Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall

Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a November 2015 album by Eric Clapton recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall on 21 May 2015 during his "70th Birthday Celebration" tour.[1] A film of the concert was released on 14 September 2015 via cinema broadcasting in various territories. The cinema release included a report on Clapton's history at the Royal Albert Hall. A DVD, Blu-ray, compact disc and gramophone record release of the performance was released on 13 November 2015.[2]

Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Live album by
Released13 November 2015 (2015-11-13)
Recorded21 May 2015 (2015-05-21)
VenueRoyal Albert Hall
GenreBlues rock · blues
Length52:06 (Cinema release)
118:59 (Double CD)
119:19 (DVD/Blu-Ray re-release)
LabelEagle · Universal · Warner
ProducerAudrey Davenport
Eric Clapton chronology
Forever Man
(2015)
Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall
(2015)
I Still Do
(2016)
Singles from Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall
  1. "Cocaine"
    Released: 1 September 2015

Recording edit

Keyboardist Paul Carrack recalled in an interview with the Canadian National Post: "I thought the playing was amazing. Eric doesn't make much fuss about the fact that it's the 70th so in that respect it was just like any other gig but there was a special atmosphere in the hall. When we came off stage the first night Eric said he wasn't gonna let it go on. I think the second night must have been a lot better. [...] With Eric, playing at the Albert Hall … it's really just about the music. It feels like you're playing in a small club, almost. Especially when you’ve been out playing those big auditoriums, which aren't built for music. But the Albert Hall has this wonderful, intimate atmosphere".[3]

Content edit

According to the official release announcement, the movie features "classic songs and fan favourites from throughout Eric Clapton's career", including tracks the British rock musician recorded with bands like Cream, Derek & the Dominos and titles Clapton made famous throughout his extensive career as a solo artist. The track listing features hit single releases including "Layla", "I Shot the Sheriff", "Tears in Heaven" and "Wonderful Tonight". A special featurette filmed for cinema audiences only consists of interviews by Paul Gambaccini with both fellow band members Paul Carrack, Andy Fairweather Low and Chris Stainton, as well as music journalists Paul Sexton and Hugh Fielder. Besides showing Clapton, who plays guitar and sings at the performance, the six-piece band of Stainton and Carrack on keyboards and Hammond organ, Nathan East on bass guitar, Steve Gadd on drums, and Michelle John and Sharon White singing background vocals is shown equally alongside scenes of the English venue.

Release edit

Both a trailer and an official announcement were released by Clapton's official management and concert promoters on 19 August 2015 over the internet and social media.[4] The movie, featuring a selected number of songs performed by Clapton at London's Royal Albert Hall on 21 May 2015 during his "70th Birthday Celebration" tour, was released from 14 September 2015 onwards via cinema broadcasting worldwide under license of Arts Alliance, Warner Bros. Records and Eagle Rock Entertainment.[5] On 1 September 2015 a sneak preview featuring Clapton's live performance of "Cocaine" was released.[6] The release features a high-definition picture and 5.1 surround sound.[7] On 31 August 2015 it was announced that a DVD, Blu-ray, compact disc and gramophone record version of the recordings would be released on 13 November 2015 through Eagle Rock Entertainment.[8] A DVD and three vinyl record package was made available through pre-order via Amazon.com on 16 September 2015.[9] Just before the release was made visible on Amazon.com, an executive of Germany's Warner Music Group told the German radio station Radio NRW that there would be limited gramophone record pressings of the recordings made for the market.[10] On 13 November 2015, the following packages were released: Double DVD with double CD,[11] gramophone record,[12] double CD,[13] DVD,[14] Blu-ray disc[15] and a triple vinyl release with included DVD.[16]

Track listings edit

Cinema release track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Somebody's Knockin' on My Door"J. J. Cale7:08
2."Key to the Highway"Big Bill Broonzy · Charlie Segar5:06
3."Tell the Truth"Eric Clapton · Bobby Whitlock6:37
4."Pretending"Jerry Lynn Williams5:35
5."Hoochie Coochie Man"Willie Dixon5:25
6."You Are So Beautiful" (Featuring Paul Carrack)Billy Preston · Bruce Fisher4:45
7."Can't Find My Way Home" (Featuring Nathan East)Steve Winwood6:16
8."I Shot the Sheriff"Bob Marley9:30
9."Driftin' Blues"Charles Brown · Johnny Moore · Eddie Williams6:30
10."Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"Jimmy Cox3:32
11."Tears in Heaven"Eric Clapton · Will Jennings5:02
12."Layla"Eric Clapton · Jim Gordon6:57
13."Let It Rain"Eric Clapton · Bonnie Bramlett5:35
14."Wonderful Tonight"Eric Clapton3:55
15."Crossroads"Robert Johnson6:07
16."Cocaine"J. J. Cale8:51
17."High Time We Went" (Featuring Andy Fairweather Low)Joe Cocker · Chris Stainton5:37
Total length:52:06
Double CD track listing – Disc 1[17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Somebody's Knockin' on My Door"JJ Cale7:08
2."Key to the Highway"Big Bill Broonzy · Charlie Segar5:06
3."Tell the Truth"Eric Clapton · Bobby Whitlock6:37
4."Pretending"Jerry Lynn Williams5:35
5."Hoochie Coochie Man"Willie Dixon5:25
6."You Are So Beautiful" (Featuring Paul Carrack)Billy Preston · Bruce Fisher4:45
7."Can't Find My Way Home" (Featuring Nathan East)Steve Winwood6:16
8."I Shot the Sheriff"Bob Marley9:30
Total length:50:22
Double CD track listing – Disc 2[18]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Driftin' Blues"Charles Brown · Johnny Moore · Eddie Williams6:30
2."Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"Jimmy Cox3:32
3."Tears in Heaven"Eric Clapton · Will Jennings5:02
4."Layla"Eric Clapton · Jim Gordon6:57
5."Let It Rain"Eric Clapton · Bonnie Bramlett5:35
6."Wonderful Tonight"Eric Clapton3:55
7."Crossroads"Robert Johnson6:07
8."Little Queen of Spades"Robert Johnson16:51
9."Cocaine"JJ Cale8:51
10."High Time We Went" (Featuring Paul Carrack · Andy Fairweather Low)Joe Cocker · Chris Stainton5:37
Total length:68:57
DVD/Blu-ray release track listing[19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Somebody's Knockin' on My Door"JJ Cale7:08
2."Key to the Highway"Big Bill Broonzy · Charlie Segar5:06
3."Tell the Truth"Eric Clapton · Bobby Whitlock6:37
4."Pretending"Jerry Lynn Williams5:35
5."Hoochie Coochie Man"Willie Dixon5:25
6."You Are So Beautiful" (Featuring Paul Carrack)Billy Preston · Bruce Fisher4:45
7."Can't Find My Way Home" (Featuring Nathan East)Steve Winwood6:16
8."I Shot the Sheriff"Bob Marley9:30
9."Driftin' Blues"Charles Brown · Johnny Moore · Eddie Williams6:30
10."Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"Jimmy Cox3:32
11."Tears in Heaven"Eric Clapton · Will Jennings5:02
12."Layla"Eric Clapton · Jim Gordon6:57
13."Let It Rain"Eric Clapton · Bonnie Bramlett5:35
14."Wonderful Tonight"Eric Clapton3:55
15."Crossroads"Robert Johnson6:07
16."Cocaine"JJ Cale8:51
17."High Time We Went" (Featuring Paul Carrack · Andy Fairweather Low)Joe Cocker · Chris Stainton5:37
18."Little Queen of Spades" (Bonus Track)Robert Johnson16:51
Total length:119:19

Personnel edit

Taken from the album's liner notes.[20]

  • Eric Clapton – electric and acoustic guitar · lead vocals
  • Chris Stainton – keyboards
  • Paul Carrack – keyboards · Hammond organ · background vocals
  • Andy Fairweather Low - guitar · vocals - High Time We Went
  • Nathan East – bass guitar · background vocals
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Michelle John – background vocals
  • Sharon White – background vocals
  • Paul Gambaccini – interviews
  • Blue Leach – director
  • Simon Climie – audio mixing · audio production
  • Alan Douglas – engineer · additional engineering
  • Audrey Davenport – producer
  • Luca Ciuti – director of photography
  • Bob Ludwig – audio mastering
  • George Chin – photographs
  • Stuart Green – package design
  • Martin Dacre – legal issues
  • Michael Eaton – executive producer
  • Martin Dacre – executive producer
  • Peter Worsley – supervising producer
  • Simon Hosken – executive production
  • Melissa Morton-Hicks – production manager
  • Rebecca Bradshaw – legal issues
  • Charlotte Godfrey – legal issues
  • Paul Bullock – production assistant
  • Mark Fossitt – production co-ordinator
  • Claire Higgins – production co-ordinator
  • Rosie Holley – production manager
  • Terry Shand – executive producers
  • Geoff Kempin – executive producer

Critical reception edit

Music journalist Or Barnea of Utab Music calls the concert documentary "fantastic" and notes, Clapton and his band perform on stage "like never seen before".[21]

Charts edit

Chart (2015–16) Peak
position
Australian Music DVD (ARIA)[22] 5
Austrian Music DVD (Ö3 Austria)[23] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[24] 170
Belgian Music DVD (Ultratop Flanders)[25] 3
Belgian Music DVD (Ultratop Wallonia)[26] 1
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[27] 75
Dutch Music DVD (MegaCharts)[28] 2
Finnish Music DVD (Suomen virallinen lista)[29] 1
French Music DVD (SNEP)[30] 1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[31] 6
German Music DVD (Offizielle Top 10)[32] 1
Hong Kong Music DVD (IFPI)[33] 1
Italian Music DVD (FIMI)[34] 1
Japanese Music Blu-ray (Oricon)[35] 7
Japanese Music DVD (Oricon)[36] 17
Spanish Music DVD (PROMUSICAE)[37] 5
Swedish Music DVD (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 19
Swiss Music DVD (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 1
UK Music Video (OCC)[41] 2
US Music Video (Billboard)[42] 1

Video certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[43] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Gold 25,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "Eric Clapton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall UCI KINOWELT". UCI Cinemas (in German). uci-kinowelt.de. 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 3 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "Eric Clapton Live at the Royal Albert Hall Coming To Theaters on JamBase". JamBase. jambase.com. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  3. ^ Dekel, John (17 September 2015). "'The playing was amazing': Eric Clapton band member Paul Carrack recalls playing with Slowhand at 70". National Post. Canada: Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Eric Clapton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall". ericclaptonfilm.com. 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  5. ^ "'Eric Clapton: Live at the Albert Hall': Exclusive Trailer (VIDEO) – Huffington Post". Huffington Post. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Eric Clapton 'Cocaine' – from Eric Clapton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall Concert Film". Eric Clapton's Official YouTube Channel. youtube.com. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Legends of Rock: Eric Clapton – Live at the Royal Albert Hall – Cineplex Singen". Cineplex Cinemas (in German). cineplex.de. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  8. ^ Kunkels, Ruud (31 August 2015). "Live at the Royal Albert Hall (Releases)". Facebook Inc. Facebook.com. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Slowhand At 70 Live At The Royal Albert Hall Music DVD+3LP Set: Amazon.co.uk: Eric Clapton: DVD & Blu-ray". Amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  10. ^ "radio NRW" (Podcast). Radio NRW. 16 September 2015. Event occurs at 14:48. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Eric Clapton: Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall [2DVD, 2CD]" (in German). JPC.de. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  12. ^ "Eric Clapton: Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall [Vinyl]" (in German). JPC.de. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Eric Clapton: Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall [2CD]" (in German). JPC.de. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  14. ^ "Eric Clapton: Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall [DVD]" (in German). JPC.de. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Eric Clapton: Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall [Blu-ray disc]" (in German). JPC.de. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Eric Clapton: Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall [Triple LP with DVD]" (in German). JPC.de. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  17. ^ Paul Sexton (2015). Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall (CD / DVD Media liner notes). Eric Clapton. United Kingdom: Eagle Rock Entertainment. p. 6. EAGDV052.
  18. ^ Paul Sexton (2015). Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall (CD / DVD Media liner notes). Eric Clapton. United Kingdom: Eagle Rock Entertainment. p. 7. EAGDV052.
  19. ^ Paul Sexton (2015). Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall (CD / DVD Media liner notes). Eric Clapton. United Kingdom: Eagle Rock Entertainment. p. 8. EAGDV052.
  20. ^ Paul Sexton (2015). Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall (CD / DVD Media liner notes). Eric Clapton. United Kingdom: Eagle Rock Entertainment. p. 9. EAGDV052.
  21. ^ Barnea, Or (10 September 2015). "Behold: At 70, Eric Clapton Is Simply Incredible – utab". Utab Music. Acum / CISAC Limited. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  22. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 40 Music DVDs | Australia's Official Top 40 Music DVDs – ARIA Charts". ARIA Charts. Australia: Australian Recording Industry Association, Ltd. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. ^ "Austria Top 40 – Musik-DVD Top 10 27.11.2015 – austriancharts.at". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Austria: Steffen Hung – Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  30. ^ "Classement officiel des ventes de DVD Musicaux du 20 novembre 2015 au 26 novembre 2015". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (in French). France: Pure Charts by Charts in France. Archived from the original on 1 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  32. ^ "BVV Medien. Marktdaten. Video Charts. TOP 10 DVD Musik" [BVV Media. Media Results. Video Charts. Top 10 Music DVDs]. GfK Entertainment (in German). Hamburg, Germany: Bundesverband Audiovisuelle Medien e.V. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  33. ^ "Hong Kong Top 25 Music DVD". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Hong Kong. Hong Kong: hmv Hong Kong Ltd. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  34. ^ "DVD Musicali – Classifica settimanale WK 46 (dal 2015-11-13 al 2015-11-19)" (in Italian). Italy: Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  35. ^ "スローハンド・アット・70 – エリック・クラプトン・ライヴ・アット・ザ・ロイヤル・アルバート・ホール(2000セット完全限定生産) | エリック・クラプトン | ORICON STYLE" [Product Information and Charts · Slowhand at 70: Eric Clapton Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2015) [Blu-ray]]. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Japan: oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  36. ^ "スローハンド・アット・70 - エリック・クラプトン・ライヴ・アット・ザ・ロイヤル・アルバート・ホール | エリック・クラプトン | ORICON STYLE" [Product Information and Charts · Slowhand at 70: Eric Clapton Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2015) [DVD]]. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Japan: oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  37. ^ "DVD – 4-12-2015 a 10-12-2015". Productores de Música de España (in Spanish). Spain: Promusicae.es. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  38. ^ "Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan (in Swedish). Sweden: Swedish Recording Industry Association. Search for "Eric Clapton" and select the DVD to see the chart positions. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  39. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70 - Live At The Royal Albert Hall". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  40. ^ "Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70 – Live At The Royal Albert Hall [DVD] – swisscharts.com". Schweizer Hitparade (in German). Switzerland: Steffen Hung – Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  41. ^ "Official Music Video Chart Top 50". United Kingdom: The Official UK Charts Company 2015. 15 November 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  42. ^ "Music Video Sales : Dec 05, 2015". Billboard. United States. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  43. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eric Clapton; 'Slowhand at 70 - Live at the Royal Albert Hall')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  44. ^ "British video certifications – Eric Clapton – Slowhand At 70- Live At The Royal Albert". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 December 2022.

External links edit