Eric Clapton – Plays Montreux 1992 (Beano-051)

 Plays Montreux 1992 (Beano-051)

Le Casino, Montreux, Switzerland – July 12th, 1992

Disc 1 (72:31):  Opening, White Room, Pretending, Anything For Your Love, I Shot The Sheriff, Running On Faith, She’s Waiting, Tears In Heaven, Before You Accuse Me, Old Love

Disc 2 (58:30):  Badge, Wonderful Tonight, Layla, Band Introduction, Crossroads, Sunshine Of Your Love

This 1992 show from Beano,who seem intent on releasing the most Clapton shows begins with a powerful version of White Room with sterling vocals from Eric and backup from Nathan East Gina Foster & Katie Kissoon; powerful bass with a smooth  lead from Eric as his wah-wah echos through the hall; a great opener. Pretending,which opened the 1990 tour under a dry ice machine follows; a slow buildup with some of my favorite Clapton lyrics; from his storied career. Powerful riffs come from the stage as East’s always perfect bass lines  fit in so smoothly. 

The rarely played and vastly underrated Anything For Your Love is the next song with its hauntingly beautiful lyrics and power chord surges with Andy Fairweather Low adding some pleasant rhythm guitar that blends in sweetly. I shot the sheriff is a standard tune from Eric’s 1974 return to the stage and is ok; yet nothing over the top. Running On Faith is its usual melodic self with some excellent riffs by Eric.

She’s Waiting immediately follows with a terrific lead by Eric and wonderful backup vocals by the girls Tears In Heaven allows the band to chill for a brief interlude with a return to Eric turning tragedy into a very soft harmonious tune. One of my favorites is next Before You Accuse Me,an old Bo Diddley tune; with its slow boogie beat,always a crowd favorite.

Old Love ends disc one with some very,very hot Eric licks stinging to the core.

Disc Two opens with Badge with some nice keyboards from Chuck Leavell and the bridge from Eric that is always pleasant; although the versions of this song that always caught my ears and pinned them are the 1978 Santa Monica and Detroit shows with both guitars challenging one another.

Wonderful Tonight  follows which is always a crowd pleaser for the ladies, with a very hot uptempo version of Layla in succession; as usual the crowd is highly appreciative as Eric shows off his uncanny sustainability; the show ends with the band introductions and launching into Crossroads; quite a spirited number as Steve Ferrone’s drums and Nathan East’s bass fit in nicely as the backbone to Eric’s riffs with Chuck Leavell’s piano keyboard playing complimenting a powerful yet funky version here. The encore ends the show with a very powerful bass line by Nathan East opening the way for some very hard edged notes from Eric to end this outstanding performance.

This show is one of Beano’s best as it’s a very strong, clear, audience recording. All EC collectors will want this show &  even the casual collectors will thoroughly enjoy the performance and top flight audience recording. Keep them coming Beano (a few high grade soundboards would be relished from you all as well!)