To support their only album Eric Clapton, Carl Radle, Bobby Whitlock and Jim Gordon aka Derek and the Dominos went on a erratic tour of the USA. This live album is compiled from two of the shows at New York's Fillmore East auditorium in October 1970.The Dominos were always Clapton's finest group, "Layla," their one album together, is Clapton's finest studio album and no surprise this is his finest live album. This would be the first time Clapton was the official leader of a group. He had been famous for years by this point and he was in great turmoil in love with Patti Boyd the wife of his best friend. These factors could account for his powerful performances.
Being the insecure guy that he was Clapton is uncertain of his singing and leadership ability thus he tries to cover up his insecurities with some killer guitar playing. He has never sounded as fierce or as inventive as he does here. His singing is perfectly good as well. The powerful "Have you ever loved a woman" blows the excellent album version away. The nearly twenty minute "Let it Rain" is jaw dropping with a killer drum solo by Gordon. This is also the only place, until the new 40th anniversary "Layla" album came out last month, to get the song "Got to Get Better in a Little While."
The songs are long, five of them run over ten minutes, but if you are a Clapton fan these are great great treasures. It is a shame that this album is not mention more often in Clapton's catalogue, I guess that makes it something of a great discovery for the Clapton fan. I personally was hesitant to buy this album because of the long songs; after all sometimes longer does not mean better. I finally picked this album up and am so happy, this is the finest live performance Clapton has ever released and one of the best live albums I have ever heard. If you want more from the Dominos this is the only place for it. Doesn't get better than this.
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