Eric Clapton / Worchester 1985 / 2CD

Eric Clapton / Worchester 1985 / 2CD / Beano

The Centrum, Worcester, MA, USA 26th June 1985  STEREO SBD

Play sample :

Click Image To Enlarge

This week, we will reissue another famous sound source of Eric Clapton. This is a press 2CD that completely recorded the performance of Worcester, Massachusetts from the second leg of “Behind the Sun American Tour” in 1985 with the finest stereo sound board recording. Speaking of the 1985 tour, it was an impressive tour that Clapton almost overcame alcoholism and played with a fearless appearance. This sound source was once released by our shop as a directly imported title “HUNGER BURNING” in 2010, but the title was very popular due to its high quality and sold out early. Originally a source of PA out, the sound image at the time of 2010 had a narrow range and made me feel the times, so this time, I thoroughly expanded the range suitable for 2020 and remastered it for easy listening. It will be an up version release. Very clear, well-balanced sound, and no complaints about stereo separation. It’s a great mix of Jamie Oldaker’s tom-toms flowing from right to left. Moreover, there are no cuts or missing songs that are common in PA outs, and the quality is recommended for everyone because it is a complete recording.

[Charm of the second leg whose set list has been changed] This performance was the 5th performance of the second leg of the American Tour. Here, let’s clarify the position of this performance in this year in chronological order.

・ February 28-March 15, 1985: Europe tour including England
During this time, ≪March 1, 1985: Album “BEHIND THE SUN” released≫
・ April 9th ​​to May 3rd, 1985: National Tour, First Leg
・ May 8, 1985: US music live program Late Night With David Letterman appearance
・ June 21-July 27, 1985: US Open, Second Leg ← ★ Coco ★
・ October 5th to 11th, 1985: 6th Japan Tour
・ October 14-November 6, 1985: Short-term European tour after visiting Alaska and London
・ 1985 December 3-23: Off for the time being, but during this time, jump into concerts by Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Sting, Gary Brooker, Dire Straits, etc. and stand on stage

The recording was completed the previous year, and it was a year spent promoting the album “BEHIND THE SUN” released on March 1st, but this performance went around the largest market, the United States. It was the final step of the tour. You can see that Clapton had two tours with a particular focus on the United States to make the ambitious work a hit. By visiting the United States twice, splitting the legs, each leg became attractive. The set list has changed. The second leg features the cream classic White Room for the first time in 17 years, and playing Badge and Let It Rain in a medley. The former was triggered by his appearance on the American television program “David Letterman Show” on May 8. In response to the aspirations of Paul Schaffer, the show’s music director, he played the White Room with the show’s house band for the first time in 17 years (the house band was drummed by Steve Jordan, who later supported Clapton. I was enrolled in). Clapton, who was satisfied with this result, set in this song from the tour second leg.
There were four new songs from the album (Same Old Blues, Tangled In Love, She’s Waiting, Forever Man). Even if it is one of the representative songs, it is not inferior to the listener, and all of them are wonderful performances. Nowadays, it is a number that can no longer be expected to be set in, so you can feel the spirit of Clapton at the time when he was burning with the new song. As a second leg, it is also the earliest sound source to listen to Marcella Detroit’s featuring number She Loves You on a schedule. Mercy’s song was replaced by Something Is Wrong With My Baby at this time. Clapton has announced that “I’m leaving the stage, but I’ll be featuring Marcella Detroit,” so I can’t listen to Clapton’s play, but in this slow-tempo arranged Beatles number, Chris Stainton. Mercy’s skill in singing with only Stinton’s piano and Tim Renwick’s chord-decomposing arpeggio play in the background stands out. Meanwhile, Sean Murphy (later joined as lead vocalist for Little Feat) featured number Steppin’Out, where Clapton remained on stage for a sharp solo. Even in such a variety of sets, Clapton has a minor blues called Double Trouble, so it can be said that it was a set list that conveys the charm of Clapton in a well-balanced manner with representative songs, new songs, and blues. Let’s do it.

[Clapton’s song that stands out for his skill and the wavy attack of an aggressive guitar solo] Clapton on this tour feels like a dramatic improvement in singing. The confident and dignified song makes you feel the sex appeal of a man. Please listen carefully. In addition, the guitar solo is more aggressive than ever, and there are many patterns that fold fast passages. This is very thrilling! At the opening, following the two songs that decided to play sharp slides, the solo after I Shot The Sheriff appealed to the main tone as early as possible, and the following Same Old Blues raised the tension at once. It’s surprising and interesting that White Room’s solo doesn’t use the wah-wah pedal that was used in later tours as usual in the cream era. It’s not like the effect of wah, but the strangeness of the phrase. In that sense, it’s a rare take. In Tangled In Love, Badge and Let It Rain, high-speed slow-hand playing is exploding. Meanwhile, Blackie is still crying at Double Trouble in De Bruce. When I listen to this play, I realize that Clapton is a blues guitarist. Layla’s follow-up solo is also enthusiastic and hot. Layla’s solo at that time is a good take that you can feel that you were playing with such effort. There are two encore songs. From Forever Man, which can only be said to be cool, to Further On Up The Road, where all the members are soloed, you can feel the freshness of Clapton who ran with the engine fully open.

[First-class backmen only at this time] From the 1983 tour, Stax’s famous bassist Donald Dunn and Tulsa Tops’ Jamie Oldaker, two of the strongest rhythm sections of Clapton’s all-time band, are on the backmen. It was the time when I was enrolled. Please, along with the bouncy bass play of the late Donald Dunn who supported Clapton only at this time, the drumming of the late Jamie Oldaker who has a lot of trouble and is dynamic, and the unique comment of Duck Dunn who introduces Clapton in the member introduction Also enjoy (Clapton seems to have really got along with Duck Dunn, and when he launched his own label in 1983 he even named it “Duck Records”). It’s also the only tour to hear the play of British veteran guitarist Tim Renwick, who later supported Gilmour Pink Floyd. His solid play with no mistones is also a highlight. His unique play can be heard in Obbligato and Badge in I Shot The Sheriff and White Room, Cocaine’s second solo, and Forever Man’s closing solo. And don’t forget Chris Stainton, who still supports Clapton. From the prologue by the piano at the beginning, not only the piano, but also the organ and synthesizer are very active. The bond between the two was strong 35 years ago. It’s a wonderful stage where you can listen to their support as well as the sounding tone of Blackie Strat.

This work can be asserted as one of the representative sound sources of “Behind the Sun American Tour”. It will be released as a limited press CD with a sticker with a serial number, so please order as soon as possible.

★★ Only with the numbered sticker of the new work “WORCESTER 1985”, the official live board “LIVE ’85: JAPANESE” that captured the Hartford performance on May 1 from the same “Behind The Sun” US tour with outstanding professional shot video “LASER DISC” is specially attached. A piece created from a precious Japanese laser disc (unofficial DVD).

★ Limited press DVD has ended. From No.81, it will be a DVDR with the same contents.