sincere reading of his and George Harrison’s only co-composition, Badge. The jam on Badge ends each night with the chorus of “where is my band?” - an unsubtle dig at the long gone power trio, Cream.
These shows were not meant to be amped up heavy rock a la Cream but ‘74 was all about variety and what was popular then. Clapton included the reggae rhythms of Willie And The Hand Jive and his latest single, I Shot The Sheriff. When he wanted to be heavy, Crossroads was let loose. There were also blues and gospel numbers like Can’t Find My Way Home, Presence Of The Lord and Blues Power. Of course, there was also the obligation to include Polydor’s latest find, singer Yvonne Elliman as co-singer. If anything, Clapton is a perfect gentleman.
When it came time to release a live album, Polydor [before it became PolyGram and then Universal] ordered the next world tour in 1975 to be recorded and instead took a sampling of blues and gospel-flavoured songs to release E.C. Was Here. The tapes for the 1974 concerts remained in storage for a very long ti me. Only over the past 10 years have they come into wider circulation through bootleg labels in Europe and Japan and from collectors.
Perhaps all parties felt uneasy with the performances. Clapton was not always drunk. The shows however did not project the new direction he was heading, to be a blues journeyman. The ‘74 shows were Eric Clapton’s PAST. His albums after 461 Ocean Boulevard showed him taking control of his career and steering it closer to the roots of his music. While some find these albums a bit boring, the same cannot be said of his electrifying ‘74 shows. They were the last time he showed off his flash, his rock guitar, his electricity and his mettle in such quantity.
Purveyors of ’70s rock always have a favorite ‘74 show to reference. This new MidValley release from Japan offers two shows from the U.S. leg of the tour at Nassau Coliseum that are close to excellent soundboard recordings. - The Little Chicken
Disc 1: June 30, 1974
1. Easy Now
2. Let it Grow
3. Can’t Find My Way Home
4. Let It Rain
5. Key To The Highway
6. Badge
7. Little Wing
8. Mainline Florida
9.Tell The Truth
Disc 2: June 30, 1974
1. Blues Power
2. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
3. Little Queenie
4. Willie And The Hand Jive
5. Get Ready
6. Crossroads
7. Layla
8. Presence Of The Lord
Disc 3: September 29, 1974
1. Better Make It Through Today
2. Can’t Find My Way Home
3. Let It Rain
4. Little Wing
5. Singing The Blues
6. I Shot The Sheriff
7. Tell The Truth
8. The Sky Is Crying
Disc 4: September 29, 1974
1. Badge
2. Little Rachel
3. Willie And The Hand Jive
4. Get Ready
5. Blues Power
Lineup:
Eric Clapton -Â guitar, vocals
Jamie Oldaker - drums
Dick Sims -Â keyboards
Carl Radle -Â bass
George Terry -Â guitar
Yvonne Elliman - backing vocals
Click here to download the tracks.
Feel free to add your comments.
Great post, thanks for sharing. To my ears, the chorus during the jam at the end of Badge sounds like "Where is my badge?"
Thanks. Admin
“While some find these albums a bit boring, the same cannot be said of his electrifying ‘74 shows. . . . he showed off his flash, his rock guitar, his electricity and his mettle ”
THAT is certainly the truth. >whew
I saw Clapton one night where the entire band lip synched to "bottle of red wine" as an encore…the song was playing as they were shuffling around the stage hugging each other..