Description

HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, TX, USA 12th November 1976 STEREO SBD
★UPGRADE!!! Using tapes obtained from sound engineers at the time.

[A low-generation master of the famous soundboard recording from the 1976 US tour is now available!]
　We’ve obtained a raw, low-generation master recording of a legendary Eric Clapton live performance! This recording, leaked by someone involved with the band, captures the November 12th San Antonio, Texas concert from the “No Reason to Cry” US tour in the fall of 1976, in clear, expansive stereo soundboard quality.

　In the United States at the time, stereo soundboard sources, mainly live recordings from this period, were broadcast on the famous live FM program “King’s Biscuit Flower Hour (KBFH).” Among fans, it is known that four concerts were officially recorded: the San Antonio concert on the 12th, the Houston concert on the 14th, the Dallas concert on the 15th, and the Norman concert on the 16th. These are all thought to have been recorded to make up the KBFH live program. The radio station probably intended to edit and broadcast the best takes from the four concerts. However, the version that was broadcast was initially thought to be only the Dallas concert. Numerous bootlegs produced from sources that had been airchecked from KBFH also labeled it as the Dallas concert. Our store also obtained the pre-broadcast master and released it under the title “DALLAS 1976 PRE-FM MASTER.” After carefully examining and verifying each take, the following was found:

“DALLAS 1976 PRE-FM MASTER” = KBFH broadcast version
1. Hello old friend (take from the Houston concert on the 14th)
2. Sign language (take from the Houston concert on the 14th)
3. Badge (take from the Dallas concert on the 15th)
4. Knockin’ on heaven’s door (take from the Dallas concert on the 15th)
5. One Night (take from the Houston concert on the 14th)
6. Tell the truth (take from the Houston concert on the 14th)
7. Can’t find my way home (take from the Houston concert on the 14th) *However, the Dallas concert take is used from 0:00 to 1:51
8. Blues Power (take from the Houston concert on the 14th)
9. Layla (take from the Dallas concert on the 15th) *However, due to broadcast time constraints, the drum and percussion solo in the middle has been cut by more than 2 minutes.
– “All Our Past Times” and “Further on Up the Road” were not broadcast.
– “Key to the Highway” was also performed at the Dallas concert, but it is not included on the master recording. It is likely that the recording of this song failed for some reason.

　In other words, the KBFH broadcast version consisted of live takes from the Houston concert on the 14th and the Dallas concert on the 15th. Conversely, this means that the master for this release is a superb stereo soundboard recording of the unreleased San Antonio concert that was never broadcast on FM. While there are previously released albums containing the audio from this day, those were made from generational copies, and what’s more, the original masters were copies of cassette tapes that were leaked at the time.

　This master tape was obtained by an overseas taper from someone who knew the sound engineer for that day’s performance, and it was digitally copied from a leaked analog cassette tape. While the sound quality of this master is superior to previously released versions, the opening part with the band appearing and the post-encore section are shorter, so it is unlikely to be the original master. However, it is believed to be a low-generation master that existed through a different route than the previously released version.

　Therefore, this recording is undoubtedly the best sound quality ever, and the fact that it is a different master of the San Antonio performance, not a previously released copy version, makes it extremely valuable and precious (the plug contact noise from 8:02 – 8:11 in “I Shot the Sheriff” is the same as in the previously released version). This release will likely become the new definitive version of the recording from this day. And so on, this release, along with “Houston 1976 Soundboard Master” and “Dallas 1976 Soundboard,” can be said to be three essential soundboard recordings that convey the full picture of the stage performances from this period, recorded for KBFH. Along with this “San Antonio 1976 Stereo Soundboard,” please take this opportunity to listen to the other two as well.

[Another great recording from the “No Reason to Cry US Tour”!]
　Let’s review the key events of that year and see where this US tour fit into Clapton’s overall career.

• July 29th – August 17th, 1976: UK tour　
(August 1st, 1976: Album “NO REASON TO CRY” released)
• November 5th – 22nd, 1976: US tour (★HERE★
) • November 26th, 1976: The Band’s farewell concert “The Last Waltz” held

　In other words, this US tour was positioned as a promotional tour for the album “NO REASON TO CRY,” a confident work produced with the participation of Bob Dylan and members of The Band. Naturally, the setlist included new songs from this album. Clapton’s enthusiasm is evident in the fact that he performs two songs from the album early on (he included a total of four songs in the setlist that day). Clapton was in top form that day, just like at other performances, and he was shredding on his guitar. This is evident in “Little Queenie,” the first song played during the electric set. This song was included in the setlist during his comeback tour in 1974, but had not been played at all from 1975 until before this tour. However, Clapton, who was in high spirits, suddenly suggested it to the band (you can hear Clapton calling out to the band in the recording). As an indication of his excellent form, his slowhand technique explodes during the two solos in the middle and outro, which are tremendous. This enthusiasm continues, and from this point onward, Clapton’s playing is superb throughout the entire album. Of course, he must have known beforehand that it might be selected for radio broadcast, so Clapton’s enthusiasm is understandable. “Tell the Truth” is in no way inferior to the Houston performance take that was selected for KBFH. This is also a passionate performance lasting over 11 minutes. In fact, this take gives the impression that Clapton is playing even more intensely. It’s a hard-to-discard take, and you can imagine the radio station having a hard time choosing which one to play. Another point of interest is that “All Our Past Times,” which was played acoustically on the previous UK tour, is played electric. As a result, you can enjoy a solo duel between Clapton and second guitarist George Terry (on the UK tour, only Terry’s solo was played). The first solo is by Terry, and the second solo is by Clapton. Also, Terry sings the second chorus. It’s rare to hear Terry’s singing voice. This arrangement definitely brings out the charm of the song more. He delivers some sharp and brilliant playing on “Double Trouble” and “Blues Power,” but his take on “Badge” is just as thrilling and smooth as the one he did at the Dallas show on the 15th.

　Furthermore, Layla, played as the closing number of the regular set, is also a must-listen. In the first half of the outro solo, George Terry delivers a passionate performance that seems to embody his entire career, and Clapton’s solo, which he takes over from 4:20, is equally brilliant and sharp. It’s clear that Clapton was in top form at all four shows during this period. The encore was the unusual I Shot the Sheriff. This take is also a great live take, full of energy yet with a laid-back mood. Sergio Rodriguez’s percussion is effective and creates a great groove. Incidentally, in the setlist, Love Me Please features Yvonne Elliman, who was a member of the band as a female backing vocalist, and One Night features Marcy Levy (Clapton retreats to the side of the stage for both songs and does not participate in the playing. It is very rare for Elliman, who usually sings Can’t Find My Way Home, to play this song). The Clapton band, formed in 1974, boasted unparalleled cohesion by this time, with excellent relationships among members, allowing you to experience truly unified professionalism. While it’s commonly believed that the 1976 tour, a period when he began to lean towards country music, was rather laid-back, that’s completely wrong! This recording captures the exact opposite—a fiercely intense performance from Clapton. This is something you absolutely must hear for yourself.

　This release features a raw generation master of a stereo soundboard recording of the San Antonio concert, originally recorded for an FM radio show.

Disc:1 (43:22)
1. Hello Old Friend
2. Sign Language
3. Little Queenie
4. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
5. Tell the Truth
6. Love Me Please
7. All Our Past Times

Disc:2 (49:44)
1. Double Trouble
2. Blues Power
3. One Night
4. Badge
5. Layla
6. I Shot the Sheriff

STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING

Eric Clapton Guitar / Vocals
George Terry Guitar
Dicks Sims Keyboards
Carl Radle Bass
Jamie Oldaker Drums
Sergio Pastora Rodriguez Percussion
Yvonne Elliman Backing Vocals
Marcy Levy Backing Vocals