MiDoyle's Full Review: One More Car, One More Rider by Eric Clapton
At this juncture in his career, the prospect of another live album from guitar master Eric Clapton [b. 1945-] might strike some cynics as just a "money album." But, this album is coming from his 2001 tour, arguably one of his best and estimated to be his last "grand world tour." So as an historical artifact, One More Car, One More Rider has some merit to this long-time fan. Having seen the tour, I waited for this live set and have not been disappointed. The album is available as a 2-disc CD, a separate DVD, or in a combined set.
The band (Nathan East on bass, vocals, Andy Fairweather Low on rhythm guitar, vocals, Steve Gadd on drums, David Sancious on keyboards, guitar, Greg Phillinganes on Hammond organ and keyboards, with Billy Preston on Hammond organ and keyboards) have a collective weight of experience that brings out the best in Clapton's performance. He's relaxed, plays with some grit and power and appears to be enjoying himself immensely.
If the material doesn't always hold up (primarily from some of his recent and lesser pop-oriented albums), the live performance is still good enough to give the weaker tracks some greater depth than they have on album.
Disc 1/Setlist/Album:
Key to the Highway (Derek & the Dominoes: Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs)
Reptile (Reptile)
Got You on My Mind (Reptile)
Tears in Heaven (Unplugged)
Bell Bottom Blues (Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs)
Change the World (Pilgrim)
My Father's Eyes (Pilgrim)
River of Tears (Pilgrim)
Goin' Down Slow (Pilgrim)
She's Gone (Pilgrim)
[Includes River of Tears video extra]
Disc 2/Setlist/Album:
I Want a Little Girl (Reptile)
Badge (Cream: Goodbye)
Hoochie Coochie Man (From the Cradle)
Have You Ever Loved a Woman? (Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs)
Cocaine (Slowhand)
Wonderful Tonight (Slowhand)
Layla (Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs)
Sunshine of Your Love (Cream: Disraeli Gears)
Somewhere Over the Rainbow (unreleased)
[Includes Badge video extra]
Clapton's setlist possibililities are endless but he plays it safe mostly here. The tour and this live artifact could have used some more oomph in the song selection. Five songs from Pilgrim seems overgenerous to me. Likewise, the Reptile material is not on par with Clapton's headier work. So on a purely nostalgic note, I would have preferred more earlier material. And, even songs from Clapton's 80s pop-oriented material (Behind the Son or August are not even glimpsed here.
What you do get with One More Car, One More Rider is strong though workmanlike performance in spots and a solid backing group. This album does capture one of Clapton's more energetic performances in recent memory. The presence of Greg Philliganes, Billy Preston and David Sancious adds a noticeably different feel to the material and Clapton seems intrigued with the dueling trio of keyboard players. It certainly gives his guitar more weight to play off of and lends a harder R&B feel to the material.
Track Notes
The tracks range from surprising and welcome nods to his 70s material with the opening Key to the Highway and later, a superb version of Bell Bottom Blues, to his more recent soft material from Reptile. The Reptile material, though decent and well done, is seemingly here out of obligation.
Tears in Heaven is perhaps Eric's most personal and intimate song even when sung in front of 13,000 people or more. Still, I find it kind of hard to listen to live and witness people enjoying it. I think he would be better off retiring it from the performance setlist.
Of the Pilgrim material, My Father's Eyes and the surprising powerful River of Tears work well live. She's Gone has become a standard concert workout track.
Badge is one song I never get tired of, ever, and his performance here is predictably solid. It is apparent from listening to his forays into the blues over the years that Clapton's vocal abilities have grown enough to make his version of Willie Dixon's Hoochie Coochie Man a pretty good one. If it's admittedly not on par with Muddy Waters, at least it's not a bad substitute.
Tired Tracks.Have You Ever Loved A Woman is a bit tired as is Wonderful Tonight but the band does a nice job keeping them reasonably fresh. Likewise, Cocaine is no longer the party drug song, but now carries a note of experienced warning to it.
Layla remains a rock classic for good reason, few love songs match the power and emotional weight of this song from the legendary 1972 album of ultimate romantic heartbreak and pain.
Everybody needs some Cream and Clapton seemingly still enjoys performing Sunshine of Your Love.
Somewhwere Over the Rainbow is an interesting choice and carries some bittersweet notions if in fact, this really is Clapton's swan song from the touring life. To his credit, he does a great job on a song that is from an area not associated with him.
The live material was derived from concerts in Los Angeles and Tokyo during the tour. The DVD is also from a Los Angeles show (8/18/01) and includes one extra track (Will It Go Round In Circles) that features more of the Preston/Philliganes/Sancious keyboard trio. As one of his own hits, Preston handles lead vocals, naturally.
A Worthwhile Tour Artifact
This tour artifact is seemingly geared to long-time Clapton fans like myself; people who have followed his career and want to document it. Casual fans may find this to be a good introduction to his recent work but it doesn't necessarily showcase his gifts in their vintage years. For that you have to go back to his older material. If you're not an EC fan, this will just further infuriate you perhaps.
Eric Clapton and the band's performance is solid here, with enough fire to keep most listeners interested. Still, some people would put this on as background material and forget about it. One More Car, One More Rider doesn't break any new ground. It is what it is: a solid, if workmanlike tour artifact that doesn't challenge but does entertain. I did enjoy the album but wish the song selection was a little more challenging. It's a safe record and for that I give it a solid three stars and recommend it for completists. Younger fans may be interested in it as an introduction.
Cat Rating Scale
The boys [Freddie and Chester] enjoy EC with copious doses of catnip and a good scratch. Two paws up.
One More Car: One More Rider is a collection of highlights from this incredible blues-rock guitarist. Eric Clapton gives his fans another great live a...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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