Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – Layla Night (Tarantura TCDECSW-7-1, 2)

Layla Night (Tarantura TCDECSW-7-1, 2)

Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center named “Hokkai Kita-Ale”, Sapporo, Japan – November 17th, 2011

Disc 1 (69:15):  SF, 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 (69:52)  – Acoustic Set – Driftin’ – Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers, That’s No Way To Get Along – Robert Wilkins, Layla – Eric Clapton, Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith, Gimme Some Lovin’ – The Spencer Davis Group, Voodoo Chile – Jimi Hendrix, Cocaine – J. J. Cale – Encore – Dear Mr.Fantasy – Traffic, SE, announcement

Mabo Records Presents Layla Night, the opening night of the Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood 2011 Japan Tour.  When the two artists began to revisit the Blind Faith era, they toured the UK and the United States, but held off on Japan until now. 

On June 4th they announced the tour:  

“Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood will kick-off a 12 date tour of Japan in Sapporo in November. The multi-city tour will also visit Yokohama, Osaka, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Nagoya and Tokyo.

“Meeting in the Sixties, the musician’s musical paths first connected with the formation of Blind Faith along with Ginger Baker and Rick Grech in 1969. Although the band was short-lived and released only one album, Clapton and Winwood remained friends.

“After reuniting on stage in 2007, they performed three now-historic concerts at New York’s Madison Square Garden in February 2008, which were released on both CD and DVD. Those performances were followed up by two critically acclaimed tours: the US in 2009 and the UK / Europe in 2010. They recently completed a 5-night stand at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The upcoming Japan Tour promises more of the same: Blind Faith classics, solo hits from each, and songs they just love to play live.”

The setlist for the Japan tour is identical to the final Clapton & Winwood shows performed in London in May and June including the expanded four song acoustic interlude in the middle.  In fact, the setlist for Sapparo is identical to the June 1st Royal Albert Hall concert.   

Layla Night captures the night with an excellent stereo DAT audience tape.  The tapers hold a conversation at the beginning of the tape, during the announcements, and make some comments throughout the show.  But otherwise it’s a nice recording of an important show.

After the announcements the band hit the stage with “Had To Cry Today” and sound truly inspired.  It’s a fun performance for the audience.  During the acoustic interlude they play “Layla” for the only time in Japan.  The following night they would introduce the new arrangement of “Wonderful Tonight.”

Layla Night is packaged in a glossy paper cardboard gatefold sleeve with photos from the tour on the artwork.  Like all Tarantura titles, it’s a first class production and is worth having.