aaamusic | On 11, Dec 2013

Give Me Strength is a 5CD plus Blu-ray Audio CD collection which reflects the era between April 1974 and June 1975 when Eric Clapton produced three ‘comeback’ studio albums. These were 461 Ocean Boulevard, There’s One In Every Crowd and a live double set E.C. Was Here. They were released together by Universal Music Group on 25 November, 2013.

In total there are 88 remixed, remastered, rare and live recordings, including session out takes. There are 29 bonus tracks, 12 of them previously unreleased. The Blu-ray and the hardbound 60 page book, which includes rare photographs, were not supplied, so it has not been possible to review them.

461 Ocean Boulevard , where Eric temporarily lived, is the Golden Beach, Florida home on the cover photograph. The album was produced by Tom Dowd and recorded at Miami’s Criteria Studios with Eric Clapton, Dick Sims, George Terry, Carl Radle, Jamie Oldaker, and Yvonne Elliman. His hit reggae interpretation of Bob Marley’s ‘I Shot the Sheriff’ was particularly adventurous at the time.

There’s One in Every Crowd was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica with the same band and producer. ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ , a reggae version of the gospel song, made the Top 20 in the U.K. Here Universal has added five out takes, two previously unreleased, and both sides of the single ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’.

E.C. Was Here has been expanded to 16 tracks over 2 CDs and fully remixed. Four unheard tracks from the Long Beach Arena concert are included and performances from London, New York and Rhode Island are also there. The set list is more diverse, with the additions of  ‘Badge’,‘I Shot the Sheriff’,‘Willie and the Hand Jive/Get Ready’ and ‘One in Every Crowd’ .

The fifth CD, from the legendary Freddie King sessions at Criterion Studios, includes a 22-minute version of ‘Gambling Woman’s Blues’. Other numbers are ‘TV Mama’ ,’Sugar Sweet’ and the previously unreleased ‘Boogie Funk’. It’s curious to hear Eric Clapton play alongside this sharp and energetic blues legend.

During this era Eric was a prolific artist emerging from a bad times and these albums capture some of his finest and most influential moments with remastered sound. Long term fans will probably enjoy reliving his live performances and newer fans will gain a feel for those turbulent days. The bonus material may be an essential addition to their collection, even if they already own the original albums.

★★★★★

Anthony Weightman