Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert

Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert
Live album by
Eric Clapton
Released10 September 1973
Recorded13 January 1973
VenueRainbow Theatre, London
GenreBlues rock
Length34:48
73:49 (remastered edition)
LabelRSO
ProducerBob Pridden
Eric Clapton chronology
In Concert
(1973) 		Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert
(1973) 		461 Ocean Boulevard
(1974)
Alternative cover
1995 remastered edition

Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert is a live album by Eric Clapton, recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London on 13 January 1973 and released in September that year. The concerts, two on the same evening, were organised by Pete Townshend of the Who and marked a comeback by Clapton after two years of inactivity, broken only by his performance at the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971.[1] Along with Townshend, the musicians supporting Clapton include Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood and Jim Capaldi.[2] In the year following the two shows at the Rainbow, Clapton recovered from his heroin addiction and recorded 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974).

A remastered expanded edition of the album was released on 13 January 1995, the 22nd anniversary of the concert.

Background

The concert was held at the Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park, north London, on 13 January 1973. The venue was popular during the 1960s and early 1970s; musicians such as The Beatles, The Who, Genesis, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and Queen performed there. The concert was recorded using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Christgau's Record GuideC−[4]

In a retrospective review, AllMusic deemed the album "an adequate live document, though one can find better performances of the songs on other records." The review also noted that the performance was an ensemble effort, and was as much a showcase for Steve Winwood as it was for Clapton.[3]

Track listing

Side one
  1. "Badge" (Eric Clapton, George Harrison) – 3:32
  2. "Roll It Over" (Clapton, Bobby Whitlock) – 6:43
  3. "Presence of the Lord" (Clapton) – 5:37
Side two
  1. "Pearly Queen" (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood) – 7:00
  2. "After Midnight" (J. J. Cale) – 5:12
  3. "Little Wing" (Jimi Hendrix) – 6:32

1995 remastered edition

  1. "Layla" (Clapton, Jim Gordon) – 6:25
  2. "Badge" (Clapton, Harrison) – 3:18
  3. "Blues Power" (Clapton, Leon Russell) – 6:03
  4. "Roll It Over" (Clapton, Whitlock) – 4:38
  5. "Little Wing" (Hendrix) – 4:36
  6. "Bottle of Red Wine" (Bonnie Bramlett, Clapton) – 3:51
  7. "After Midnight" (Cale) – 4:25
  8. "Bell Bottom Blues" (Clapton, Whitlock) – 6:25
  9. "Presence of the Lord" (Clapton) – 5:18
  10. "Tell the Truth" (Clapton, Whitlock) – 6:04
  11. "Pearly Queen" (Capaldi, Winwood) – 4:55
  12. "Key to the Highway" (Big Bill Broonzy, Charlie Segar) – 5:46
  13. "Let It Rain" (Bramlett, Clapton) – 7:46
  14. "Crossroads" (Robert Johnson) – 4:19

25th Anniversary Edition (Empress Valley Bootleg)[edit] (4 CDs – Early Show (1+2) + Late Show (3+4))

  1. Introduction
  2. Layla (Clapton, Gordon)
  3. Badge (Clapton, Harrison)
  4. Blues Power (Clapton, Russell)
  5. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out (Myles)
  6. Roll It Over (Clapton, Whitlock)
  7. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad (Clapton, Whitlock)
  8. Little Wing (Hendrix)
  9. Bottle of Red Wine (Bramlett, Clapton)
  10. After Midnight (Cale)
  11. Bell Bottom Blues (Clapton)
  12. Presence of the Lord (Clapton)
  13. Tell The Truth (Clapton, Whitlock)
  14. Pearly Queen (Capaldi, Winwood)
  15. Let It Rain (Bramlett, Clapton)
  16. Crossroads (Johnson)
  17. Layla (Clapton, Gordon)
  18. Badge (Clapton, Harrison)
  19. Blues Power (Clapton, Russell)
  20. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out (Myles)
  21. Roll It Over (Clapton, Whitlock)
  22. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad (Clapton, Whitlock)
  23. Little Wing (Hendrix)
  24. Bottle of Red Wine (Bramlett, Clapton)
  25. Presence of the Lord (Clapton)
  26. Tell the Truth (Clapton, Whitlock)
  27. Pearly Queen (Capaldi, Winwood)
  28. Key to the Highway (Broonzy, Segar)
  29. Let It Rain (Bramlett, Clapton)
  30. Crossroads (Johnson)
  31. Layla (Clapton, Gordon)

Personnel

References

  1. ^ (2011). In Dear Mr Fantasy: The Jim Capaldi Story (pp.32–43) [CD booklet]. London: Freedom Songs Ltd.
  2. ^ Kopp, Bill. "Eric Clapton's Lifesaving 'Rainbow Concert' Revisited". Best Classic Bands. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert at AllMusic
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 23 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.