I got my hopes up when I heard about this DVD release, since it was filmed during the same tour that produced the charming Eric Clapton and Friends video — a great, but disappointingly short documentation of Clapton's 1986 tour. I have always enjoyed the Clapton and Friends documentary since it first appeared on VHS, because it features a more loose and lively Eric Clapton than you may be used to seeing. Thankfully, this new DVD is more of the same, with only one song missing, "Run", but several more great ones added.
This concert took place at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 10, 1986, during Clapton's world tour in support of his new August album. August was the second of two consecutive albums, beginning with 1985's Behind The Sun, produced and drummed by then Genesis front man, and recent solo superstar, Phil Collins. Collins joined him on this tour, along with renowned session musicians Greg Phillinganes on keyboards and Nathan East on bass, to make this one of the most polished lineups Clapton has ever worked with.
Clapton wastes no time getting to the Cream classics this night as he kicks off the show with a light and funky version of "Crossroads," which may have left some diehard Cream fans disappointed, but it fit well into the overall vibe of the tour. This was followed by a fairly faithful version of "White Room," featuring Phillinganes bravely tackling Jack Bruce's memorable falsetto choruses. This was supposedly the first time Clapton had performed the song since his 1968 split with Cream, which makes it all the more special to see here.
"I Shot The Sheriff" had a remarkable energy fueled by Clapton's passionate singing and loose guitar improv. The entire band turned in a stellar performance on this one, especially Collins' dazzling drum work. We sometimes forget he was once the great Genesis "drummer" before taking over front man duties in 1975 for the departed Peter Gabriel. Clapton introduced "I Wanna Make Love To You" with "here's a new one from my up and coming album", although the song never did make it on the August album. This steamy R&B soul number eventually showed up on the Crossroads box set, and this great performance shows why it deserved to.
Next, they run through four new songs from the August album, which are only interrupted by "Same Old Blues" from the previous year's Behind The Sun album. "Miss You" is a great little tune that features some heartfelt vocals and an excellent guitar solo. "Tearing Us Apart" is a keyboard dominated, practically dance-pop number featuring just enough slick guitar work from Mr. Clapton to make it enjoyable. "Holy Mother" is a hauntingly beautiful ballad and is easily the highlight of the August album, and has remained a Clapton concert staple to this day.
Article comments
1 - Marlene
"He dropped the song from his setlist after getting sober a few years later, and, as far as I know, didn't play it again until his 2004 performance at the Crossroads Guitar Festival,"
This is actually not true, in spite of the recent news item. If you check setlists on this site, you'll see that "Cocaine" has been played on every EC tour since 1986, except the 1992 tour and 1994-95 blues tour.
2 - Paul Roy
Thanks for the great link. Based on this it looks like you are correct. I based my comment on several recent interviews and articles about Clapton this year, including the Associated Press and the BBC, which stated that he dropped the song from his set in 1987.
3 - Connie Phillips
This article has been placed at the Advance.net websites, a site affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
4 - chris
white room was played by clapton in 1985 for live aid.. so this is certainly not the 1st time since cream.
5 - Paul Roy
OK, with the exception of the Live Aid concert.