DVD Review – Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70 – Live From The Royal Albert Hall – Eagle Rock Entertainment

November 20, 2015 | By Crash Crafton More

Eric Clapton is performing with a renewed vigor as evident in his newest release, “Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70:Live From The Royal Albert Hall”. It was released on November 12th through Eagle Rock Entertainment. Slowhand at 70: Live at the Royal Albert Hall is available on DVD, 2CD+DVD, 3LP+DVD, Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray+2CD, and a four disc deluxe edition that comes in a 12″ x 12″ 60-page book.

A little background, my Mom would put headphones on her stomach and play Derek & The Dominos “Layla” while she was pregnant with me as she swore she was having a girl & was insistent I was to be named after the song. Surprise, I popped out a boy so she decided to name me Eric. However, due to some asshole who shall remain nameless, Eric ended up as my middle name.

Having been a fan of Clapton since my days in the womb, literally, I own everything he has ever released. Over the past ten years or so, his recorded output has come across to me as relying to heavily on collaborations or downright uninspired! While I’m a HUGE fan of Doyle Bramhall II, it seemed Clapton allowed him to carry the load as far as playing and creatively. 2004’s “Me & Mr. Johnson” and “Sessions For Robert J” are the last EC releases that I thoroughly enjoyed so I hesitantly put this one in the DVD player.

For this release, Clapton handles all the six string responsibilities. His longtime rock-solid rhythm section of Nathan East and Steve Gadd are wonderfully accented by the double keyboard arsenal of Paul Carrack & Chris Stainton & the soulful tandem of Michelle John & Sharon White providing some gospel-infused background vocals.

There is a good cross-section of material from Clapton’s 52 year recording career. The inclusion of “Pretending” is especially appreciated as having grown up in the 80’s, I’ve always enjoyed his output from that time whereas most don’t. His time with Derek & The Dominos is well represented yet Cream is shut out, a head scratcher, in my opinion. I only wish he would have played an electrified version of “Layla” with the piano coda instead of the overplayed unplugged version. His impassioned performances of “Hoochie Coochie Man”, “I Shot The Sheriff”, “Let It Rain”, “Wonderful Tonight” and “Cocaine” are my personal highlights of this concert film. However, his 17 minute long EPIC rendition of Robert Johnson‘s “Little Queen Of Spades” steals the show!

Overall, this is a wonderful documentation of a historic moment in his career. The majesty of the venue, the virtuosity of the performers are preserved thanks to the film and audio experts assigned to the task. It is an amazing statistic that he has played this iconic venue 205 times during his career.

Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70:Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70:Live At The Royal Albert Hall
November 12, 2015 via Eagle Rock Entertainment

DVD/Blu-ray Track Listing:
1) Somebody’s Knockin ‘On My Door
2) Key To The Highway
3) Tell The Truth
4) Pretending
5) Hoochie Coochie Man
6) You Are So Beautiful
7) Can’ t Find My Way Home
8) I Shot The Sheriff
9) Driftin ‘Blues
10) Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
11) Tears In Heaven
12) Layla
13) Let It Rain
14) Wonderful Tonight
15) Crossroads
16) Cocaine
17) High Time We Went
Bonus track: Little Queen Of Spades

Band:
Eric Clapton – Guitar & Vocals
Paul Carrack – Keyboards & Vocals
Steve Gadd – Drums
Chris Stainton – Keyboards
Mathan East – Bass Guitar & Vocals
Michelle John – Backing Vocals
Sharon White – Backing Vocals
Andy Fairweather Low – Guitar & Vocals on “High Time We Went”

Purchase Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70:Live At The Royal Albert Hall:

Click here for Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70:Live From The Royal Albert Hall DVD/2CD from Amazon

Click here for Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70:Live From The Royal Albert Hall Blu-Ray/2CD from Amazon

Click here for Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70:Live From The Royal Albert Hall DVD/3LP from Amazon

Click here for Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70:Live From The Royal Albert Hall Deluxe Edition from Amazon

Click here for Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70:Live From The Royal Albert Hall Digital Edition from Amazon

Eric Clapton “Slowhand At 70:Live From The Royal Albert Hall” Official Trailer: