Eric Clapton and his band released a live album back in the early 70s that was then entitled Derek and the Dominoes: In Concert. It was recorded at the Fillmore East in New York City and has now been re-titled Live at the Fillmore on the CD release.
The following review was written in late 1971 or early 1972 by Roger J. "Ram Jet" Ruby. It was then published in The Pacifican student newspaper at the University of the Pacific. With thanks to Mr. Ruby, who now lives with his family in El Dorado Hills, California.
Eric Clapton has a new album out entitled Derek and the Dominoes: In Concert. It consists of live material from a 1971 Fillmore East gig with the majority of the music coming from the Layla album. Any similarity between these two albums ends at this point. The material loses its freshness on this live album, which is definitely a disappointment.
The remainder of the group includes Jim Gordon on drums, Carl Radle on bass, and Bobby Whitlock on keyboards. Clapton, of course, is in the spotlight with lead vocals and guitar. Unfortunately, his potency as a live performer is lacking here. His guitar work has too many loose ends, sometimes bordering on sloppiness. Let It Rain and Tell The Truth are both songs that are diluted by their excessive lengths on the live versions. Clapton's image as a flashy guitar player needed a new paint job at this point in time.
There are a couple of songs, though, that come to life on the album. Blues Power and Bottle of Red Wine are given a new accent as Clapton gets the whole band moving together. Bobby Whitlock's piano could have used more volume on Blues Power. For you blues freaks, Have You Ever Loved A Woman has Clapton shining as he plays the pure unadulterated blues. It's nice to know that he hasn't forgotten what he had learned from his short association with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.
I think it is fair to say that Eric Clapton is capable of some of the tastiest guitar work in the business. The Layla album was a masterpiece with the late Duane Allman enhancing Clapton's trademark sound. The absence of Allman may have been one of the reasons for Clapton's mediocre delivery on this live album. Maybe the forthcoming release of Eric Clapton Live at the Rainbow Theatre (in London) will resolve this question once and for all.
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