After completing 461 Ocean Boulevard, Eric went on a massive world tour to support it. Over the decades since then, many great live recordings have surfaced. This has been helped along by the fact that many shows were officially recorded for a live album project.
The essential bootlegs from 1974 are:
Electric Smile – U.S. Tour 1974 (Outrider / SB5)
One of the shows from early in the U.S. tour recorded in Philadelphia on 29 June. A single disc, it is unique in that it features and electric version of “Smile”, which Clapton habitually played on acoustic to open shows on this tour. Here, it is placed midway through the concert. The disc also features mid-70s takes on “Presence Of The Lord” and “Layla” and a spirited “Little Queenie”.
Clapton Is Mad Dog (Akashic / SB4+)
Boston Gardens (ARMS / SB4)
This is a complete show recorded on 12 July 1974 during the U.S. tour with great versions of “Mainline Florida” and “Steady Rolling Man” — plus an early 1970s solo version of “Badge”. The Akashic release features slightly better sound quality along with two bonus tracks from Hamburg, Germany in 1974.
Welcome To New York (Silver Horse / SB4+ and Aud 4)
This is a complete show recorded on 13 July 1974. Tracks differ slightly from the above show, as Clapton would vary his set list nightly. The first two discs are a complete audience recording of the concert in nice quality. The third disc is an upgraded soundboard of the long circulating single disc of this show. The last disc features crystal clear sound. The concert featured great versions of “Let It Rain”, “Key To The Highway” and “Crossroads.”
Note: If you have Boston Gardens and Welcome To New York, you would have at least one representative recording of each song performed on the U.S. leg of the tour.
7/19 (Akashic / SB6)
Long Beach Arena (Standing Pig / SB6 – 20 July)
A pair of shows that ended the American tour. Both were recorded and several tracks appeared on the official release Crossroads 2. Great playing both nights. Songs included “Let It Grow”, “Driftin’”, “Ramblin’ On My Mind”, “Get Ready”, “Willie And The Hand Jive” and many more signature songs.
LZ Was There (Tarantura / SB5+) 4 December 1974
LZ Was Here (Tarantura / SB6) 5 December 1974
EC Was Everywhere (Smile / SB6)
The last two shows of the “Comeback Tour”. The “LZ” in the title of the two Tarantura releases indicate that members of Led Zeppelin attended. EC is Everywhere was released in 2003 and benefits from some digital remastering. The set lists vary and they are both incredible shows. On 5 December, Ron Wood guested on the encores (Eric jokingly introduces him as Pete Townshend). These shows were recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon, London for possible official release. Four songs eventually made their way onto the official releases EC Was Here and Crossroads 2 — but lots of great unreleased tracks remain.
Note: Zig Zag released a 10 disc set entitled EC is Here with the following shows: 19 and 20 July Long Beach CA (1974), 4 and 5 December Hamersmith Odeon (1974), and 25 June Providence RI (1975). This set features slightly upgraded quality to the single show releases mentioned above and in the following section for 1975.
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.
