Eric Clapton/Germany 06.06.2006 Complete

This is the first appearance of the 2006 tour, a superb and valuable recording! This is the first appearance of a superb stereo audience recording of the 2006 tour band, which Clapton himself considered his best band, featuring Doyle Bramhall and Derek Trucks, with Steve Jordan and Willie Weeks in the rhythm section. This release features a complete, exceptionally high-quality stereo audience recording of the June 6th performance in Lipsig, Germany, at the end of the first leg of the European tour, which served as the precursor to the 2006 world tour. This treasured recording was acquired by the well-known UK veteran Taper and sent to us on a digital DAT copy of the original master. It offers a very clear, airy sound image, including the in-venue resonance, and excellent stereo image. It's a very "beautiful" recording. The value of this first-time master isn't just due to its excellent sound quality and its first domestic release. In fact, this was the day that legendary keyboardist Billy Preston, a longtime collaborator with Clapton, passed away from kidney disease caused by drug addiction. Upon hearing the news, Clapton reminisced about Billy and, during his set, began his set with the comment, "This one is for Billy," before dedicating it to Back Home. Then, though it's hard to hear (because he spoke off-mic), after the performance, he added, "Billy, we'll never forget you." A front-row audience member recalled seeing tears in Clapton's eyes. Billy's last performance with Clapton was on the 2004 tour. Billy had been battling illness since that year, and had been unable to tour for a period of time. Clapton even made time during his busy schedule to visit Billy in the hospital. He reportedly wiped his face with a towel when he was already unconscious. He immediately returned to touring. Looking back, in 1969, he participated in the recording of Billy's solo album for Apple, produced by George Harrison. That same winter, he joined Delaney, Bonnie & Friends on their UK tour, where George brought Billy back. They hit it off and became friends. Their friendship continued for 37 years. In 1990, Billy even popped into a Clapton concert to sing "Hard Times," and in 2001, he officially joined Clapton's band (the performance is captured on the official live album "One More Car, One More Rider"). For this reason, the news of Billy's passing must have been especially moving for Clapton. It was a "special" day for him. This film allows you to experience the day in its entirety for the first time. Don't miss it! Let's start by looking back at this show's position from the perspective of the 2006 world tour. 2006: May 5th - June 10th: Europe #1 (24 shows) ←★COCO★; July 7th - August 3rd: Europe #2 (17 shows); August 13th: Joined Jimmie Vaughan onstage in Columbus, Ohio; September 16th - October 23rd: North America #1 (24 shows); November 11th - December 9th: Japan (19 shows); December 15th: Guest appearance at Gary Brooker's "No Stiletto Shoes" gig in Chiddingford, Surrey; December 31st: Hosted the "New Year's Eve Dance" in Woking, Surrey. This was a typical year for Eric Clapton as a live artist. He was on vacation until April, but from May until the end of the year, he was constantly on the road. This film captures the early days of his busy touring life. On August 30th of the previous year, they released "BACK HOME," their first album of original material in seven years (a non-cover album), which reached No. 13 on the US album charts, and were eagerly anticipating the start of their promotional tour (the previous year had been spent primarily with the Cream reunion). Given their confidence in the album, it was only natural that tracks from the album would be included in the set (this applies to Discs 1-3 and 8 on this album). However, as the tour progressed, new songs were gradually dropped from the set, and by the Japan tour, no new songs were included. This is typical of Clapton, as even a tour that began as an album promotion gradually shifted to songs he wanted to play. While the tour's developments were completely different from its original intent, as seen in the "Derek & the Dominos Day" performance at the end of the Japan tour, this early tour reflects the setlist carefully crafted by Clapton at the start of the tour, making it a representative recording of the early 2006 tour. In other words, the opportunity to hear live versions of songs from the album "BACK HOME" is especially valuable. His comments can be heard 14 seconds into the opening of "Back Home." The versatile supporting musicians assembled for this tour also recreated stunning live versions of new songs. The horn section, which had been absent from the North American tour starting in September, was also present. It's not hard to imagine how impressive this sound must have been, with three guitarists, a powerful rhythm section, a soulful black female chorus, and crisp horns. Furthermore, with the addition of Derek Trucks, who was described as the reincarnation of Duane Allman, Clapton also added three new Domino tracks, including "I Am Yours," which was performed live for the first time. Derek's slide playing is on full display, and "Got to Get Better in a Little While" is an unparalleled powerhouse with three solos. "Motherless Children" boasts a truly spectacular slide duel, with Derek, Clapton, and Doyle all contributing slides. There were two key points about this band. 1) By employing young guitarists Doyle and Derek, the album features them as soloists on most tracks, a must-have for fans of both artists. 2) Inspired by this, Clapton displayed his dignified presence with a tremendous solo. In other words, while featuring young musicians, he also demonstrated his own undeniable talent, creating a uniquely exciting stage performance. The signature songs performed by this lineup are also further enhanced. The set-in for "Everybody Oughta Make A Change," a first since the '83 tour, is also powerful. Of course, don't miss the excellent support from Doyle and Derek on "Layla." Clapton plays an unusual backing phrase on Layla's piano coda, which is interesting. This recording is packed with highlights, including the quintessential Clapton band. This is a first-time, premium audience recording, showcasing the essence of one of Clapton's greatest bands of his career, on the anniversary of Billy Preston's death and the day Clapton made his special comments. It's a historic title worth listening to. Leipzig Arena, Leipzig, Germany 6th June 2006 TRULY PERFECT SOUND Disc:1 (61:15) 1. Introduction 2. Pretending 3. So Tired 4. Got to Get Better in a Little While 5. Old Love 6. Everybody Oughta Make a Change 7. Motherless Children 8. Back Home (dedicated to Billy Preston)★"This one is for Billy" is played 14 seconds into the song. After the performance, he commented, "Billy, we'll never forget you." 9. I Am Yours 10. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out 11. Running on Faith Disc:2 (54:37) 1. After Midnight 2. Little Queen of Spades 3. Let It Rain 4. Wonderful Tonight 5. Layla 6. Cocaine 7. Crossroads Eric Clapton - guitar / vocals Doyle Bramhall II - guitar / vocals Derek Trucks - guitar Chris Stainton - keyboards Tim Carmon - keyboards Willie Weeks - bass Steve Jordan - drums Michelle John - backing vocals Sharon White - backing vocals The Kick Horns (Simon Clarke - baritone saxophone, Roddy Lorimer - trumpet, Tim Sanders - tenor saxophone)