Eric Clapton Tokyo,Japan 4.14.2025 Complete IEM Matrix Edition

This is the first time in the history of Eric Clapton's solo performance in Japan that a matrix version with the strongest balance has been released, using three types of sound sources: an IEM (in-ear monitor) sound source and two types of stereo audience recording masters with the highest sound quality! The original master recorded the entire stereo in-ear monitor (drummer Sonny Emory wore it only on the first day), and the original stereo audience recording master with the highest sound quality is also used. The definitive CD of the best IEM matrix sound source with a grade and quality different from competing products with a strong audience component is finally here! The effect of the in-ear monitor this time is the clarity and delicacy of Clapton's vocals. In normal audience recordings, the vocals are recorded through the P.A. among the musical sounds, so depending on the position, they may not sound very prominent. However, this in-ear monitor sound source was recorded with the highest clarity that allows you to feel Clapton's breathing as he sings hard, and even his efforts to keep the pitch from going out of sync. That's because this album was not just combined with the audience recording, but the in-ear sound source was separated into cheers + 4 drum parts (snare, tom, hi-hat, kick) + bass + vocals + 3 other types = 24 stems and carefully mixed down again. As a result, if you are an avid fan, just listening to the vocals will bring to mind the image of Clapton, who is 80 years old and has a weaker throat, singing hard, and you will be moved to tears. The stereo audience recording master used for the matrix is ​​the original superb sound source that we adopted for the press board "Budokan 2025 1st Night" and the original sound source released in advance. The fusion of the three masters created a miraculous sound. Since it was originally a master with a wide sound image, deep sound, and crispness, it can be said that Clapton's sincere vocals pass through the clear sound that sounds with great force. It is another strongest definitive version of the first day, so please look forward to it! A permanent collection that lets you experience Clapton's vocals in a more realistic way! If you look at the set list, you can see Clapton's enthusiasm for this Japan tour. Moreover, the first day had the most songs out of the eight shows, with 17 songs. To get a glimpse of why Clapton, now 80 years old, put together this set list given his 62-year professional career, let's take a look at the origins of each song again (each song is based on the year it was first performed or recorded. " " indicates the album it was on). Cream era: White Room, Cross Road Blues "WHEELS OF FIRE" Sunshine of Your Love "DISRAELI GEARS" Badge "GOODBYE" Derek and the Dominos era: Key to the Highway, Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out LAYLA AND OTHER ASSORTEDLOVE SONGS Solo era: (70s) Kind Hearted Woman Blues "CROSSROADS 2", "ME AND MR. JOHNSON" Golden Ring "BACKLESS" Wonderful Tonight, Cocaine "SLOWHAND" (80s) Old Love, Before You Accuse M "JOURNEYMAN" (90s) I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man, Motherless Child "FROM THE CRADLE" Tears in Heaven "RUSH", "UNPLUGGED" (00s) Little Queen of Spades "ME AND MR. JOHNSON" (20s) The Call "MEANWHILE"Looking at it this way, we can see that there are no songs selected from the 2010s albums that were mainly cover songs, and on the contrary, there are three songs from the Cream era that exceed those from the Derek and the Dominos era. That shows how proud Clapton himself is of his career with Cream. It is typical of Clapton to have eight blues songs in the set, three of which were Robert Johnson songs. This also gives us a glimpse of Clapton's thoughts and commitment. Looking at the whole album, we can see that the songs selected were almost evenly from his entire career, including new songs. It can be said that the set list he put together for his 80-year-old Japanese performance and his long-time supporters in Japan was a summary of his career. Conversely, these are the songs that Clapton, now 80 years old, wants to play. It was a set list that was typical of Clapton, who has a long career, and satisfied both old fans and fans after "UNPLUGED". Well, the first day's concert, which excited the fans, started with a hard and energetic number called White Room from the Cream era. This was the first performance in Japan with this band members (with intro). Sonny Emory's powerful drumming is clear, and the female chorus creates an overwhelming force in this number, and Clapton decided to play a solo with a wah pedal as in the original version. He has a voice! The sharpness of the last song played in Japan in 2003 is not as strong as it was in the 2003 Japan performance, but still, Clapton's exquisite phrase structure is visible. The following blues is a standard performance at concerts. And while I Shot the Sheriff should have been brought in as a way to liven up the acoustic set, this time he surprised everyone with Sunshine of Your Love, Cream's biggest hit. Before the riff, the same intro was added as in last year's Latin American tour. Clapton, who approaches the live with such a new arrangement, the word "rut" is not relevant. Before the acoustic set, he gave a greeting to the audience. "I'm happy to be back here again. I've been able to play here for so many years thanks to Mr. Udo," he said, showing his consideration for the late Mr. Udo of the Udo Music Agency, who has supported Clapton since his first visit to Japan, which showed his humanity. It seems that Clapton's strong desire to pay tribute to Mr. Udo also came into this performance in Japan this time. Then he started with a gentle performance of Robert Johnson's Kind Hearted Woman Blues. Considering that he had included this song in his previous performance in Japan, Clapton must really like this song. The falsetto part is really hard, but you can't help but feel emotional when you hear Clapton singing it so hard. I recommend listening to this part in the in-ear monitor version of this work. Next, he performed a new song, The Call, from his new album "MEANWHILE". As you can see from the music video for this song, which is available online, it's a gem of a number that is filled with Clapton's kind feelings for his friend. It's probably his own favorite on the new album. After two more blues songs, he played Golden Ring from his 1978 album "BACKLESS," which was a hot topic for playing it for the first time in 46 years on last year's European tour. This was the first time this song was heard at a Japanese concert. The acoustic set ended with the great song Tears in Heaven. It was a number that fans after "UNPLUGED" would love. And in the second half of the standing electric set, he played a number that could be called Clapton's royal road. There was some awkward playing at the beginning of Old Love, but the second half of the solo suddenly got him back in shape, exciting the audience. This was the highlight of the day. Tim Carmon's synth solo in the jam-like part in the middle was reminiscent of the 1998 "Pilgrim Tour." His passionate solo, comparable to Clapton's, drew cheers from the audience. Doyle Bramhall plays the main phrase of the following Wonderful Tonight, but the solo in the middle is Clapton. Clapton was angry that Pattie Boyd, who was George Harrison's wife in 1970, had put up for auction last year, and Clapton did not include this song and Layla, which are related to Pattie, in the set-in last year's tour, but it was surprising that he revived this song in the Japanese performance. What kind of change in his state of mind was it? From Cross Road Blues to Cocaine at the end of the show, it really seems like a grand finale. Clapton's playing is particularly spirited, but the whole band is also amazing. Each solo is also passionate. The ending of Cocaine does not end with a chorus of the audience, but there is a stylish pile-up afterwards. This kind of arrangement is also fresh and good. The encore was Before You Accuse Me, just like last year's North American tour. Here too, he made some fun changes, such as inserting a little bit of the development section of Freddie King's Hideaway in the middle. I don't think there was a single fan who was not satisfied with this stage. Impressions on the first day's performance When listening to the excellent sound quality of this work, you can feel the vividness of Clapton and the members' eye contact in each song, and the tension of his voice and vocal technique that you would not expect from an 80-year-old. Even if Clapton, who turned 80 this year, plays and sings the same songs as before, it is inevitable that his performance will be dry in a good sense and faded in a bad sense. As for the guitar playing, in all the songs played electric, including the opening, Clapton made some mistakes or showed some sluggishness. Looking back now, it seems that various things were putting a strain on him, such as the fact that it was the first stage of the year for the first time in several months since last fall's tour, and the effects of jet lag due to the long flight from London to Tokyo. But we went to the Budokan knowing his age, and we like to listen to the recordings made there. This is because we love the 80-year-old Clapton, who has been playing for Japan and its fans for 51 years, just like Clapton, who first came to Japan in 1974 at the age of 29. We always want to hear his super-fast killer solos, but we are also moved by the sight of him playing and singing hard, even though he is hesitant. This work also shows Clapton, who never plays the same solo twice. And the first day, when Clapton performs a song that you wouldn't think he was 80 years old, is captured in this work. The sound quality is miraculous and amazing. This is amazing. This is the best masterpiece of the year! Budokan, Tokyo, Japan 14th April 2025 IEM+AUD MATRIX(from Original Masters)Disc:1 (49:27) 1. Intro 2. White Room 3. Key to the Highway 4. I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man 5. Sunshine of Your Love 6. Kind Hearted Woman Blues 7. The Call 8. Motherless Child 9. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out 10. Golden Ring 11. Tears in Heaven Disc:2 (56:26) 1. Badge 2. Old Love 3. Wonderful Tonight 4. Cross Road Blues 5. Little Queen of Spades 6. Cocaine 7. Before You Accuse Me 8. Closing Announcement