ERIC CLAPTON – LAID BACK IN DOWN UNDER (4 CD)

Description

　Prioritizing quality over quantity, the PADDINGTON label releases carefully selected historical recordings with a focus on content and sound quality that will not diminish in value even if other labels release them later. This latest release is a four-disc set featuring two soundboard recordings from the 1975 Australian tour: the April 14th Brisbane show and the April 20th Sydney show. The 1975 tour kicked off in Australia, with only 15 shows. This release features two soundboard recordings from that rare Australian tour.

　Discs 1 and 2 feature the April 14th Brisbane show. Pre-tour warm-up gigs in Hawaii create a calm, warm atmosphere evocative of sunny beaches. From the opening track, “Badge,” the performances seem to mirror the atmosphere of the “461 Ocean Boulevard” album cover. The second track is a blues medley of “Milk Cow Blues” and “Have You Ever Loved a Woman.” Other relatively relaxed tracks include the Dominos’ “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.” Highlights include “Layla” and “All I Have To Do Is Dream.” The coda of “Layla” builds to a rousing finish, and “All I Have To Do Is Dream” begins gently, as if reminiscing on the lingering impact. It’s truly gentle and beautiful. Following “Little Wing,” the album closes with a memorable intro, followed by a guitar explosion and a cool, talking-style vocal performance of “Little Queniee.”

　Discs 3 and 4 capture the Sydney performance on April 20th. In stark contrast to the Brisbane performance, this performance begins quietly with the extremely laid-back “Let It Grow.” This performance is the height of indescribable sophistication. The guitar solo, swaying gently in a warm tropical breeze, is outstanding. The melody of “All I Have To Do Is Dream” begins, followed by a countdown and a sudden plunge into “Blues Power,” a truly unexpected arrangement. The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the medley beginning with “Driftin’.” The following “Crossroads” is a deeply bluesy arrangement unlike anything I’ve heard before, leading into a unique arrangement that leads into “Have You Ever Loved A Woman.” While both are blues numbers, considering that in Brisbane the same song was performed as a medley with “Milk Cow Blues,” this was not a planned medley; rather, the flow of the song was so natural that it was as if the phrases from a different song just happened to pop up, as if the fingers were moving on their own, making for a very pleasant medley to listen to. While the lyrics of “Crossroads” are the same as “Crossroads,” the melody is exactly like “Driftin’,” almost like a parody. “Layla” then transitions into “Opposites,” leaving the lingering coda of its ending. The intense performances unfold one after the other, leaving no time to breathe.

　While a limited number of recordings from both shows have been available in the past, the lack of encore tracks like “Little Queniee,” “Let It Rain,” and “Little Wing” and the lack of audio skipping on CDRs have left many dissatisfied. This release stands out from the crowd with its low-generation soundboard master, offering minimal noise and none of the skipping issues found on previously released recordings. The Paddington label has traditionally focused on creating a natural sound without relying on equalization, and this release continues that principle, capturing the original freshness of the master recording with natural sound quality. Of course, as this is a commercial release, minimal adjustments have been made, such as pitch adjustments and corrections to cut sections, but the sound quality is perhaps unmatched. Two precious soundboard recordings from the 1975 short Australian tour are recorded on a high-quality soundboard. A permanently preserved press edition with a beautiful picture disc.

FESTIVAL HALL, BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA April 14, 1975
DISC ONE
01. Introduction
02. Badge
03. Milk Cow Blues – Have You Ever Loved A Woman
04. Steady Rollin’ Man
05. Can’t Find My Way Home
06. Teach Me To Be Your Woman
07. Let It Rain

DISC TWO
01. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
02. I Shot The Sheriff
03. Layla – All I Have To Do Is Dream
04. Little Wing
05. Little Queenie

HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA April 20, 1975
DISC THREE
01. Let It Grow
02. Tell The Truth
03. Better Make It Through Today
04. Badge
05. I Shot The Sheriff
06. Teach Me To Be Your Woman
07. Steady Rollin’ Man
08. Key To The Highway

DISC FOUR
01. Can’t Find My Way Home
02. Blues Power
03. Driftin’- Crossroads – Have Your Ever Loved A Woman
04. Layla – Opposites
05. Let It Rain
06. Little Wing