Favourite albums: Eric Clapton, 24 Nights

We all have favourite albums that hold a special place in our hearts and which have affected us more than others.  Over the years I have come across many, but I thought I would start off with one of the first in my life to share with you

‘24 Nights’ by Eric Clapton is amongst the first albums I chose for myself when I started buying my own music and it is still one of the best live albums I own.  I originally had it on cassette and promptly wore it out through over-playing and quickly replaced it on CD when I had the chance.

Recorded Live at the Royal Albert Hall during Clapton’s 1990-1991 residency and taken from the 42 concerts he performed during this time, this features him playing a selection of his music with various bands and an orchestra.  Clapton initially played 18 nights in 1990 but, being unsatisfied with the recordings, he postponed the live album until after the 24 nights played in 1991.  These concerts were performed around the time of Clapton’s ‘Journeyman’ album, so tracks from this feature heavily, but as this is also one of my favourite albums of his, that is no bad thing.

He starts off with a four piece band to play some classic Cream tracks (plus ‘Running on Faith’ from the ‘Journeyman’ album) and to hear him ripping into ‘Badge’ still gives me Goosebumps.  The intro to ‘White Room’ is raw and powerful and those pounding drums set you up for the song to come.  Clapton plays a spine tingling solo on this song that is one of his best.  ‘Sunshine of you Love’ is the icing on the cake and the drum solo by Steve Ferrone is simply brilliant.

Clapton then plays four songs with a blues band.  He is joined on stage by a legendary mix of musicians and to have Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Johnnie Johnson and Clapton all on stage at the same time is an unbeatable combination.  The version of ‘Have You Ever Loved a Woman’ is awe inspiring stuff and the deft touch on the guitar still puts a smile on my face even after many years of listening.  This part of the album even sees Jimmie Vaughan join Clapton on stage for a version of ‘Hoodoo Man’ that will have you swaying along and singing from the first few bars onwards.  The harmonica from Jerry Portnoy compliments this track perfectly.

We then move on to a nine piece band and a more fuller, rock orientated sound for the next four tracks.  This is the part where Clapton showcases some of the music from ‘Journeyman’ and the distorted, elemental sound of Clapton’s guitar on ‘Pretending’ is exceptional stuff.  Katie Kissoon and Tessa Niles join the band here on backing vocals and this really elevates the song.  ‘Bad Love’ is amazing.  I have always loved this track and despite Eric writing this after being told to ‘go away and write another Layla’, this song has always been very powerful and that is not diminished live in anyway.  That main riff is outstanding and the solo on this song will take you to heights you never knew existed.  The version of ‘Old Love’ is perfectly pitched, it starts off slow and almost mournful, with guitar from Clapton that makes you sigh into the track. It then builds, with another incredible solo before it’s big conclusion.  Simply masterful.  The last song from the nine piece is ‘Wonderful tonight’ and apart from it being a romantic standard, this version is quite simply the best one I’ve heard.  The backing vocals at the end, that interact with the band, are incredible and when this song has been played and heard so often, to make it sound fresh and inspiring is impressive stuff.

Finally the album concludes with three tracks played with an Orchestra, conducted by Michael Kamen.  ‘Bell Bottom blues’ is augmented to just the right level by the strings and orchestra in the background and the chorus, which was always uplifting, is made even more so.  A bluesy feel is revisited with ‘Hard Times’, before we come to the brooding and atmospheric ‘Edge of Darkness’.  The deep strings at the start, before Clapton plays guitar on top suit the moody feel to a tee.  It then builds with the guitar becoming more powerful and the orchestra having a greater impact until you are carried along on a wall of sound and emotion.  It builds in pace and volume and concludes the album with a rush of emotion and sublime musicianship.

24 Nights album cover

After the final concert Clapton was presented with the original key to Second Tier Box 77.  This symbolic gesture forever linked Clapton to the Royal Albert Hall and it is a link he has revisited many times over the years with other residencies and numerous concerts in it’s hallowed hall.

For an album to have this much of an impact in your life, even after many years and repeated playing goes some way to showing just how good it is.  Some artists are great when recorded, but fall a bit flat when performing live and I have to admit I have seen Clapton live when he’s not been at the top of his game.  But this album shows the very best of the music he performed during those nights at the Albert hall and they offer up a selection of music that will never be beaten.  He may do other versions of these songs that have their own unique charms and elements, but the songs here will never be played this way again and it is a sound that is seared into my musical soul.  I played this album a lot as I grew up and it has now become a part of who I am.  I am just fortunate that the music that has had this huge impact is of such a high standard.