Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert

Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert
Live album by Eric Clapton
Released	September 10, 1973
Recorded	January 13, 1973 at London's Rainbow Theatre
Genre	Blues-rock
Length	34:48 73:49 (Remastered edition)
Label	RSO
Producer	Bob Pridden
Eric Clapton chronology
Clapton (1973) Rainbow Concert (September 1973) 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974)
Alternative cover
1995 remastered edition

Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert is an album recorded live at London's Rainbow Theatre on January 13, 1973, and released within the year. The concert was organized by Pete Townshend and marked Eric Clapton's comeback after the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh. In the year after the Rainbow Concert, Clapton recovered from his heroin addiction and recorded 461 Ocean Boulevard.

This concert is the first live performance where Clapton used his famous Stratocaster guitar "Blackie".

A remastered expanded edition of the album was released on January 13, 1995, the 22nd anniversary of the original concert.

A bootleg edition, Eric Clapton and the Palpitations — The Rainbow Concert, 25th Anniversary Edition, was released by the underground label Empress Valley, four CDs of both concerts on January 13, 1973 (the official releases are a mix of songs from both concerts).

Background

The concert was held at the Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park, London, January 13, 1973. The venue itself was popular during the 1960s and early 1970s, musicians such as the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Queen, and others performed there. The concert heralded the return of Eric Clapton out of heroin-induced isolation and inactivity with the help of Pete Townshend and others.

The concert was recorded using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

In their retrospective review, Allmusic deemed the album "an adequate live document, though one can find better performances of the songs on other records." They also commented that despite the name, the performance is a group effort and showcases the other performers as much as Clapton.

Track listing

Original 1973 release

Side one

1. "Badge" (Eric Clapton, George Harrison) – 3:32
2. "Roll It Over" (Clapton, Whitlock) – 6:43
3. "Presence of the Lord" (Clapton) – 5:37

Side two

1. "Pearly Queen" (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood) – 7:00
2. "After Midnight" (J. J. Cale) – 5:12
3. "Little Wing" (Jimi Hendrix) – 6:32

1995 remastered edition

1. "Layla" (Clapton, Gordon) – 6:25
2. "Badge" (Clapton, Harrison) – 3:18
3. "Blues Power" (Clapton, Russell)– 6:03
4. "Roll It Over" (Clapton, Whitlock) – 4:38
5. "Little Wing" (Jimi Hendrix) – 4:36
6. "Bottle of Red Wine" (Bramlett, Clapton) – 3:51
7. "After Midnight" (Cale) – 4:25
8. "Bell Bottom Blues" (Clapton) – 6:25
9. "Presence of the Lord" (Clapton) – 5:18
10. "Tell the Truth" (Clapton, Whitlock) – 6:04
11. "Pearly Queen" (Capaldi, Winwood) – 4:55
12. "Key to the Highway" (Broonzy, Segar) – 5:46
13. "Let It Rain" (Bramlett, Clapton) - 7:46
14. "Crossroads" (Johnson)– 4:19

25th Anniversary Edition (Empress Valley bootleg)

Disc One (early show)

1. Introduction
2. "Layla" (Clapton, Gordon)
3. "Badge" (Clapton, Harrison)
4. "Blues Power" (Clapton, Russell)
5. "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" (Myles)
6. "Roll It Over" (Clapton, Whitlock)
7. "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad" (Clapton, Whitlock)
8. "Little Wing" (Hendrix)

Disc Two (early show)

1. "Bottle of Red Wine" (Bramlett, Clapton)
2. "After Midnight" (Cale)
3. "Bell Bottom Blues" (Clapton)
4. "Presence of the Lord" (Clapton)
5. "Tell The Truth" (Clapton, Whitlock)
6. "Pearly Queen" (Capaldi, Winwood)
7. "Let It Rain" (Bramlett, Clapton)
8. "Crossroads" (Johnson)

Disc Three (late show)

1. "Layla" (Clapton, Gordon)
2. "Badge" (Clapton, Harrison)
3. "Blues Power" (Clapton, Russell)
4. "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" (Myles)
5. "Roll It Over" (Clapton, Whitlock)
6. "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad" (Clapton, Whitlock)
7. "Little Wing" (Hendrix)

Disc Four (late show)

1. "Bottle of Red Wine" (Bramlett, Clapton)
2. "Presence of the Lord" (Clapton)
3. "Tell the Truth" (Clapton, Whitlock)
4. "Pearly Queen" (Capaldi, Winwood)
5. "Key to the Highway" (Broonzy, Segar)
6. "Let It Rain" (Bramlett, Clapton)
7. "Crossroads" (Johnson)
8. "Layla" (Clapton, Gordon)

Personnel

• Eric Clapton - lead guitar & vocals
• Pete Townshend - guitar & vocals
• Ronnie Wood - guitar & vocals
• Ric Grech - bass guitar
• Steve Winwood - keyboards & vocals
• Jim Capaldi - drums & vocals
• Jimmy Karstein - drums
• Rebop Kwaku Baah - percussion