A double live album by the guitar god Eric Clapton aka Slowhand? This is a rare treat for fans of Clapton and his music. Recorded at the famous Budokan Theatre in Tokyo, Japan. This venue has been notable for hosting many Rock Music legends over the years. On this occasion, Eric Clapton was touring in support of his recently released (1978) Backless album. It is a double live album as well, with most reviews being positive for this release at the time. Let’s jump in and have a listen to the music and we will judge if it has aged well or not.

Tulsa Time – Live begins with some cheering and clapping from the audience. This goes on for a little bit as Eric Clapton gets on stage. Some electric piano in the right channel occurs, followed by some cool guitar licks. Soon enough, the band launches into action musically and this sounds fresh and amazing to this day. Eric Clapton sings well on this tune, and his guitar playing is both pretty and neat throughout. All in all, a fantastic sounding Pop/Rock staple. There is a sweet slide guitar solo throughout, making this sound quite like Little Feat’s music. Nonetheless, an excellent song to listen to. Eric Clapton proves that he has a magical approach in a musical way. A fine, fantastic and enjoyable song that sounds really good. This is a sweet Southern Rock-based piece that is awesome and fantastic. The slide guitar returns for a solo section to conclude this piece. A great tune from start to finish.

Early In The Morning – Live begins with some very awesome guitar playing with a slide for maximum effect. Eric Clapton proves that he wasn’t simply a one-hit wonder, on the contrary, in fact. There is a definite real 1970s vibe on this tune. Eric Clapton sings well, and this Blues number sounds really cool and great. A top-notch listening experience, this is genuine proof that Slowhand himself could cut great music live as well as in the studio. Although this is a seven-minute-plus long piece, Clapton sounds really fantastic throughout. Nobody but Eric Clapton could evoke the best bridge between Blues and Rock Music in the 20th century. This eventually launches into more slide guitar soloing towards the midsection of this song, which is again, excellent and brilliant. Eric Clapton proves to his listening audience that, indeed, he still had it after Cream disbanded. Which is contrary to public opinion. In the second half, the verses return with Eric Clapton’s main vocals front and centre. This progresses nicely and sounds really awesome throughout. A genuinely great listening experience, this is a really fine listening experience about lusting after a young lady. Incredibly fun to listen to, Clapton does this style of music justice. The organ in the background is a nice touch as well. It sounds like Stevie Ray Vaughan got his ideas from Slowhand himself on this album. Towards the end is a sweet slide guitar solo piece that has its own way and character. This gradually wraps up extremely well with a cool chord progression and finale, followed by loads of crowd cheering. Sweet.

Lay Down Sally – Live begins with a chugging guitar intro and quickly launches into a great rendition of the Eric Clapton song from the Slowhand (1977) album. Nonetheless, this does sound sweet and great throughout. Eric Clapton sings nicely along the way, and the band plays along with him wonderfully. A gentle and enjoyable listening experience throughout, Clapton showcases his unique and extraordinary musical talent. This is quite different to the sort of thing that Eric Clapton did in the Cream years. A sweet Fender Stratocaster guitar solo is present towards the midsection, and this music really comes alive nicely. A fine and fantastic effort by Slowhand. An amazing sounding rendition of the original song that proved, if anything, that Clapton is a much better quality artist than what people typically think of him. Nonetheless, a really awesome and sweet-sounding piece that is truly amazing. The second half of this tune has a joyous and upbeat guitar solo section by Clapton on his Fender Stratocaster which, all in all, sounds sweet. This goes on for some time but is good enough to retain one’s interest throughout. It fades out at the end, with some audience cheering to follow with it. Very awesome.

Wonderful Tonight – Live segues into it from the previous song. This is an unusual-sounding take on the classic Eric Clapton song, with a slower tempo and liquid-sounding guitar. Clapton sings sweetly and softly throughout, and he delivers a great version of this song. This sounds like a sweet and lovely slow burner of a tune, but it still retains its interest throughout. A wonderful listening experience indeed. All in all, a sweet and gorgeous version of the classic song from the Slowhand (1977) album. Very pretty and joyous throughout, this music is a timeless reminder of the ability of Eric Clapton to continually make magical music. There is a sweet guitar solo in the second half, to match the drums and organ. Slowhand himself articulates the real feelings of love throughout. A fantastic song to listen to, and something purely pretty here. It wraps up with some great singing, followed by a sweet Fender Stratocaster solo played here. Very, very nice and a highlight of this live album. Excellent, the crowd approves as well.

If I Don’t Be There By Morning – Live launches straight into a bright and breezy piece of guitar-led music. Eric Clapton sings wonderfully and joyfully on this tune. Deeply rooted in Blues Music, Eric Clapton is a musical legend who showcases how great he really is with these songs. This tune is a real winner, just like all the songs before it. A clean and well-played guitar solo is present in this song, which sounds really awesome. Clapton had unique chops, that is for sure. A really awesome, dynamic and refreshing piece of music and musicianship, Eric Clapton proves to perhaps be the best crossover Blues/Rock artist of the 20th century. An electric piano solo is in the second half as well. Nonetheless, a really fine and fantastic joy to listen to. You will be glad to hear this music from start to finish upon hearing it. A simple and pleasant listening experience from start to finish, with the crowd approving of this music nicely. Excellent. Eric Clapton then introduces the next song at hand.

Worried Life Blues – Live begins with some excellent guitar licks and organs matched by simple drumming. This piece is over eight minutes long in length. Still, it is a really great listening experience from the start. Eric Clapton sings this Blues number well, and the supporting instrumentation matches him perfectly. A very sensual and interesting-sounding listening experience. This is a love-oriented piece of music that showcases how the Blues really should be done. This music may seem overly simple to some, but it still retains its freshness and appeal throughout. A dramatic and interesting listen with some great instrumental fills, Eric Clapton proves that one can use a Fender Stratocaster for Blues Music which is a guitar that is often used elsewhere. In any case, this music is best put on at home with some friends around with cheese and wine. It sounds super cool. Towards the middle, there is an instrumental section with some piano, organ, gentle guitar work and drumming that is sturdy. This interesting but chilled piece of music is genuine proof that Clapton was great live, as well as in the studio. An organ solo gets going in the second half of this track, which is welcome here. The music may seem formulaic to some, but it is an excellent listen throughout. Eric Clapton deserves more praise for his solo work. Sure, he was great in the Rock supergroup Cream as well, but that is missing the point. A searing guitar solo emerges which sounds really fantastically awesome, and is a winner. This goes on for some time but is most definitely worth your ears. Slowhand just does his best here. A fresh and unique take on the Blues. Eventually, Eric Clapton returns to the final verses of this song, and he sounds like he is in great spirits with his singing. In any case, a very good way to spend eight minutes of your life listening to this music. It begins to wrap up with some searing guitar licks, and a good finale. Sweet. The crowd approve in a big way.

All Our Past Times – Live goes straight into a quirky Fender Stratocaster groove that sounds very good. Eric Clapton sings and plays excellently, and he is a wonderfully driven and inspired vocalist and guitarist. Indeed, the music here is a really good listen as before. This tune is wonderfully delivered, and the music is fresh and unique from start to finish. There are lead vocals from Clapton and backing vocals by Albert Lee on this song, adding a more unique flavour to this music. Nonetheless, a very cool and inspiring musical listening experience. In the midsection is a dramatic guitar solo that sounds pretty and amazing. There are dual guitar solos over the rest of the band in this section, followed quickly by Eric Clapton singing. These songs sound ridiculously good live, even though they could have been cut down for length’s sake in their rendition. In any case, this is a plea for forgiveness by Eric Clapton, set to music. The music still sounds very amazing to this day. A worthy listen, especially for Clapton fans out there. A great listen with some piano fills and crowd cheering at the end.

After Midnight – Live launches right into a very uptempo and joyous-sounding piece of music. This is a great tune about the things that young people get up to after 12AM. A very cool and interesting listening experience that sounds very well-played and upbeat. A wah-wah guitar solo by Eric Clapton is on this song, and he sounds very amazing on guitar. Indeed, there is little surprise that Clapton is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He deserves that praise, especially on this live album. Eric Clapton quickly returns to the verses and chorus and he proves to be a good singer, too. A really smooth and interesting Rock Music piece. Indeed, Eric Clapton should be proud of this live album, he delivers beyond expectations. In the second half, Slowhand gets going with some frenetic guitar playing that is a real winner. This goes on for some, and the rhythm section backing him up also does a great job. Nonetheless, Clapton is a great musician and he plays a mean guitar. Really superbly cool, all the way from start to finish. This tune ends with a sweet finale of sounds and drum rolls. The audience approves by clapping and cheering at the end.

Double Trouble – Live begins side two of this double album. It quickly launches into a smooth, sweet and Bluesy sounding tune. Eric Clapton sings nicely about some issues that one can experience in life, and he does it with passion and expertise. The song is about being poor and disadvantaged. The tune quickly launches into guitar solo territory at hand, and he plays in a decent spirit in his own unique musical way. Nonetheless, another solid gold classic from Slowhand. This solo section abruptly stops and the tunes on this double album are legendary. On this track, Clapton puts in a fantastic Blues-inspired vocal wail and some excellent guitar parts throughout. A great, great listening experience throughout. The lead guitar soloing by Eric Clapton is really fantastic musically, and no doubt inimitable for many musicians out there who followed his music. The whole tune is a deep and gloriously Bluesy tune. In the midsection, things get super subtle with some quiet and discreet playing by the band. Clapton eventually launches back into lead guitar soloing on this piece, with a lot of cool emphasis on guitar pinched harmonics. No doubt continuing the spirit of Jimi Hendrix and similar legendary guitarists, Eric Clapton showcases himself as a real winner of a musician. Throughout the second half of this track, he showcases his great musical talent and presence very nicely. The repeated pinch harmonics and soloing sound wonderful. Clapton eventually pauses with an organ flowing throughout. Drum rolls indicate a musical change. This tune is very quiet towards the end, just before Eric Clapton and company finish with searing guitars and drum rolls galore, along with more organ. It concludes with a ton of applause. Awesome.

Setting Me Up – Live begins with some loose guitar parts, before launching into an iconic and Bluesy tune. Albert Lee sings this one, and both he and Clapton are on fire on this tune. Nonetheless, this is a great listening experience, the sort of music that is frequently overlooked these days in our dystopian and AI-run music scene. Eric Clapton plays some incredibly cool and pseudo-shred guitar soloing on this piece. No wonder why Eddie Van Halen loved Eric Clapton as a guitarist, it is easy to hear why. Towards the middle are some more interesting guitar leads and playing throughout, which sounds fantastic. Another real winner of a tune that sounds deep and interesting, this is yet another highlight of this well-done live album. This is a live album that is worth repeat listens and it sounds joyous and energetic throughout, this song included. A fantastic piece of music from start to finish, with another set of awesome guitar work by Slowhand and Albert Lee to conclude with. Excellent, it ends with more crowd cheering. Very, very good.

Blues Power – Live segues in from the previous song and enters into a piece with guitar and piano duking it out for your ears to listen to. Eric Clapton plays wonderfully on this tune, and the musicianship present is extraordinarily great. This is very suspenseful, and without warning, launches into the main section of the song at hand. This is a fantastic listening experience that has rhythm, melody and energy to grab your ears. Indeed, Clapton does the Blues better than most musicians out there. This song progresses nicely and has a great combination of singing and music to get you bopping along. Slowhand, true to his name, delivers a fantastic Blues based Rock Music tune. The music throughout is very, very cool and this is unforgettable listening. Near the midsection, Eric Clapton gets playing well on his Fender Stratocaster, with some wah-wah Jimi Hendrix style playing thrown onto it after a bit. Nonetheless, this music is excellently played and delivered. If you dig Classic Rock, you will be right at home on this album. A thoroughly awesome and interesting piece of music that more should listen to. Words do not say the justice that Eric Clapton and friends do on this album. This Blues-based tune is definitely a winner, no doubt about that. In any case, this extended solo section never outstays its welcome and it sounds great. This continues on throughout the second half for some time and is a great piece of music that sounds wonderful and interesting. Towards the end, the phrasing on the guitar becomes more noticeably interesting, and this finishes up very well just at the end. Brilliant.

Rambling On My Mind – Live launches straight into it with some quirky guitar riffs and a very heavy Blues Music feel to the song. Piano and guitars over drums duke it out for your ear’s attention. This is an extended piece of music nearly nine minutes long based on a traditional Blues song but delivered in a wonderfully quintessential Clapton way. This is a sensational listening experience, especially for historical music fans and Blues/Rock fans out there. Eric Clapton rips into a great guitar solo at the drop of a hat. He plays very much like the Guitar God we all have been promised to hear. On fine form, Eric Clapton plays a superb solo section which is his own way. Indeed, Eric Clapton’s guitar work is fairly inimitable throughout this live album. The musicianship and performances by all are fantastic on this tune. When Clapton returns on vocals, the audience cheers nicely for him. All in all, this is a great listening experience and a good way to spend your spare time enjoying. The call-and-response between Eric Clapton’s vocals and blistering guitar work are fantastic, and add some awesome and pristine energy to the music. There is a key change in the second half as well. A fascinating and driven listening experience for many people who are not aware of the power of Rock/Blues Music. In the second half, Clapton returns to vocals and sounds energetic and driven throughout. This tune proves that the Blues was (and is) still kicking alive and well. Often overlooked, Eric Clapton’s solo work is fantastic. This tune proves that as well. The piano in the background is also a nice touch. A wonderfully fantastic listening experience, this certainly sounds amazing. The outro has more fantastic and red hot Blues guitar lead soloing that leaves you hanging on every single note. This tune concludes very nicely after eight minutes and sounds top. Great effort.

Cocaine – Live is a popular Eric Clapton song done live. The audience goes nuts and claps along at the start with the tune. A really good listening experience that sounds wonderfully musically. Sure, the talk of drug use on this tune isn’t for everyone. Having said that, for anyone who has done illicit drugs (such as cocaine), this is a real joy to listen to in reflection of those crazy moments. There is a fantastic wah-wah guitar solo throughout and this piece of music sounds excellent as a result. Fans of the story of Pablo Escobar and cocaine use, in general, will get this song, even if straight-edge people never would. The guitar solo section is an extended listening experience, but Eric Clapton pulls off all the best playing and techniques that are needed for this song. The bass guitar is noticeably louder on this tune compared to other pieces of music on this live album. Groovy, catchy and memorable, Clapton soon returns on vocals to complete the song at hand. All in all, this is a truly definitive and memorable song from the likes of Slowhand. In the second half are more interesting guitar solos that sound super cool. Eric Clapton oozes professional musicianship and confidence in his guitar playing. A great live rendition of the classic song, this seven-minute-plus long song is definitely a good highlight of this impressive live album. May Clapton live on forever in the music world as a great guitarist, singer and musician. This extended listening experience is very, very good. It gradually begins to wrap up with awesome guitar riffing and a more subtle musical approach with Eric Clapton singing the chorus one last time before this finishes. Excellent.

Further On Up The Road – Live is the final song on this double live album. It launches straight into the action at hand with pounding drums and is quickly followed by bass guitar, whilst the crowd claps along nicely. The piano enters and this tune begins to come alive very nicely. Indeed, Eric Clapton and his bandmates certainly knew how to put on a great performance. Some sweet Fender Stratocaster playing is present, and Clapton gets singing away very nicely on this song. A great and fine piece of Classic Rock that sounds extremely fun and cool to listen to. Eric Clapton reveals himself to be a wonderful crafter of some of the most underrated music out there. Eventually, Slowhand launches into a gloriously wonderful guitar solo that grabs one’s attention throughout. The music present is a really cool and enjoyable way to lend your ears throughout. These songs prove that, indeed, a great live album was cut. Eric Clapton’s choice of songs and his band’s musicianship are really a fantastic thing to listen to on this album. Utilising different pickup positions on the guitar and playing very nicely throughout, Clapton certainly delivers. The second half of this piece continues to showcase the awesome and sensational listening experience of Blues-based Rock Music that Eric Clapton was doing at the time. Clapton quickly returns on vocals after some time, and he sounds pleasantly joyous here. One can still hear the audience clap along as the band plays on. Things get quiet just before the final guitar solo by Eric Clapton. This ends the album very nicely. The crowd responds with cheers and clapping. A fantastic finish to this live album.

This album is a solid gold winner. Despite being a double live album by Eric Clapton, this is a great musical blueprint to show the world of Music how a great live performance can be for the world of Rock Music. Not a single dull nor regrettable musical moment is here, and in fact, Clapton exceeds all expectations for his Blues-based Rock Music. Should you listen to this release? Definitely, although one may need to go back to previous album releases by Eric Clapton (such as the 1974 release 461 Ocean Boulevard) to get a sense of Clapton’s original tunes prior to hearing this album.

A fantastic and enjoyable live double album.

9/10