‘Crossroads
2’ is not to be confused with ‘Crossroads’,
the first of this series of Eric Clapton’s
4 C.D. box sets, which was a musically
wonderfully 4 C.D. collection encompassing
Eric Clapton’s entire career from early
1963 to the present day. The rather lamely
titled 'Crossroads 2', however, concentrates
on Eric Clapton's live work from 1974
to 78. (There are four very good studio
out takes that have never been released
before, which top and tail this set.)
This review comes in two parts. First
let me deal with the music. This starts
out with Eric Clapton in 1974, when he
has already been a professional axe slinger
with an American Blues fixation for over
10 years.
Starting out with ‘The Roosters’ with
Tom McGuinness (later of McGuinness Flint,
the Bluesbreakers, and Manfred Mann) next
port of call was ‘Casey Jones and the
Engineers’ before joining the fledgling
rhythm and blues band 'The Yardbirds',
who replaced 'The Rolling Stones' as the
resident band at the Crawdaddy Club in
London (anything for a time machine).
After eighteen months, and the Yardbirds
slowly leaning away from authentic blues
towards more pop orientated music which
was brought to the breaking point for
Eric with his disgust of their latest
single ‘For Your Love‘, Eric packed his
bags and left. (Yet ‘For Your Love’ was
a Top 10 Hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Yardbirds simply employed a young
lad named Jeff Beck and carried on.)
Eric Clapton then found a home in John
Mayall’s ‘Bluesbreakers’ for a year. (Apart
from a mad couple of months where he cleared
off with a bunch of mates on a bus to
the Greek Isles, the joyous folly of youth.
I bet Mr. Mayall was none to pleased though,
but was keen to have him back when he
returned, ousting his replacement Peter
Green for the guitar spot. The Bluesbreakers
then recorded the seminal 'Bluesbreakers
with Eric Clapton’ album (often referred
to as the Beano album as on the front
cover shows our Eric reading the world
famous kids comic). It was during this
period that Eric Clapton picked up the
nickname 'Slowhand', which has stuck with
him ever since.
But ever the restless soul, Eric Clapton
did not even last a year in the ‘Bluesbreakers’
before he joined forces with Ginger Baker
and Jack Bruce to form the first supergroup
'Cream’. Now I am not saying that they
were successful, but Atlantic Records
had to invent the Platinum Disc award
to show off how many album sales 'Cream'
had and all their concerts were sold out
all across the world. But even this could
only keep Eric Clapton's attention for
two years when after a long Farewell Tour
the three members of 'Cream’ went their
own ways.
Another supergroup was formed with Steve
Winwood (of ‘Traffic’ fame amongst others),
but that didn't keep Eric occupied for
a year before he was off again. After
a stretch on the road with buddies Delaney
and Bonnie (that's Delaney and Bonnie
not Shenanigans and Bonnie!), Eric Clapton
formed Derek and the Dominoes in May 1970.
They managed one worldwide tour and the
phenomenal double album ‘Layla and other
assorted Love Songs'. The inspiration
for this album was supermodel Patti Boyd,
who Eric was passionately in love with
even though she was married to his best
friend George Harrison. Eric's guitar
playing on ‘Layla’ was pushed to new heights
by the presence of Duane Allman, who challenged
him all the way. But when after less than
a year the Dominoes imploded, Eric's personnel
life was in tatters and he retreated to
his country mansion, where he remained
housebound with Patti Boyd, force of habit.
What a waste of the next three years.
Fortunately for Eric and the world of
music he had good friends (including long
time producer Tom Dow and ‘The Who's Pete
Townshend). They helped Eric back onto
the road of sanity. The first result of
which was the album ‘461 Ocean Boulevard‘.
In the next four years Eric released five
more albums under his own name and toured
the world with three separate touring
bands, both to worldwide critical acclaim
and ever increasing sales.
What you get on ‘Crossroads 2’ is a selection
of the best of these years running in
chronological order over five hours of
Eric at his absolute best. Too many highlights
to name them all, but on Eric's second
world tour he took Carlos Santana with
him as support band. Every night Carlos
and members of his band would jump up
and jam with Eric and his band for an
encore. This can be heard to devastating
effect on the 24-minute version of 'Eyesight
to the Blind/Why does Love Got To Be So
Sad‘ medley on disc 2. Disc 2 also contains
a blistering 10-minute version of ‘Cream's
'Badge', which Eric co-wrote with George
Harrison. (Has the man no shame? Stole
his wife and his song.)
Over the 4 C.D.'s and four years the
road band has whittled down from a 7-
to a 4-piece, with second guitarist George
Terry, backing vocalists Yvonne Elliman
(she of Jesus Christ Superstar fame),
and Macy Levy loose their places. But
this just adds to the variety of the music,
and what is right and proper Eric Clapton’s
guitar is always at the fore.
With the possible exception of the dreadfully
slushy ‘Wonderful Tonight’, the music
is 5 Star all the way.
As for the second part of the review.
What on earth are Polygram trying to do
regarding the price? Even with Amazon.com
discounts the 4 C.D. package comes in
at 54 US Dollars. OK, you get a 44-page
color booklet and each C.D. is over an
hour long, but some of the material was
previously available as ‘E.C. was here’.
All of the tracks from that album are
on this collection, and everything else
is from the archives. So no costs have
been spent on studio time or re-recording
anything. Surely this was a great chance
to give something back to the constantly
paying punter. Not only that, but a lot
of people must of been put off by the
high price tag, especially as all of the
songs in one way or another have been
available on previous releases. You also
get several versions of the same song
spread over the 4 discs. You get three
versions of ‘Have You Ever Loved A Woman’
on Disc 1 alone. For this outrage I award
the record company 1 Star, which balances
out at three. Great music though.
Pawed
by Mott The Dog
Re-chewed by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
