Eric Clapton / 461 Ocean Boulevard Japan Tour 74Koseinenkin Hall Osaka (2CDR)

CD01: 
01. Let It Grow 
02. Can't Find My Way Home 
03. Better Make It Through Today 
04. Tell The Truth 
05. Drifting Blues 
06. Wille And The Hand Jive / Get Ready

CD02: 
01. Let It Rain 
02. Layla 
03. Presence Of The Lord 
04. I Sho The Sheriff [ocean] 
05. Badge / All I Have To Do Is Dream

The Band: 
Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals 
Jamie Oldaker – drums 
Dick Sims – keyboards 
Carl Radle – bass 
George Terry – guitar 
Yvonne Elliman – backing vocals 
Marcy Levy – backing vocals

This album captures the live performance by “Slowhand” Eric Clapton on November 5, 1974, at the Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan—his first-ever concert in Japan. In January 1973, longtime friend Pete Townshend—who had saved Clapton from the brink of ruin after Clapton had been virtually inactive due to drug addiction since the early 1970s—organized the Rainbow Concert. This concert served as the catalyst for Eric Clapton’s comeback to the music scene, and in July 1974, he released the masterpiece *461 Ocean Boulevard*. This recording features an SBD recording of his first-ever Japan tour, held in conjunction with the release of “461 Ocean Boulevard.” The concert, which opens with the new song “Let It Grow,” begins abruptly with Eric’s peculiar laugh. It’s unclear whether he had fully kicked his drug habit yet, but it’s a rather eccentric start. Also from the new album “461 Ocean Boulevard,” they performed “I Sho The Sheriff,” a staple of EC’s live sets. It’s a bit surprising that the set starts off with an almost entirely acoustic lineup, but by the time they played “Layla” in the second half, the familiar slow-hand EC was back in full force. In terms of setlist, it’s a parade of classic tracks from EC’s early days, such as “Presence of the Lord” and “Badge.” The sound quality is from an SBD recording. There’s a bit of hiss, but it’s quite a surprise to be able to hear EC’s first-ever Japan tour—which took place 36 years ago—via an SBD recording.