After two years on the road in support of From The Cradle, Eric scaled back in 1996. After a 12 night stand at the Royal Albert Hall, he would take much of the year off. There were a handful of one-off appearances. The run at the Albert would end his annual residencies at the venue.
A core collection for 1996 consists of:
10 Long Years (Keep On Keeping On / 5)
San Francisco Bay Blues (EC Is Here – DJ Copy / 5)
This is a complete audience recording from the Royal Albert Hall on 20 February 1996. Nothing from 1996 comes close to the sound quality of 1995’s Blues In The Hall. In terms of sound quality, all of the boots from RAH 1996 are pretty much the same. The set list did not vary much from night to night. Clapton reverted to a combination of blues and hits and played equally well throughout the run. Songs reintroduced to the set list were “Badge”, “Bell Bottom Blues”, and “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” among others. Also featured is an acoustic “San Francisco Bay Blues” — plus “Circus” and “My Father’s Eyes” continue their evolution.
Alternate titles of comparable sound quality and competence:
Third Degree (EC Is Here – DJ Copy / 5) from 18 February 1996
Nobody’s Business (EC Is Here - DJ Copy / 5) from 22 February 1996
It Hurts Me Too (EC Is Here – DJ Copy / 5) from 23 February 1996
Everyday I Have The Blues (Amsterdam / 5) from 23 February 1996
Bell Bottom Blues (EC Is Here – DJ Copy / 5) from 26 February 1996
Presence Of The Lord (Kiss / 4) from a fantastic performance on 1 March 1996
Presence of the Live (Star/ SB6)
This single disc collects the radio broadcast of Eric’s Hyde Park performance on 29 June and the soundtrack of his “Duets” show for VH1 with Dr. John. You want this disc for the “Duets” performance. Although more than 90 minutes of material were taped, all that has surfaced are the 7 tracks collected here. Eric and Dr. John tear it up on “Right Place, Wrong Time,” “St. James Infirmary,” “Roberta,” and a plugged version of “Layla”.
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.
