Description

Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA, USA 14th August 1969 TRULY AMAZING/PERFECT SOUND
★UPGRADE!!! The sound quality is great.

　In recent years, an overseas taper has been providing historical audience recordings in high quality, and he’s done it again! This time, he’s provided an upgraded version of a concert recording from Blind Faith, the supergroup Eric Clapton formed with Stevie Winwood after Cream disbanded.

　This recording captures a performance from Oakland, California on August 14, 1969, during the final stages of Blind Faith’s US tour, which lasted only six months (it’s likely that “Had To Cry Today” and “Can’t Find My Way Home” are not included). While this recording itself has been released before, the version he provided this time is a first-generation master, digitally copied in 24-bit from the original 7-inch reel master!

　The sound quality has dramatically improved; it’s hard to believe it’s the same source material as the previously released album! Clapton’s guitar stands out clearly, and Ginger Baker’s drums, Winwood’s combo organ, and Rick Grech’s bass are all captured perfectly. The sound balance is outstanding, making it very easy to listen to. I can’t believe this was the original master!

　However, since this master is the original source for previously released albums, the number of tracks remains the same, and it’s unavoidable that “Well All Right” and “Presence Of The Lord” fade in, and “Do What You Like” cuts out before Ginger’s drum solo. Also, being a vintage master, it contained a few minor flaws. There was pitch inaccuracies throughout, dropouts around 0:10 and 2:00 in “Well All Right,” and a tape break at 3:54. While the dropouts were unavoidable, we adjusted the pitch, mitigated the large fade-ins and fade-outs in each song, and reduced the unpleasantness caused by the tape breaks, resulting in a more listenable and improved sound quality that will allow you to fully appreciate the high fidelity of this release. This release is an upgraded version of the upgraded master, further upgraded by a professional engineer.

　Now, let’s look back at Clapton’s activities in 1969 to see just how valuable this recording is.

・March 18th and 19th, 1969: Appeared in “Super Show,” a jazz and rock crossover session filmed in Staines, a suburb of London.　
・February to May 1969: Recorded Blind Faith’s debut album in London
. ・June 7, 1969: Blind Faith’s debut concert was held in Hyde Park, London.
・June 12th to 19th, 1969: Scandinavian tour.
・July 11th to August 24th, 1969: US tour ←★HERE★
≪During this time, August 1, 1969: Album “BLIND FAITH” released≫
・September 13, 1969: Appeared at the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Festival” held at Varsity Stadium in Toronto as a member of the “Plastic Ono Band” formed by John Lennon.
– November 20-29, 1969: German tour as a member of Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
– December 1-15, 1969: UK tour as a member of Delaney & Bonnie & Friends

　This was a turbulent year for Clapton. He started working on forming a new band, developing sessions with Steven Winwood from the beginning of the year, but then Ginger Baker barged in and forced his way into the band. Rick Grech was recommended as bassist by the production company, and they managed to put together a basic band structure and record an album. Up to this point everything was fine, but despite a lack of repertoire, a debut concert and a long nationwide tour were booked without his consent, and during the tour, which he went through in a state of confusion, Clapton finally snapped. He became infatuated with Delaney & Bonnie, whom he had chosen as the support act, and as he spent time with them, the band fell apart at the end of the tour. Clapton then grew even closer to Delaney & Bonnie and joined their band. Such a whirlwind of events unfolded in this one year. Looking back to the middle of the year when the British supergroup featuring Eric Clapton, who had already established a global reputation with Cream, made a spectacular debut, by the end of the year, Clapton had found his place as a sideman in an unknown LA swamp band in America.

　This dramatic change and transformation has proven to have a significant impact on Clapton’s later career, and this day can be said to be one of the moments that captured Clapton’s wavering heart! As if to indicate a lack of repertoire, it was a considerably short set (Means To An End, a song by Winwood’s previous band, Traffic, was also included). They only had one album together. With little communication with an unfamiliar bassist, Clapton’s motivation was steadily declining during the forced long tour. It was his association with Delaney & Bonnie that somehow kept him going.

　Even though Clapton’s motivation may have been low, you can still see him demonstrating his professional musicianship. He plays his heart out on every song in the regular set, so pay attention to that. What’s unusual is that in the second chorus of “Presence of the Lord,” Winwood doesn’t sing, and Clapton plays the entire vocal part solo (of course, he also has a solo in the middle). This is likely because Clapton mistakenly played the chord that leads to the bridge at the end of the first chorus, causing Winwood to misunderstand the progression and not start singing, instead continuing with just his instrumentation, or perhaps Winwood’s vocal microphone malfunctioned and cut out. In any case, this resulted in the rare occurrence of Clapton playing a solo even in the vocal part. In a way, it’s a moment where you can really appreciate Clapton’s skillful phrasing. Also, in “Sea of Joy,” you can hear Rick Grech’s signature electric violin solo, just like in the studio version. Listening to this album with its superb sound quality will surely change your perception of Blind Faith.

　Until now, their best recordings were considered to be: ① a soundboard source from Hyde Park, ② an audience source from Gothenburg, Sweden, ③ an audience source from their Santa Barbara performance towards the end of their US tour, and ④ an audience source from the Midwest Rock Festival in Wisconsin. These were the “four” best live recordings, but now a new one has been added to history. The Oakland performance, which was previously difficult to listen to due to its mediocre sound quality, has now joined the ranks of the “five” best recordings thanks to this release. An incredible master of a recording that was in danger of being forgotten was provided by an overseas taper, and we have been able to release it in the best possible form. This will be a limited pressing CD release, so please order early.

★A Clapton expert commented, “The sound quality is far better than previous releases! It was shocking.”

(31:57)
1. Well All Right ★The drop in sound around 0:10 and 2:00 is unavoidable. ★The tape cut at 3:54 is less jarring.
2. Presence Of The Lord
3. Sea Of Joy
4. Means To An End
5. Do What You Like

Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals
Steve Winwood – keyboard, guitar, vocal
Rick Grech – bass, violin
Ginger Baker – drums