Forever Man

This is a review of the 3 disc version, studio, live and blues. The studio recordings are very, very good. The live recordings are sublime.I have not set out to write reviews of the music content as “beauty is in the ears of the listener”. These reviews are about the quality (or not) of the recorded sound. To read about how the reviews are done please see my profile.CD1 STUDIOThe studio disc is rich and warm. The detail and softness of the guitars shines through. The organ compliments the playing. “Call me the breeze” is outstanding, whilst not as “spare” as a J.J. Cale version but more complex and layered. The guitars range from the soft to the sharp and biting. Clapton’s vocals have good range and are a good foil for the music. The studio CD is of excellent quality and very enjoyable. • Clarity – Very good • Channel separation – Very good • Channel balance - Excellent • Sound Stage – Very good, wide and deep gives real feeling to the recording • Distortion – Non Audible • Compression – Non Audible • Atmosphere – The studio recordings have an excellent atmosphere. It feels very spacious and has a lovely richness which makes it feel as if you were at the session • Bass – low frequencies – Very good although the drums can be a little “soft” • Treble – high frequencies – Excellent, the guitars and organ are clear and well defined • Vocals – Very good has a nice “timbre”CD2 LIVEThese are some of the best live recordings available. “Sunshine of your love” is aggressive with distortion whilst the drums thunder away yet the vocals remain clear and incisive. This might be one of the classic live versions of “Sunshine of your love”. The guitars are sublime as is the overall atmosphere of these tracks.The acoustic tracks are crystal clear and show how a live acoustic set should be recorded. “Layla” is a classic in terms of its clarity and depth.The live recordings are classics and should be in any collection. They are a model of what a good live recording should deliver, a sense of presence and being there. Buy for this CD alone, the other CDs area bonus. • Clarity – Superb for a live album/recording • Channel separation - Excellent • Channel balance - Excellent • Sound Stage – Very good really captures the sense of being in the audience • Distortion – Non Audible • Compression – Non Audible • Atmosphere – Tremendous, from the cutting guitars to the powerhouse drumming. The organ sounds swirl around the stage • Bass – low frequencies – The drums are excellent as is the organ. The bass guitar thrums and powers away • Treble – high frequencies – Stunning piano which is not lost against the incisive guitars • Vocals – Very good, even the backing vocals are crystal clearCD3 BLUESThese recordings are exceptional having both life and pathos. The sound is so good it’s like having your own private performance. This recording is almost perfect I’ve heard in many years. • Clarity - Excellent • Channel separation - Superb • Channel balance - Stunning • Sound Stage – Stunning, like the best live album you have ever heard • Distortion – Non Audible • Compression – Non Audible • Atmosphere – You have to remind yourself that these are studio recordings yet they have real life and presence. Played with love and recorded with care • Bass – low frequencies – Excellent bass guitar and drums. Very detailed and well defined • Treble – high frequencies – Excellent, guitars are sharp, crisp and clear. Pianos “tinkle” as they should • Vocals – Superb, Clapton finds his voice and there is a raw edge that is sometimes missing from his recordingsAs a general rule of thumb recordings from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s are nearly always better on the original vinyl. Remasters often fail to please as it’s just not possible to make a silk purse from a sows ear, i.e. the original recording lacks the necessary detail to be processed digitally and show an audible improvement. Indeed such processing can make the sound worse.Modern recordings which have been processed digitally from start to finish can be as good as vinyl. CD’s are often unfairly criticised for being poor quality. This is not the case, it is the original recording or the process which is to blame. Modern “remasters” can both enhance and degrade a recording. The statement GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out) is the limiting factor. Ignore this at your cost.

Like most Eric Clapton fans I already have quite a selection of his music, including a number of vinyl albums, this 3 CD package is one of the best in my collection, I highly recomend this CD, you get a great selection of his music, including a live disc.

Although this album lists many of the old favourites (already covered in the "best of" and "greatest" albums), there is reasonably new material too. Some new takes on old favourites make this a worthwhile purchase in its own right and the newer material makes it a must for Clapton followers.

A good selection of the different styles of Eric Clapton across the years . Nicely broken down into ' studio' and ' live' , the quality is consistently good across both sections , as you would expect from Mr C . Would make a good introduction to the music of Eric Clapton for someone new to the genre.

Mr. Clapton turns 70 and what a gift from the master himself ? Three CD categories into three part, Studio, Live and Blues. All the classic songs you admire Clapton for is all there in those CDs. Hope to see him play someday before he retires, till then I have to satisfy myself with these. ;)