Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert (Live) [Expanded Edition]

Following his crucial appearance at 1971's Concert for Bangladesh, Eric Clapton organized his own blowout show with the help of old friend and rival Pete Townshend. Thus was born the Rainbow Concert, performed at London’s Rainbow Theatre on Jan. 13, 1973. It was a crucial moment in Clapton’s career. After he'd nearly succumbed to heroin addiction, this was his friends’ way of showing him that rock 'n' roll was a gift worth living for. Backed by Pete Townshend, Ronnie Wood, and Steve Winwood, the concert marries Clapton’s classic singing, songwriting, and guitar playing to a rough and ragged attitude more commonly associated with The Who and The Rolling Stones. “Roll It Over,” “Layla,” “Bottle of Red Wine," and “Let It Rain” are delivered with a gloriously reckless edge, and even slow-burning ballads like “Little Wing” and “Presence of the Lord” hang in the air like singed flags. Listen closely, and you can hear the light in Clapton’s soul turning back on. After this performance he made the decision to quit heroin for good and consequently assembled the band that would record his landmark comeback album 461 Ocean Boulevard.