Timepieces, Vol. II: 'Live' In the Seventies

The first volume of Timepieces collected the best-known of Eric Clapton’s '70s studio hits. This follow-up volume showcases his prowess in concert. The first four songs are drawn from the decade's end, when Clapton joined with a young quartet of British blues recruits, including guitarist Albert Lee. Though Clapton was struggling in his personal life, this group helped rekindle his connection with the blues (“Rambling on My Mind”) and brought a bittersweet sting to his classic ballads (“Knockin’ on Heaven's Door”). In addition, “Can’t Find My Way Home” and “Smile” showcase Clapton’s earlier Tulsa-reared band onstage in London in 1974. These songs display that group’s ability to conjure the feeling of a backyard woodshedding session even when playing to vast theaters. Smack in the middle of the collection is “Presence of the Lord”: a single shot of Derek & The Dominos in 1970, the peak of their whirlwind existence. The level of maturity and wisdom the 25-year-old Clapton brings to this performance is astonishing, and the gifts he hinted at here would come to fruition over the years represented on the rest of this collection.