Eric Clapton Crossroads 2: Live In The Seventies CD

CROSSROADS 2 is a 4-CD box set consisting mostly of Eric Clapton's unreleased live performances from 1974, 1975 and 1978, but is bookended by four previously unreleased studio tracks: "Walking Down The Road" (recorded in 1974), "To Make Somebody Happy," "Cryin'" and "Water On The Ground" (recorded in 1978). The set includes a 44-page color booklet with essays, complete credits and rare photographs.
Personnel includes: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); George Terry, Graham Lyle, Carlos Santana (guitar); Marcy Levy (harmonica, background vocals); Dick Sims (keyboards); Carl Radle, Dave Markee (bass); Jamie Oldaker, Henry Spinetti (drums); Armando Peraza, Sergio Pastora, Leon Chancler (percussion); Yvonne Elliman (background vocals).
Producers: Tom Dowd, Glyn Johns, Jon Astley.
Compilation producer: Bill Levenson.
Engineers include: Karl Richardson, Ed Barton, Bill Brovas.
Recorded in the U.S. and the U.K. between May 1974 and December 28, 1978. Includes liner notes by John McDermott
Crossroads was a box set that appealed to both beginners and fanatics. Crossroads 2: Live in the Seventies only appeals to fanatics. Spanning four discs and consisting almost entirely of live material (there are a handful of studio outtakes), this is music that will only enthrall completists and archivists. For those listeners, there is a wealth of fascinating, compelling performances here, as well as a fair share of mediocre, uninspired tracks. The key word for the entire album is detail -- it is an album for studying the intricacies of Eric Clapton's playing and how it evolved. For example, it's easy to hear the differences and progressions between the four versions of Robert Johnson's "Rambling on My Mind." And it is Clapton that evolves, not his supporting band -- although they are proficient, they are hardly exciting. However, their static, professional support provides a nice bed to chart Slowhand's growth over the course of the decade, simply because he is always the focal point. Crossroads 2 may only be for a collector, but for those collectors, it is a treasure, even if some of the tracks are fool's gold. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Chock-full of blistering live performances drawn exclusively from the Tulsa-based band Clapton used during the "me" decade, CROSSROADS 2 is the antidote to his mostly laid-back, sleepy studio performances of the era.
With nearly 5 hours of music spread over 4 discs, CROSSROADS 2 never becomes redundant or too much of a good thing--a true testament to the power and fury of Clapton's excellent songs and fiery verve. Smoky vocals and truly inspired guitar workouts serve both his well-known hits and the sometimes obscure blues-songs he chooses. A 24-minute medley duet with Carlos Santana from '75 burns with passion and excitement. The album is bookended with 4 studio outtakes, with 1974's "Walkin' Down The Road" and "Cryin"--recorded four years later with the nucleus of Slowhand's next band--reflecting a more contemplative mood. A terrific set that entertains, surprises and delights, and an essential item that any Clapton connoiseur will treasure.Rolling Stone (4/4/96, p.61) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...For someone who has continually protested that he is not really a bluesman, merely an impassioned student, Clapton tears into the big open spaces in these tunes...like he's truly born to the cloth..."
Entertainment Weekly (4/12/96, p.67) - "...Slowhand's solos are laden with sculptured grit and raw finesse, the heart-quickening freneticism of his '60s work now replaced by refined intensity. Where Clapton's vocals are often whiskey-rough, his playing is pure poetry..." - Rating: B+