ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND feat. ERIC CLAPTON – BEACON THEATRE 2009: DIGITAL MULTITRACK MASTER

Description

Beacon Theatre, New York, NY, USA 19th & 20th March 2009 STEREO SBD(from Original Masters)
★UPGRADE!!!

[The definitive version of the historic collaboration with the Allman Brothers Band!]
　Once again, we received a copy of the multi-track master from Taper, a veteran in the UK known for his treasured Eric Clapton masters! This ultra-clear stereo soundboard recording captures the March 19th and 20th performances of the Allman Brothers Band, featuring Eric Clapton as a guest at the Beacon Theater in New York, commemorating the band’s 40th anniversary in 2009 and its 20th anniversary since its formation. The recordings themselves are classics, often released on multiple bootlegs, but this time, Taper, a veteran of the band, digitally copied the original multi-track masters he acquired through his network, resulting in a fresh, high-quality master boasting the highest sound quality ever. The mix features Clapton in the center channel, Warren Haynes on the left channel, and Derek Trucks on the right channel. Each track features three solos, making for a rewarding listen. Each track is distinctly distinctive. In fact, this recording was also released on the Allmans’ official website on CD for all performances of this commemorative series, but there was an official bonehead on the second day, “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?”, where a slight skip occurred due to a press error. There are bootlegs that do not include this defect, but this work is flawless and can be enjoyed in the best possible condition as a perfect original master.

　What’s also impressive is the quality of the performance, proving these two special nights, even with the back-to-back performances graced with guest appearances. Clapton’s playing is renowned for its brilliance on these guest appearances, and while he remains a guest, he makes his presence felt throughout the Allmans numbers, and on the Dominos numbers he fronts, the synergy with Derek Trucks, who was a member of Clapton’s band from 2006 to 2007, creates a tense performance that sets him apart from his own tours. This title captures this historic collaboration, which caused quite a stir at the time, with the highest quality stereo soundboard recording.

[Listen to different setlists over the two days!]
　So let’s take a look at Clapton’s history this year.

February 12th-28th, 2009: 11-performance Japan tour (including joint performances with Jeff Beck at Saitama Super Arena on the 21st and 22nd)
March 4th-10th, 2009: Short-term Oceania tour
March 19th and 20th, 2009: Guest appearance at the Allman Brothers Band’s 40th anniversary concert ←★Here★
・May 4, 2009: Made a surprise appearance at guitarist Joe Bonamassa’s concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London
・May 9, 2009: Played at a charity event for the Bunbury Cricket Club held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London
・May 11-31, 2009: UK tour including 11 shows at the Royal Albert Hall
・June 10-30, 2009: American tour
・October 20, 2009: Appeared at the BBC Television studios for the music program “Later…With Jools” He appeared on the guest episode of “Holland” featuring Smokey Robinson (a last-minute appearance due to Robinson’s regular guitarist falling ill)
. October 30, 2009: He appeared as part of Clapton’s band at the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Ceremony” held at Madison Square Garden in New York, performing with Aretha Franklin, Ozzy Osbourne, U2, and others.
November 23, 2009: He appeared at the charity event “Children’s Auction” held in Geneva, Switzerland, and put his beloved Martin 000-28 up for auction
. December 31, 2009: Held the annual charity concert “New Year’s Eve Dance” for AA (Alcoholics Anonymous).
　
　At this point, he had successfully completed tours of Japan and Oceania, including a joint concert with Jeff Beck, and it is clear that he had tours of the UK and America, as well as various events, lined up after this event. In other words, it was a year in which Clapton was fired up and in high spirits. This event was the perfect opportunity to stimulate his desire to play, as it was a collaboration with the band that Duane had fond memories of.

　The charm of the two nights featuring Clapton’s guest appearance was the different setlists. On the first night, Clapton performed “Anyday,” from his time with Derek and the Dominos. Susan Tedeschi, wife of Derek Trucks, even popped in to sing. The Allmans number on that night was “Dreams.” Five of the six songs were Dominos numbers, a nod to Clapton’s affection. It must have been a moving experience for Clapton. The number of songs increased on the second night, including “Stormy Monday,” a blues staple he played in his Dominos days and a favorite of Clapton’s (with a fantastic Clapton solo). In addition to “Dreams,” the Allmans number on this night included “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” Clapton’s performance of “Dreams” on this night was more intense than on the first night. Four of the seven songs on this night were Dominos numbers. The Allmans closed their sets with “Layla,” a memorable song for both Clapton and Duane Allman, highlighting their consideration for Clapton. Since it’s a regular part of their repertoire, they likely wanted to perform it with Clapton. On both nights, multi-instrumentalist Danny Lewis, who is also a member of Government Mule with Warren Haynes, joined in on keyboards for “Layla.”