The concert was held at the Rainbow Theatre inwards Finsbury Park, northward London, on xiii Jan 1973. The venue was pop during the 1960s in addition to early on 1970s; musicians such every bit The Beatles, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull in addition to Queen performed there. The concert was recorded using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio.
As 1972 came to a close, Eric Clapton had been musically inactive for nearly ii years. The guitarist, vocalizer in addition to songwriter had enjoyed a flare-up of action inwards 1969, a menstruum during which he played alive in addition to inwards the studio amongst Blind Faith, John Lennon (documented on Live Peace inwards Toronto 1969) in addition to Delaney & Bonnie in addition to Friends (showcased on the duo’s On Tour amongst Eric Clapton). Near the halt of that year, he took part inwards a one-off celebrity concert inwards London amongst Lennon, George Harrison in addition to others to exercise goodness UNICEF.
In 1970 Clapton played on sessions including Harrison’s All Things Must Pass triple-album. He continued his creative in addition to productive streak amongst the landmark Layla in addition to Other Assorted Love Songs, crediting the issue to Derek in addition to the Dominos. That same year, the group, non including invitee guitarist Duane Allman, toured in addition to recorded a alive album, In Concert; that double LP would eventually live on released inwards 1973.
Clapton did surface briefly inwards the summertime of 1971 inwards New York City to look every bit a backing instrumentalist for George Harrison’s all-star exercise goodness Concert for Bangladesh. But other than that admittedly high-profile project, Clapton was absent from the music scene for the improve part of 1971 in addition to 1972.
The primary argue for Clapton’s disappearance was his descent into the throes of heroin addiction. His status was partly the effect of (or exacerbated by) his unrequited beloved for Pattie Boyd Harrison, married adult woman of his friend George.
Another friend, Who guitarist Pete Townshend, knew of Clapton’s plight in addition to urged him to render to active musical duty. To that end, Townshend organized a duo of concerts—a matinee in addition to an flush performance—to live on held Jan 13, 1973, at London’s Rainbow Theatre.
Townshend assembled an ad-hoc band to dorsum Clapton for the ii shows. Ronnie Wood of Faces (and later on of the Rolling Stones) provided back upwards on guitar in addition to vocals, every bit did Townshend, amongst Clapton playing atomic number 82 guitar in addition to (mostly) singing lead.
Two recent associates of Clapton also came to his assist for the Rainbow Concert: vocalizer in addition to multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood in addition to bassist Ric Grech had exclusively lately concluded their fourth dimension every bit band mates amongst Clapton inwards Blind Faith. And Winwood brought along about of his Traffic band mates, drummer-vocalist Jim Capaldi in addition to Ghanian percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah (the latter is credited on the original Rainbow Concert LP merely every bit “Rebop”). Adding fifty-fifty to a greater extent than percussive foundation to the performances was Jimmy Karstein, belatedly of Delaney & Bonnie in addition to Friends every bit good every bit J.J. Cale’s 1972 album, Really.
In a shape inwards which private instrumental feats are oftentimes self-indulgent in addition to superfluous, Eric Clapton’s music remains an anomaly. His greatest guitar playing has been every bit passionate every bit Otis Redding’s best singing in addition to every bit articulate every bit Bob Dylan’s best songs. Clapton at his peak is every bit skillful every bit it gets.
His music has ever been autobiographical, fifty-fifty when he was working off older approaches rather than creating novel ones. His frequent modifications of styles in addition to roles, alternately pushing him into the spotlight in addition to moving him into the background, propose a fragile, idealistic man, vacillating betwixt hopefulness in addition to disillusionment.
If Derek in addition to the Dominos’ In Concert, recorded at the outset of the group’s lonely American tour iii years agone in addition to released exclusively this year, showed Clapton on the upswing, hence Rainbow Concert explores the lower reaches of his psyche. The Rainbow surgical operation was his endeavor at starting all over again, but done without the exuberance that was the hallmark of the early on Domino menstruum (as a back-to-back listening to the ii albums illustrates).
Rainbow Concert is a recording of monolithic melancholy. One mightiness suppose that difficult stone in addition to despair are antithetical but Clapton, aided yesteryear Townshend, Winwood in addition to Wood, every bit good every bit an able supporting cast, makes the matrimony feasible in addition to compelling. But non fun.
Disregarding a few awkward moments inwards which the musicians betray their brusque rehearsal time, the music is rich inwards its make-up in addition to distressing inwards musical note its mood remains exceptionally elusive. Townshend’s in addition to Wood’s guitars in addition to Winwood’s organ surroundings Clapton inwards a protective aural capsule. He, inwards turn, industrial plant cautiously, but caution isn’t Clapton’s means — his art is founded on risk-taking inwards its absolute form, spontaneity. The little glove approach may convey been necessary: Clapton is occasionally indecisive in addition to confused. But he also cuts loose every bit much every bit his setting allows inwards “Badge,” in addition to he’s solid, if non inspired, for almost of the show.
The fabric contributes to the pervasive melancholy. The vi songs chosen from the evening’s longer plan are either moody, slow-paced or both. Even “Roll It Over” in addition to “After Midnight” instruct moderate, deliberate treatments. The album’s excitement, such every bit it is, comes from the layered instrumental textures, the solemn measured drive into climaxes that are imperial if non explosive, in addition to the nuances of Clapton’s restrained singing in addition to playing. In these respects, the commencement in addition to final tracks, “Badge” in addition to Hendrix’ “Little Wing,” are almost impressive.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 remastered expanded edition of the album was released on xiii Jan 1995, the 22nd anniversary of the concert.
Track listing:
1 Badge 3:29
2 Roll It Over 6:53
3 Presence Of The Lord 5:37
1 Pearly Queen 6:58
2 After Midnight 5:11
3 Little Wing 6:32
Personnel:
Eric Clapton – guitar (lead) & vocals
Pete Townshend – guitar (rhythm) & vocals
Ron Wood – guitar (rhythm in addition to slide) & vocals
Ric Grech – bass guitar
Steve Winwood – keyboards & vocals
Jim Capaldi – drums & vocals
Jimmy Karstein – drums
Rebop Kwaku Baah – percussion
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