Eric’s 1990 Journeyman Tour is among his best documented road trips. Fifteen years on, no truly notable US recordings have surfaced. Shows were broadcast on radio stations around the world and the Albert Hall dates that kicked off the year were filmed and recorded.
Eric’s 18 night residency at the Albert Hall fetaured different formats – 4 piece, 9 piece, blues and orchestra nights - for the first time. A series of European dates followed. Eric toured America for most of the spring and summer, before heading to South America, Australia and the Far East in the final months of the year.
The essential Eric Clapton bootleg recordings from 1990 are:
Quartet (EC is Here / SB6)
London At Night Volumes 1 and 2 (Bad Man / SB6)
Love (Snake / SB6)
Class Blues Volumes 1 and 2 (Buccaneer / SB6)
Recorded on 24 January 1990 at the Royal Albert Hall, this four-piece show includes some of the first public performances of the Journeyman material. Quartet was included in a lavish box set on the EC is Here –DJ Copy Label which included two video tapes of the concert. Portions of this film was used in the official 24 Nights project. Unfortunately, all the other titles are incomplete. The songs are not in their correct running order and “Breaking Point”, “Can’t Find My Way Home”, and “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” are missing. However, the playing and sound quality more than make up for these deficiencies. This show, which was broadcast on U.S. radio, has a stunning version of “Old Love” and outstanding solos on “Cocaine” and “Running On Faith.” Three songs — “Running On Faith”, “White Room”, and “Sunshine Of Your Love” — made it onto the official album, 24 Nights. “Breaking Point” was dropped from the setlist as one can easily hear that it doesn’t quite come together for the band.
Blues Night London 5/2/90 (Blue Moon / SB6)
This is another soundboard recording from the Royal Albert Hall run on 5 February 1990. This is a complete blues-only show featuring Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, and Johnny Johnson. This is not the BBC live broadcast from 3 February. This show was recorded for the 24 Nights project, with three tracks being used (“Worried Life Blues”, “Watch Yourself”, and “Have You Ever Loved A Woman”). Some real gems can be found here, especially some great jams between Clapton, Guy, and Cray.
Orchestra Night (Blue Moon / SB6)
Orchestra Night (Blues Power / SB6)
Orchestra Night (Mid Valley / SB6)
This complete concert from 10 February 1990 has Clapton performing his hits backed by a full orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. Of particular interest is a public performance of the soundtrack, “Edge of Darkness” — as well as the specifically composed “Concerto For Guitar & Orchestra” which is unforgettable. The music doesn’t come together on all of the numbers, but when it does, it is sheer magic. “Sunshine Of Your Love” is a stand-out. This is Eric as you never heard him before. Note that only two tracks were used on 24 Nights — “Bell Bottom Blues” and “Hard Times”.
Amigos (Eternal Records / SB6)
In South America, Clapton really hit his stride with the Journeyman material. The band is tight and Eric has plenty of room to solo. This is a stunning soundboard from the 5 October 1990 show in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Highlights include “No Alibis”, “Old Love” and one of the best live versions of “I Shot The Sheriff”.
Honorable Mention:
Montevideo Blues (United / SB6)
Eric continues to deliver the Journeyman material at this 3 October 1990 show. Although a soundboard recording, the audience is incredibly loud. This show has top-notch versions of “Pretending”, “No Alibis”, “Running On Faith”, and “Bad Love” — but “Crossroads” and “Sunshine Of Your Love” are missing. The first disc also has a portion of Mick Taylor’s opening set.
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.
