Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – Known As Blind Faith (Tarantura TCDECSW-3-1, 2)

Known As Blind Faith (Tarantura TCDECSW-3-1, 2)

Budokan, Tokyo, Japan – December 7th, 2011

Disc 1 (76:31):  Announcement, Start, Had To Cry Today- Blind Faith, Low Down – J.J.Cale, After Midnight – J.J.Cale, Presence Of The Lord – Blind Faith, Glad – Traffic, Well All Right – Buddy Holly, Hoochie Coochie Man – Muddy Waters, While You See A Chance – Steve Winwood, Key To The Highway – Big Bill Broonzy, Pearly Queen – Traffic, Crossroads – Robert Johnson, Georgia On My Mind – Hoagy Carmichael

Disc 2 (77:01): – Acoustic Set – Driftin’ – Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers, That’s No Way To Get Along – Robert Wilkins, Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton, Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith, Gimme Some Lovin’ – The Spencer Davis Group, Voodoo Chile – Jimi Hendrix, – Encore – Dear Mr.Fantasy – Traffic, Cocaine – J.J.Cale, SE / Announcement, The Entrance

Known As Blind Faith documents the penultimate gig on the Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood Japan tour in November and December 2011.  Many different versions of this show are in circulation (and pressed on professional CDR), but Tarantura use the excellent and unique Crypton tape, pressed on silver disc.  Like all of Crypton’s tapes, it is an excellent stereo audience DAT recording with wonderful detail and atmosphere.

Several online reviews of the show state that:  “Only way to describe the show is ‘EXCELLENT!’  So many highlights, really liked Pearly Queen but Voodoo Chile was my favorite. Wonderful Tonight has been rearranged as an acoustic song. Sad there’s only 1 show left!

And, “Another outstanding show. EC, SW and band seem to go from strength to strength. After Midnight launched straight into Presence of the Lord, which had GREAT wah-wah; Glad with an excellent solo by EC; Well Alright with great piano work from SW; Pearly Queen; Crossroads; Driftin’ with really, really fantastic acoustic guitar work by EC; Gimme Some Lovin’ (especially as Steve Gadd and Willie Weeks start before everybody else is ready) and Voodoo Chile.”

There are no variations in the setlist for any of the Clapton & Winwood shows.  They all a good mix of Blind Faith, Traffic, solo, and cover tunes starting with “Had To Cry Today,” one of Blind Faith’s most plaintive numbers.  Winwood’s vocals are very passionate and convincing.

Clapton plays a very strange guitar solo in “After Midnight” before it segues into “Presence Of The Lord.”  And there are times when they veer off into strange territory, such as in the middle of “Glad.”  The acoustic section includes “Driftin’,” “That’s No Way To Get Along” and “Wonderful Tonight.”  The show closes with the ponderous blues-psychedelic arrangement of “Voodoo Chile.”

Known As Blind Faith is packaged in a gatefold cardboard sleeve with photographs from the gig on the artwork.  Tarantura are documenting the entire tour (it seems) from excellent audience tapes and is a great title for the collection.