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Eric Clapton / Life in 12 Bars

By Paul Sinclair

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Includes four previously unreleased tracks and two alternate mixes

A new Eric Clapton documentary Life In 12 Bars (Directed by Oscar-winner, Lili Fini Zanuck) has prompted a new two-CD (and 4LP vinyl) soundtrack which spans Clapton’s long career and includes selections from many of the acts he worked with, including The Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, The Beatles (!), and Blind Faith.

The 32-tracks include five previously unreleased selections.From the Cream era there is a version of Spoonful, an incredible 17 minute tour-de-force, recorded live at the LA Forum in October 1968 during the group’s final US, Goodbye tour. There are two from Derek and The Dominos – firstly a recording of High, originally recorded during the 1971 sessions at Olympic Studios for their unreleased 2nd album. This track was later revisited and re-recorded for Eric Clapton’s 1975 album, There’s One In Every Crowd. Secondly, the track Little Wing, a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, recorded live during the Domino’s late set at The Fillmore East on 24th October 1970.

Life in 12 Bars also includes two previously unreleased Eric Clapton tracks from 1974; the first ever release of the entire full length recording (6′ 54″) of Bob Marley’s I Shot The Sheriff, recorded during the sessions for 461 Ocean Boulevard and a live performance of Little Queenie, the Chuck Berry rock ‘n’ roll classic, recoded at Long Beach Arena, California in July 1974 during Clapton’s comeback tour to promote 461 Ocean Boulevard.

In addition, there are two alternative mixes made for Eric Clapton’s 1970 debut album. Separate mixes were made for the album, by Delaney Bramlett and Tom Dowd (in LA) and also by Clapton himself (in London). Featured in this collection are Clapton’s rare mixes of album highlights, After Midnight and Let It Rain.

It’s very unusual for Beatles tracks to end up on these kinds of compilations, but While My Guitar Gently Weeps does indeed feature here, as does George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord.

This looks like a very well compiled collection. The 4LP vinyl set can now be pre-ordered in some territories and the 2CD set in the UK remains at just £8.74. What a bargain.

Life In 12 Bars will be released on 8 June 2018.

Life in 12 Bars – 2CD edition

Disc: 1
1. Big Bill Broonzy: Backwater Blues (4.07) The Big Bill Broonzy Story 1957
2. Muddy Waters: My Life Is Ruined (2.38) Chess single 1953
3. Muddy Waters: I Got Mojo Working (4.28) Live At Newport Jazz Festival 1960
4. The Yardbirds: I Wish You Would (2.19) – studio version
5. The Yardbirds: For Your Love (2.30) For Your Love 1965
6. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers: Steppin’ Out (2.29) John Mayall Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton 1966
7. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers: All Your Love (3.37) John Mayall Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton 1966
8. Cream: I Feel Free (2.57) Fresh Cream 1966
9. Cream: Strange Brew (2.50) Disraeli Gears 1967
10. Cream: Sunshine of Your Love (4.12) – studio version
11. Aretha Franklin: Good to Me As I Am To You (3.58) Lady Soul / Recorded on December 16 and 17, 1967
12. Cream: Crossroads live (4.18) Wheels Of Fire / Recorded 10 March 1968 at Winterland, San Francisco, CA16
13. The Beatles: While My Guitar Gently Weeps (4.45)The Beatles / Recorded 5-6 September 1968
14. Cream: Badge (2.48) Goodbye / Recorded October 1968 at IBC Studios in London
15. Cream: White Room live (5.41) Live Cream II / recorded October 4, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena
16. Cream: Spoonful (17.27) live from Goodbye tour – LA Forum October 19, 1968 previously unreleased
17. Blind Faith: Presence Of The Lord (4.52) – studio version

Disc: 2
1. Delaney & Bonnie & Friends featuring Eric Clapton: Comin’ Home (7.51) Live at Fairfield Halls
2. Eric Clapton: After Midnight (3.25) alternate mix from Eric Clapton (first album) 1970
3. Eric Clapton: Let It Rain (5.00) alternate mix from Eric Clapton (first album) 1970
4. Derek and The Dominos: High (3.10) (Olympic Studios, April 1971) Derek and The Dominos album previously unreleased
5. George Harrison: My Sweet Lord (4.44) All Things Must Pass 1970
6. Derek and The Dominos: Thorn Tree In The Garden (2.55) Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs 1970
7. Derek and The Dominos: Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out (5.01) Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs 1970
8. Derek and The Dominos: Bell Bottom Blues (5.08) Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs 1970
9. Derek and The Dominos: Layla (7.10) Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs 1970
10. Derek and The Dominos: Little Wing (6.11) Live At The Fillmore 1970
11. Derek and The Dominos: Got To Get Better In A Little While (6.05) – studio version
12. Eric Clapton: I Shot The Sheriff (6.54) previously unreleased full length version from 461 Ocean Blvd 1970
13. Eric Clapton: Little Queenie live (6.00) Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, California, July 19/20, 1974 previously unreleased
14. Eric Clapton: Mainline Florida (4.08) 461 Ocean Boulevard 1974
15. Eric Clapton: Tears In Heaven (4.31) – studio version

Life in 12 Bars / 4LP vinyl set

LP 1

Side A
1. Backwater Blues
2. My Life Is Ruined
3. I’ve Got My Mojo Working
4. I Wish You Would
5. For Your Love
6. Steppin’ Out

Side B
7. All Your Love (Side B)
8. I Feel Free (Side B)
9. Strange Brew (Side B)
10. Sunshine Of Your Love (Side B)
11. Good To Me As I Am To You (Side B)

LP 2

Side A
1. Crossroads
2. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
3. Badge
4. White Room

Side B
5. Spoonful
6. Presence Of The Lord

LP 3
Side A

1. Comin’ Home
2. After Midnight
3. Let It Rain
4. High

Side B

5. My Sweet Lord
6. Thorn Tree In The Garden
7. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
8. Bell Bottom Blues

LP 4

Side A
1. Layla
2. Little Wing
3. Got To Get Better In A Little While

Side B
4. I Shot The Sheriff
5. Little Queenie
6. Mainline Florida
7. Tears In Heaven

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