Eric worked with two bands in 1969: Blind Faith and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends. Blind Faith lasted for one tour and one studio album. Due to the short time the band was together, there are not many noteworthy recordings for collectors. Although a good number of Blind Faith concert recordings have surfaced, most are of poor quality.
Eric’s association with Delaney & Bonnie & Friends was also short-lived. There was some studio work and a short tour of England and Europe.
The essential Eric Clapton bootleg recordings from 1969 are:
Stepping Stones Vol. 1 & 2 (Silver Rarities / SB4)
This recording is from Gothenburg, Sweden on 13 June 1969. Blind Faith played only modest clubs during this short Scandinavian Tour — which was much more suitable for a new band than the mammoth U.S. tour that followed. “Do What You Like” offered an extended solo spot for each artist — plus Clapton plays an exceptional solo on “Sleeping In The Ground”. Note that Volume One starts with six tracks by Cream at the L.A. Forum on 18 October 1968.
Noblesse Oblige (Mid Valley Records/ 5)
Recorded on 16 August 1969 at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara California. This is a quite good audience recording for the era but it is not the complete performance. Released in late 2004, the recording seems to have benefitted in upgrades in remastering technology. It is undoubtedly the best document of the ill-fated tour. The set list featured, in part, “Had To Cry Today”, “Presence Of The Lord”, and “Means To An End”.
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends On Tour Again With Eric Clapton (Mid Valley Records / Tracks 1-9: SB4 / Tracks 10-12: SB3 / Track 13: SB4 / Tracks 14-15: SB6)
Issued in late 1999, there is finally a Delaney & Bonnie disc worth owning! This single disc collects a series of performances in November 1969 as well two studio outtakes. George Harrison joins the band for the concert at Jahrhundert in Frankfurt (most likely the source is a video). There are also live bits from Beat Club (Germany) and the Sports Palais in Cologne.
Where’s ERIC! does not encourage or condone the manufacture of bootleg recordings. They are illegal and artists do not receive royalties from their sale. However, Where’s ERIC! realizes that there are fans who collect these recordings. In that spirit, information about them is provided for fans’ research and guidance purposes. Where’s ERIC! does not sell, trade or provide free copies of bootleg recordings nor can we tell you how to obtain them.
