Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert

Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert
Live album by Eric Clapton
Publication (s)	September 10, 1973
Label (s)	RSO records
Format (s)	LP, CD
Genre (s)	Blues rock , rock
Title (number)	6th
running time	34:48
production	Bob Pridden
chronology Clapton (1973) Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974)

Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert is a live album by British guitarist Eric Clapton in collaboration with numerous well-known musicians. It was released on RSO Records in September 1973.

background

The live recording was made on January 13, 1973 at the Rainbow Theater in Finsbury Park , London , which was known as the Astoria during the 1960s . An early and a late gig was played that evening. Songs from both shows are included on the official releases. The theater had already been used by other well-known rock bands such as Led Zeppelin , Yes , Jethro Tull and Emerson, Lake & Palmer .

After the dissolution of Derek and the Dominos, Clapton had withdrawn more and more and his only musical activity during this time was participation in the concert for Bangladesh organized by George Harrison in August 1971. At this point, Clapton was addicted to heroin and was in self-doubt his musical talent. Pete Townshend , a friend of his , planned a concert with other well-known musicians to bring Clapton back on stage and to revive his artistic activities. Rehearsals for the performance lasted ten days and took place at Ronnie Wood's home in Richmond. In addition to Clapton, Townshend and Wood, Steve Winwood , Jim Capaldi , Ric Grech , Jimmy Karstein and Reebop Kwaku Baah were also part of the group, which also operated under the name Eric Clapton and the Palpitations .

Due to Clapton's long absence from the stage, the concert was eagerly awaited by both the audience and the music press.

According to Clapton, Townshend's organization and help would have given him confidence back, although he would not believe that at the time he was in a condition that justified his friends' commitment.

Track list

Original album from 1973

page 1

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

Page 2

1. Pearly Queen ( Jim Capaldi , Steve Winwood ) - 7:00
2. After Midnight ( JJ Cale ) - 5:12
3. Little Wing ( Jimi Hendrix ) - 6:32

Remastered CD re-release from 1995

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) - 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)

occupation

• Eric Clapton - guitar , vocals
• Pete Townshend - guitar, vocals
• Ronnie Wood - guitar, vocals
• Ric Grech - bass
• Steve Winwood - keyboards , vocals
• Jim Capaldi - drums
• Jimmy Karstein - drums
• Reebop Kwaku Baah - percussion

Chart successes

The album reached number 18 on the Billboard 200 and number 19 on the UK charts.

Sales figures

Country / Association	Award	Sales	source
Japan ( RIAJ )	-	11,000+
United Kingdom ( BPI )	silver	£ 100,000+

reception

• The music journalist Robert Christgau listed the well-known musicians who were involved, but wrote that the album only contained six bland songs that were once crisp. It received a C- in the evaluation.
• William Ruhlmann wrote on Allmusic that the album was an adequate live document, although better versions of the songs could be found on other releases. In 1973 the best news on the album was that the reclusive Clapton could still play. In the evaluation, he awarded three out of five stars.
• In Rolling Stone Bud Scoppa wrote Rainbow Concert is a recording with gigantic melancholy. Even if one could actually assume rock music and doubt are opposites, the album would show that this mixture is workable, but not fun. Clapton himself would occasionally have been indecisive and confused at the concert. The most important question of the evening, however, whether he was even able to get out of isolation and return to music, remained unanswered.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Album at discogs.com
2. ^ Essay by Ray Coleman, CD booklet of the revised edition from 1995
3. ↑ 1995 edition
4. ↑ Chart placement at allmusic.com
5. ↑ British chart placement
6. ↑ Japanese Charts-The Archives , ukmix.org
7. ↑ Certified Awards, bpi.co.uk.
8. ↑ Review at robertchristgau.com
9. ↑ album at allmusic.com
10. ^ Review at rollingstone.com