Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Key To The Highway
2. Reptile
3. Got You On My Mind
4. Tears In Heaven
5. Bell Bottom Blues
6. Change The World
7. Father's Eyes
8. River Of Tears
9. Going Down Slow
10. She's Gone

Disc 2:

1. I Want A Little Girl
2. Badge
3. Hoochie Coochie Man
4. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
5. Cocaine
6. Wonderful Tonight
7. Layla
8. Sunshine Of Your Love
9. Over The Rainbow

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30704 in Music
• Released on: 2002-11-04
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Live

Amazon.co.uk Review
For a man renowned for his sartorial elegance and the most prudently maintained facial hair in rock, you'd expect One More Car, One More Rider--Eric Clapton's first live album since 1992's zeitgeist-capturing Unplugged set--to be full of well-tailored highlights from his biblically-proportioned (well, some people still call him "God") back-catalogue of bristly, well kempt blues. And of course you'd be absolutely right.

Recorded in Los Angeles and Tokyo during his 2001 world tour (the simultaneously released DVD of the same name is taken exclusively from the Los Angeles show) and featuring the musical accompaniment of such luminary hired-hands as Andy Fairweather-Low and Billy Preston, it's an album that serves to satisfy both the Clapton purist (there's a four-song segue of tracks from Pilgrim, shorn of their original anodyne synthesizer embellishments) and the adult popsters who prefer their blues from the decanter rather than the bottle ("Tears In Heaven", a sublime "Bell Bottom Blues" and a rather poised, applause-ridden "Layla").

It's a shame that the solo-slot extemporisations of Reptile--Joe Pass meets George Benson meets Weather Report--arrive a little too early in the main course for the listener to prepare for full-on mastication. And there also remains a minority of people for whom "Wonderful Tonight" is the biggest pre-coital turn-off this side of farting in bed (or "Lady in Red" by Chris de Burgh). However, such pallid flaws are only trifling grievances for One More Car, One More Rider is an engaging live document that finds Clapton far from asleep at the wheel. --Kevin Maidment

CD Description
'One More Car One More Rider' is the first live Eric Clapton release since his 1992, Grammy Award winning album 'Unplugged'. Recorded in Los Angeles and Toyko while on his 2001 world tour, this two cd-set features classic Clapton tracks including, 'Layla', 'Wonderful Tonight' and 'Tears In Heaven',as well as a cover of 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'.

Customer Reviews

Surprisingly sprightly and inventive
As a long-time fan of Clapton, I was pleasantly surprised that this effort exceeds my expectations. For once, the output comprises excellent musicianship, and a loose feel. While not quite smokey blues, it has some funky, inspired moments. It's enhanced by the occasional fluffed note from Clapton -- he's taking a few chances.
Highlights include a lively acoustic Key To The Highway, a joyful My Father's Eyes, a blustering River Of Tears and a manic She's Gone. Even tired favourites like Wonderful Tonight have a new twist. The multi-soloist HYELAW is another refreshing change from the plain blues-rock version.

The sound is first class, and the only criticisms I have are a poor version of Layla on the CD (the DVD version is much better), and an over-reliance on standards such as Sunshine of Your Love and Cocaine. More from Reptile or Pilgrim would have been appreciated.

This may not be an album for those looking for non-stop guitar fireworks, but in fact Clapton's guitar pyrotechnics work better for being spare. (Cream fans should listen again to the dreary Live Cream 2 before they react!). Fans of Unplugged Clapton should love this too.

His best live recording since Derek & Dominos.

I Like It
Now, I wouldn't call myself an avid Eric Clapton fan - yes I like some of his early work, but in total I only have four CD's (including Derek & The Dominoes and Blind Faith) and the unplugged & sessions for Robert Johnson DVD's. So, listening and watching (I have the 2 CD + DVD edition) this in a "neutral" capacity I was thoroughly impressed by the contents. The tracks are varied and yes, do include the big hits you would expect (Layla, Tears in Heaven etc.) and, there are great renditions of Badge and Bell Bottom Blues. The playing is tight from a collection of extremely talented and experienced musicians with Billy Preston delivering vocals on one of the end tracks. So it's five stars from me.

Stick with it!
Don't be put off after hearing the first few tracks. As good as they are, they aren't quite what you expect from an opener to a Clapton gig. To say that it's a tame start is something of an understatement. The music itself is good - with stand-out tracks being Change the world and Tears in heaven. But if you're wanting to hear some of that fantastic Clapton fire on the fretboards, you have to wait until towards the end of CD1 - Father's Eyes and She's Gone in particular. There's also a wonderfully soulful River of tears - you can picture Eric losing himself in some of the solos he plays here.
Better still slot CD2 in first. Here is EC at his finest - Badge, Have You Ever and Layla are the main stand-outs. Layla in particular has a wonderful intro - as in Unplugged, you wouldn't know the track until he drops the signature riff - and boy is he on form! Wonderful Tonight with a reggae tilt? - an interesting variation on what must have been played hundreds of times, though for me you can't beat the 24 nights version.
Finishing with Over the Rainbow - as with the opening tracks, this one displays another side to his playing - but would you really leave a gig by Slowhand humming Somewhere over the Rainbow.

By the way - Eric's voice sounds better than ever!

All in all, some superb music - it's just the track listing that leaves something to be desired.