Live From Madison Square Garden

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Performer: Eric Clapton
Producer: John McDermott; Scooter Weintraub; James Pluta
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: When their hugely influential groups (Cream and Traffic, respectively) disbanded, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood made rock history when they joined forces in the short-lived Blind Faith in the late 1960s. Forty years later these legends collaborated again, selling out a trio of dates at Madison Square Garden, the results of which are captured on this dynamic double-disc set. The set list includes material from the catalogs of Blind Faith, Traffic, Derek and the Dominos, and Clapton's solo oeuvre (including the J.J. Cale-penned classics "After Midnight" and "Cocaine"). Two Jimi Hendrix covers appropriately evoke the bygone `60s era, but the mode here is more laid-back and polished than fiery and psychedelic. That's not to say that Winwood and Clapton, who shine equally on these cuts, don't charm with their familiar skill and finesse. The result is 21 tracks-worth of classic rock pleasure. Eric Clapton's new millennium has largely been defined by collaborations with friends, beginning with a duet album with B.B. King following through with a Cream reunion and closing with tours with his former Blind Faith running mate, Steve Winwood. Clapton and Winwood did three concerts together at Madison Square Garden in February 2008 and the results were fruitful enough to spawn this double-disc album -- along with its accompanying DVD set -- and a moderately scaled 2009 tour. Live from Madison Square Garden culls 21 highlights from those three nights and spreads them over two discs, sequencing the songs so Traffic numbers alternate with selections from Blind Faith, Derek & the Dominos, blues standards, a handful of Clapton's hits, and a heavy dose of Hendrix, who has no less than three songs here. That extended salute to Jimi is a good indication of the vibe here -- this is a genuine shared co-billing with Clapton and Winwood trading vocals and solos almost equally. There's not much ego here and not much hunger, either, with the two stars sliding into a relaxed groove that yields plenty of rewards. There's a comfortable touch to their playing that's greatly appealing, and the straightforward setting places the spotlight directly on their interplay. Clapton and Winwood might roll easy but they can still create some sparks, sometimes in unexpected places, such as the somewhat forgotten '80s hits "Forever Man" and "Split Decision," both which are highlights here. Ultimately, this isn't an album of moments, but rather a sustained whole that finds Clapton and Winwood egging each other on to produce a wholly satisfying, if not quite surprising, reunion. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Record Collector (magazine) (p.80) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Winwood's opening 'Had To Cry Today' sets the tone, with its sweet ivories over rumbling rhythm, as Clapton's sweet guitar lines garnish the feast."

Over the course of four decades, Eric Clapton has carried the British blues legacy into the mainstream of pop music. From his mid-1960s days with the Yardbirds and John Mayall, through his years as guitar god with Cream and Blind Faith, and eventually to his more laid-back solo albums, Clapton has remained one of rock's most successful musicians. Given his guitar-superstar status, Clapton has played alongside the biggest musical acts of the 20th century, from soloing on the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," to performing at the Band's LAST WALTZ, to recording an album with B.B. King. Overcoming numerous setbacks and tragedies, old Slowhand has settled nicely into a long and prolific career.

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