I have a lot of Eric Clapton DVDs, VHS concert tapes and, of course, CDs and this "24 Nights" holds a special place among all of them. It might be the pinnacle of Clapton's fantastic career. This is so good I have the DVD and the two-disc CD.
There are four segments to this concert, filmed over several days and I am partial to the second and third parts: the blues songs and then the nine-piece band numbers. Together, they are 51.5 minutes of some of the best music I have ever heard.
The bluesy "Running On Faith," the opening song of the disc in segment one, is a great start, a song that gets better and better over the years.
On part two: the blues numbers, I particularly liked Clapton's guitar work on "Have You Ever Loved A Woman?" Not bad having Buddy Guy and Robert Cray as your backup guitarists, either!
I found the 9-piece segment to be my favorite with one song alone - "Pretending" - having two of the greatest solos ever by Clapton. If that song doesn't get your blood moving, nothing will. "Old Love" has some nice solo work by pianist Johnny Johnston, bassist Nathan East and of course, two more by guitarist Clapton. I've always enjoyed Eric's two female backup singers Katie Kisson and Tessa Niles and Kisson is really great with her solo at the end of "Wonderful Tonight."
The final segment, featuring a complete orchestra, has two great opening numbers and finishes with the only number I didn't care but, by then, I have more than my fill of great blues and rock 'n roll. However, it's still fun to see everyone dressed in black tie and evening gowns, anyway.
This concert never fails to amaze every time I watch it and hear it.
