We've acquired the legendary multi-track soundboard master! A legendary taper based in the UK, familiar with Eric Clapton's treasured recordings, has once again provided us with an astonishing digital master! This is a flat transfer master of the multi-track soundboard tape from the first night of Clapton's performance in Long Beach, California on July 19, 1974, which was featured on the official albums "E.C. WAS HERE" and "CROSSROADS 2." While the legendary taper Mike Millard recently released a superb audience recording from the same day, titled "Long Beach Arena 1974 1st Night: Mike Millard Master Tapes," the story is different when it comes to the officially recorded multi-track master. This veteran taper has kindly provided us with a flat transfer of the master tape. Previously released discs were produced based on cassette copies of the masters or copies of aged master reel tapes, so this one boasts the highest sound quality ever, and we can confidently say it's a master of unparalleled quality. A crisp, crisp stereo soundboard. Any enthusiast will be enthralled by this sound quality and sound balance. However, as an issue with the original master, there was a slight jump at 4:50 in "Layla." The previously released disc addressed this issue by filling in a different section, but since this was a phrase that featured a slide sustain, it didn't quite add up. In contrast, this disc matrixes the subsequent unsustained SBD riff, preserving the AUD sustain for a natural finish, and has been almost perfectly corrected (to the point where it's hard to tell where the jump was). A day of high play quality and an attractive setlist. Now, let's take a look at how this performance positioned itself in the comeback year of '74.・June 19th and 20th, 1974: Warm-up gigs in Scandinavia for the US comeback tour ・June 28th to August 4th, 1974: US tour ←★Here★≪August 5th, 1974: Album "461 OCEAN BOULEVARD" released≫ ・August to September 1974: Album "THERE'S ONE IN EVERY CROWD" recorded in Miami ・September 28th to October 6th, 1974: Second US tour ・October 31st to November 6th, 1974: First Japan tour ・November 27th to December 5th, 1974: European tour You can see that these shows were midway through the US comeback tour that began in June of that year. After warming up for this US tour, Clapton regained his confidence on stage, and he embarked on a drunken tour to ease his nerves. While the effects of this were evident in his MC performances, he generally delivered solid vocals and demonstrated precise, smooth guitar playing. The inclusion of "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" on the official live albums "E.C.WAS HERE" and "CROSSROADS 2" is a testament to his success (it was actually a medley of songs from Layla). The setlist was more compelling than most, featuring six tracks from his then-unreleased comeback album "461 OCEAN BOULEVARD," as well as Cream-era tracks like Badge and Crossroads, Blind Faith-era "Can't Find My Way Home," Dominoes tracks like "Tell the Truth," and Layla, plus some blues. The setlist was packed with the songs fans wanted to hear. Tracks like "Crossroads," with its distinct rhythm from their Cream days, and the rare "Mainline Florida" are particularly intriguing. "Crossroads," in particular, is played with a light shuffle, showcasing the band's potential. Clapton also plays with aplomb. The concert even featured a surprise opening with "Smile," the theme song from Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times," a film Clapton has always hailed as one of his favorites (a studio recording finally materialized on his latest album, "Meanwhile"). This tour also marked the debut of "Let It Grow," performed for the first time in 50 years this year, and it's truly a masterpiece. With little alcohol intoxication and a sharp playing style, this recording, along with the performance the following day at the same venue, is a prime example of the '74 tour. Interestingly, the band plays "Steady Rollin' Man" twice. Playing the same song twice is unthinkable in a normal concert, but this must have been a sign of his intoxication (lol). The distinctly sharp solos on both tracks are a testament to Clapton's status as a live artist. This was a rare performance where we got to enjoy the same song twice. A rare session came to fruition. For the encore, John Mayall, Clapton's former boss, John Mayall, made a surprise appearance! John Mayall, the boss of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, with whom Clapton was a member from 1965 to 1966, made a surprise appearance during the encore. This was the only time he had ever appeared at a Clapton concert, making it an incredibly rare experience. And it happened not in London, but in Long Beach. Mayall not only played harmonica, but also sang lead vocals. The performance featured a quintessential '60s blues jam, but the middle section was a performance that truly showcased Mayall's mastery of the blues harp. Clapton was clearly giving his former boss the credits. While I'd love to see the footage if it were available, I'm sure both Clapton and Mayall were smiling from ear to ear. For some reason, the multi-track master cut out at 7:16 due to a recording interruption. Therefore, to ensure a stress-free viewing of the original, complete recording, we've cleverly supplemented it with material from our previously released "Long Beach Arena 1974 1st Night: Mike Millard Master Tapes." Since "Long Beach Arena 1974 1st Night: Mike Millard Master Tapes" is a fully mono recording, we converted it to pseudo-stereo and then equalized and connected it in various places. While there are differences between audience recordings and soundboard recordings, "Long Beach Arena 1974 1st Night: Mike Millard Master Tapes" boasts exceptional sound quality, so this processing doesn't create any noticeable discomfort. The recording is extended by about four minutes, allowing for a truly enjoyable listening experience. At the end, Mayall calls out Clapton's name twice in return. It's exciting to imagine that he must have been doing the same thing on the club stages of the 1960s. While the regular set is packed with highlights, this encore alone is worth listening to for British blues fans. This release, produced from a flat transfer of the multi-track master of the famous recording from the 1974 tour, boasts the highest sound quality ever and has been perfectly restored, making it a must-have addition to your collection. Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, USA 19th July 1974 STEREO SBD(from Original Masters) UPGRADE!!! Disc:1 (64:15) 1. Intro. 2. Smile 3. Let It Grow 4. Can't Find My Way Home 5. I Shot The Sheriff 6. Badge 7. Willie And The Hand Jive 8. Get Ready 9. Crossroads 10. Mainline Florida Disc:2 (53:31) 1. Layla 2. Have You Ever Loved A Woman 3. Tell The Truth 4. Steady Rollin' Man 5. Band Introductions 6. Little Queenie 7. Don't Have To Hurt Nobody STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING Eric Clapton - Guitar / Vocals George Terry - Guitar Dicks Sims - Keyboards Carl Radle - Bass Jamie Oldaker - Drums Yvonne Elliman - Backing Vocals
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