ERIC CLAPTON – TORONTO REHEARSAL 1985 (CD)

Description

Kingswood Music Theatre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 20th June 1985 STEREO SBD (from Original Masters)
★UPGRADE

[A rare soundboard master recording of a rehearsal for the second leg of the 1985 “Behind the Sun” US tour!]
　This week, we’re releasing the original master recording sent to us by a veteran taper based in the UK, who is well-known for his rare Clapton recordings. This is a stereo soundboard recording of a rehearsal held at the Toronto, Canada venue on June 20th, the day before the start of the second leg of the tour!

　The audio source was previously included in our “COMPLETE TORONTO 1985 (5CD)” release, but this time, we’re releasing the original soundboard recording as is, so we’ve reworked it from the original source. Our engineer adjusted the bass drum’s prominent “big drum” sound in the master, which brought out the high frequencies and made it dramatically easier to listen to. This raw soundboard sound quality is superior to previous releases, making this a more complete and polished album.

　While early rehearsal recordings from this year, held at the Brixton Academy in England in March, are well-known, this particular rehearsal, held to mark the start of the second leg, was virtually unknown. However, it does have some shortcomings typical of a rehearsal, such as a drop in sound at 0:10 in “I Shot The Sheriff,” crackling noise around 5:12 in “Steppin’ Out,” and cutouts in “Same Old Blues” and “Lay Down Sally.” The cuts, however, were caused by the engineer stopping the tape at the mixing console, a common occurrence in leaked rehearsal tapes.

　What more than makes up for those shortcomings is that Cream’s signature song, “White Room,” which was included in the setlist for the first time in 17 years starting from the second leg of the tour, was played twice. This is because, just before this, Clapton appeared on the American television program “The David Letterman Show,” where he was requested to play the song by Paul Shaffer, the musical director of the house band. After playing the song and rediscovering its charm, Clapton hastily decided to include it in the setlist for the second leg of his tour. It must have been a nostalgic Cream song that captured Clapton’s heart to that extent. And because it was a last-minute decision, it must have been necessary to rehearse it meticulously.

　Also on this tour, they rehearsed Marcy Levy’s “Try A Little Tenderness,” which was only played once at this Toronto show. It seems she suggested she wanted to sing this Otis Redding number, and Clapton agreed. There is no Clapton solo in this rehearsal, but a fantastic solo by Clapton was featured in the actual show the next day. Throughout this rehearsal, Clapton sticks to a laid-back vocal style, but his guitar playing is never half-hearted, which is typical of him. Conversely, it’s heartwarming to see Marcy and Sean Murphy singing with the same intensity as in the actual show.

　This rehearsal recording is an absolute must-listen! The 1985 tour’s second leg has garnered attention due to a change in the setlist from the first leg, but this release will undoubtedly pique your interest in the second leg performances even more. This is a rare recording of Clapton’s rehearsal, so please don’t miss it!

[Clapton’s outstanding vocals and aggressive guitar solos create a relentless onslaught.]
　Now, let’s clarify the significance of this rehearsal point in this year in chronological order.

・February 28th – March 15th, 1985: European tour including the UK.　
During this time, ≪March 1st, 1985: Album “BEHIND THE SUN” released≫
・April 9th ​​- May 3rd, 1985: US tour, first leg　　
・May 8th, 1985: Appearance on the US music live program Late Night With David Letterman
・June 21st – July 27th, 1985: US tour, second leg ←★HERE★
・October 5th – October 11th, 1985: 6th Japan tour
・October 14th – November 6th, 1985: Short European tour after visiting Alaska and London
・December 3rd – 23rd, 1985: Supposedly off, but during this time, he made surprise appearances on stage at concerts by Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Sting, Gary Brooker, Dire Straits, and others.

　Following the release of “Behind the Sun,” which was recorded the previous year, it’s fair to say that he spent a whole year promoting this album. That’s how confident he was in it. He covered all of Europe and even visited North America twice. Moreover, by splitting the tour into two legs, he varied the setlist. While this tour served as a rehearsal for that, Clapton’s singing seemed to have improved dramatically. His confident and dignified singing style exuded a certain masculine charm.

　The guitar solos are more aggressive than ever before, with patterns of rapid, relentless passages appearing repeatedly. It’s incredibly thrilling! He delivers sharp slide playing in “Tulsa Time” and “Motherless Children,” asserts his presence in the solo during the outro of “I Shot the Sheriff,” and then dramatically raises the tension in the following “Same Old Blues.” In the solo for “White Room,” both takes feature aggressive playing with constant wah pedal use, reminiscent of his Cream days. In “Tangled in Love,” his high-speed slowhand technique explodes. “Behind the Sun” is played during this rehearsal, but it was removed from the setlist for the second leg, making this take from this period all the more valuable. This “incredible Clapton even in rehearsal” is something every rock fan should hear. Without a doubt, this was a period when he reached one of the peaks of his career. And this album can be said to be another addition to the recordings from this year that prove Clapton’s greatness.

[Top-class backs only available during this period]
　The backing band for this tour featured Donald “Duck” Dunn, the legendary bassist from Stax Records, and Jamie Oldaker of the Tulsa Tops—arguably the strongest rhythm section in Clapton’s history. Please enjoy the bouncy bass playing of the late Donald “Duck” Dunn, who only supported Clapton during this period, and the intricate and dynamic drumming of the late Jamie Oldaker (Clapton and Duck Dunn really hit it off, so much so that when he launched his own label in 1983, he named it “Duck Records”). Furthermore, this is the only tour where you can hear the playing of veteran British guitarist Tim Renwick, who would later support “Gilmore Pink Floyd.” His solid playing, without a single mistake, is also a highlight. You can hear his distinctive playing in the obbligatos on “I Shot the Sheriff” and “White Room.” But above all, his individuality shines through in the solo featured on “Lay Down Sally.” As seasoned veterans, they deliver a stable and reliable performance. And we mustn’t forget Chris Stinton, who continues to support Clapton today. From the piano prologue of “Tulsa Time,” he’s incredibly active, playing not only piano but also organ and synthesizer. Their bond was strong 41 years ago. This is a wonderful performance where you should definitely listen to their support, along with the resonant tone of the Blackie Stratocaster.

　While we also have representative soundboard titles from the 1985 “Behind the Sun US Tour,” such as “Richmond 1985 Soundboard Master” for the first leg and “Chicago 1985 Soundboard Master” for the second leg, this album, which captures the rehearsal that led to the band’s strong bond that resulted in the excellent performance on “Chicago 1985 Soundboard Master,” is also a worthwhile listen. Clapton’s playing is improvisational, so each performance is unique. Please enjoy it thoroughly.

(Remaster Notes)
★Recreated from the original sound.
The “big drum” feel of the bass drum has been adjusted.
By making these adjustments, the high frequencies stand out, making it louder and easier to listen to.

(57:26)
1. White Room
2. Try A Little Tenderness
3. Tulsa Time
4. Motherless Children
5. I Shot The Sheriff 　
6. Same Old Blues
7. Tangled In Love　
8. White Room
9. Behind The Sun
10. Wonderful Tonight
11. Steppin’ Out
12. Lay Down Sally

Eric Clapton : Guitar & Vocals
Tim Renwick : Guitar
Donald “Duck” Dunn : Bass
Chris Stainton : Keyboards
Jamie Oldaker : Drums
Marcy Levy : Backing Vocals　
Shaun Murphy : Backing Vocals