Fans might be familiar with Eric Clapton's 1973 Rainbow Concert as it was officially released. However, Clapton played two shows that night and only the early show was released.
A soundboard recording of the two shows surfaced in 1998 from Empress Valley as Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert - 25th Anniversary Edition. Interestingly, the original album (featuring only six tracks), wasn't that hot among fans and critics. For example, the album was not highlighted at all in the section on Eric Clapton in The New Illustrated Rock Handbook (1986). And it's not even listed among Clapton's albums in The Rolling Stone Record Guide (1979).
This is what Bud Scoppa wrote in Rolling Stone magazine #146:
"Townshend's and Wood's guitars and Winwood's organ surround Clapton in a protective aural capsule. He, in turn, works cautiously, but caution isn't Clapton's way – his art is founded on risk-taking in its absolute form, spontaneity. The kid glove approach may have been necessary: Clapton is occasionally indecisive and confused. But he also cuts loose as much as his setting allows in "Badge," and he's solid, if not inspired, for most of the show.
"The material contributes to the pervasive melancholy. The six songs chosen from the evening's longer program are either moody, slow-paced or both. Even "Roll It Over" and "After Midnight" get moderate, deliberate treatments. The album's excitement, such as it is, comes from the layered instrumental textures, the solemn measured movement into climaxes that are majestic if not explosive, and the nuances of Clapton's restrained singing and playing. In these respects, the first and last tracks, "Badge" and Hendrix' "Little Wing," are most impressive.
"Rainbow Concert presents some of the best people in rock at their most egoless and supportive. But the crucial question – is Clapton able to come out of isolation and return to his music and to the people who care about it? – remains unanswered."
On hindsight, and especially after listening to the complete second set, this was a key concert that helped to rechannel Clapton's musical energies.
This is what Clapton fan Nathant said about the late show at the Rainbow: "This comes from a four-disc boot of the famous Rainbow Concert that Pete Townshend put together to try and give Clapton the support he needed to kick his drug addiction. The first two discs were the early show, and the second two were the evening show. The official release is taken only from the early show, The two discs included are the evening show except Key To The Highway that was used for the official release.
"Plus it's a little bit of history knowing this was the event that motivated him to get clean and get his life back together. The only flaw is that the first track, Layla, is cut of for most off the beginning.
"An excellent recording and performance! Superior in quality to the Slowhand Masterfile release, and of course blows away the official release hands down!"
In the year after the Rainbow Concert, Clapton recovered from his heroin addiction and recorded 461 Ocean Boulevard.
Disc 1
Track 101 Layla (6.3MB)
Track 102 Badge (5.3MB)
Track 103 Blues Power (9.0MB)
Track 104 Nobody Knows You (6.7MB)
Track 105 Take It Easy (9.2MB)
Track 106 Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad (10.8MB)
Track 107 Little Wing (8.7MB)
Disc 2
Track 201 Bottle of Red Wine (7.9MB)
Track 202 Presence Of The Lord (7.6MB)
Track 203 Tell The Truth (10.7MB)
Track 204 Pearly Queen (11.1MB)
Key To The Highway (officially released)
Track 206 Let it Rain (17.7MB)
Track 207 Crossroads (7.1MB)
Track 208 Layla (10.2MB)
Lineup:
Pete Townshend - guitar
Ron Wood - guitar
Steve Winwood - keyboards
Rick Grech - bass/percussion
Jim Capaldi - drums
Jimmy Karstein - drums
Rebop - percussion
