Vintage HiFi Audio Forum

General Banter => The Circular File => Topic started by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 26, 2011, 08:36:12 PM

Title: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 26, 2011, 08:36:12 PM
Any Clapton fans here?   The other day I had a long drive for work and broke out the "Crossroads" box set.   As I recall, it was one of the first renowned box sets of the CD era.   So I listened and thought "it's too bad they couldn't include "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".   I'm sure Capitol doesn't share Beatles masters readily.   Then on disc four they use flip sides to "Forever Man" and "I've Got a Rock 'n' Roll Heart", instead of the hit singles, again because of licensing issues, I'm sure (as Clapton had moved to WEA by then).

Then it occurred to me that the set was made in the age of the 74 minute CD.   So if you were to burn a car copy, you could add at least six minutes, maybe more (I didn't check the exact length of each disc).   Most burners will overburn to at least 82 minutes.

So my question is "What would you add to each disc?"  The only ground rule is that you retain the chronological order of the set.   Does the box need more Cream?   More blues stuff or more pop?   I have my ideas, but I want to hear yours.
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: schwarcw on August 26, 2011, 09:09:50 PM
I would add some material from "Unplugged".  Great acoustic works beginning to end.  I've been listening to it on vinyl, which does sound fuller than the CD.  The vinyl has a digital master type obviously.

I also like the Cream "Goodbye" album.

Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 26, 2011, 09:18:46 PM
The "Unplugged" stuff will be on Volume 5 or 6.   That's a whole other project.

Unlike so many, I really love his work in the last 25 years.   "Journeyman" and "Reptile" get lots of play in my house.   I also want to use some of the best bits from the Cream and BF reunions on a disc 5 and 6 compilation.
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: MasterBlaster on August 26, 2011, 11:43:22 PM
It seems that only about 1/3 of the songs on "Crossroads" were actually written by Clapton.
I figured I'd up the ante and stick to songs he wrote to round things out better. Here's some suggestions:

Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 27, 2011, 12:31:03 AM
The Core is one I was already thinking about.   It is by far my favorite track from "Slowhand" (heresy, I know) but I'm not sure it will fit even on the 80.   I'm gonna try.
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 27, 2011, 09:19:30 AM
For those of you playing along, perhaps this will help... (copied and pasted from Wikipedia)

Disc one  Total time: 72.37

            With The Yardbirds:

    "Boom Boom" (John Lee Hooker) – 2:25
    "Honey In Your Hips" (Keith Relf) – 2:18
    "Baby What's Wrong" (Jimmy Reed) – 2:40
    "I Wish You Would" (Billy Boy Arnold) – 2:19
    "A Certain Girl" (Naomi Neville) – 2:17
    "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (H.G. Demarais) – 2:45
    "I Ain't Got You" (Calvin Carter) – 1:59
    "For Your Love" (Graham Gouldman) – 2:29
    "Got To Hurry" (Oscar Rasputin) – 2:35

        With John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers:

    "Lonely Years" (John Mayall) – 3:17
    "Bernard Jenkins" (Eric Clapton) – 3:47
    "Hideaway" (Freddie King, Sonny Thompson) – 3:14
    "All Your Love" (Willie Dixon, Otis Rush) – 3:34
    "Ramblin' On My Mind" (Robert Johnson, arr. Clapton) – 3:07
    "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" (Billy Myles) – 6:41 Live

        With Cream:

    "Wrapping Paper" (Jack Bruce, Pete Brown) – 2:21
    "I Feel Free" (Bruce, Brown) – 2:52
    "Spoonful" (Dixon) – 6:30
    "Lawdy Mama" (Traditional, arr. Clapton) – 1:50 Live at BBC Studios
    "Strange Brew" (Clapton, Felix Pappalardi, Gail Collins Pappalardi) – 2:46
    "Sunshine of Your Love" (Clapton, Bruce, Brown) – 4:10
    "Tales of Brave Ulysses" (Clapton, Martin Sharp) – 2:46
    "Steppin' Out" (James Bracken) – 3:31 Live at BBC Studios

Disc two TT 73.46

    "Anyone For Tennis" (Clapton, Sharp) – 2:37
    "White Room" (Bruce, Brown) – 4:56
    "Crossroads" (Johnson, arr. Clapton) – 4:14 Live
    "Badge" (Clapton, George Harrison) – 2:43

        With Blind Faith:

    "Presence of the Lord" (Clapton) – 4:48
    "Can't Find My Way Home" (Steve Winwood) – 3:15
    "Sleeping In the Ground" (Sam Myers) – 2:50

        With Delaney & Bonnie & Friends:

    "Comin' Home" (Bonnie Bramlett, Clapton) – 3:13

        Solo:

    "Blues Power" (Clapton, Leon Russell) – 3:06
    "After Midnight" (JJ Cale) – 3:17
    "Let It Rain" (Clapton, B. Bramlett) – 5:01

        With Derek and the Dominos:

    "Tell the Truth" (Clapton, Bobby Whitlock) – 3:23
    "Roll It Over" (Clapton, Whitlock) – 4:29
    "Layla" (Clapton, Jim Gordon) – 7:07
    "Mean Old World" (Walter Jacobs) – 3:50
    "Key to the Highway" (Big Bill Broonzy, Charlie Segar) – 6:27 Live
    "Crossroads" (Robert Johnson) – 8:17 Live

Disc three TT 73.11

            With Derek and the Dominos:

    "Got To Get Better In A Little While" (Clapton) – 5:31
    "Evil" (Willie Dixon) – 4:25
    "One More Chance" (Clapton) – 3:17
    "Mean Old Frisco" (Arthur Crudup) – 4:02
    "Snake Lake Blues" (Clapton) – 3:33

        Solo:

    "Let It Grow" (Clapton) – 4:56
    "Ain't That Lovin' You" (Jimmy Reed) – 5:26
    "Motherless Children" (Traditional) – 4:51
    "I Shot the Sheriff" (Bob Marley) – 7:48 Live
    "Better Make It Through Today" (Clapton) – 4:05
    "The Sky Is Crying" (Elmore James) – 3:57
    "I Found A Love" (Bridges) – 3:38
    "(When Things Go Wrong) It Hurts Me Too" (Mel London) – 5:34
    "Whatcha Gonna Do" (Peter Tosh) – 3:01
    "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan) – 4:21
    "Someone Like You" (Arthur Louis) – 4:30

Disc four TT 74.41

    "Hello Old Friend" (Clapton) – 3:34
    "Sign Language" (Dylan) (feat. Bob Dylan) – 2:56
    "Further on Up the Road" (Joe Medwich Veasey/Don D. Robey) – 6:18 Live
    "Lay Down Sally" (Clapton/Marcy/Levy) – 3:50
    "Wonderful Tonight" (Clapton) – 3:42
    "Cocaine" (Cale) – 3:35
    "Promises" (Richard Feldman/Roger Linn) – 3:00
    "If I Don't Be There By Morning" (Dylan/Springs) – 4:34
    "Double Trouble" (Rush) – 8:01 Live
    "I Can't Stand It" (Clapton) – 4:09
    "The Shape You're In" (Clapton) – 4:09
    "Heaven Is One Step Away" (Clapton) – 4:09
    "She's Waiting" (Clapton) – 4:55
    "Too Bad" (Clapton) – 2:37
    "Miss You" (Eric Clapton/Greg Phillinganes/Bobby Columby) – 5:05
    "Wanna Make Love to You" (Jerry Williams) – 5:43
    "After Midnight" (Cale) – 4:05
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Anders on August 27, 2011, 12:21:40 PM
I have a copy of Slowhand on Mo-Fi LP.
I've been told its the best sounding copy.
I also burned it onto CD.
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 27, 2011, 01:20:09 PM
I'd love to get a hold of one of those.   I've been through several RSO pressings that all sound like garbage.   The best I've heard so far is the SACD.

BTW, do you do your drops in high res or Redbook?   Would you happen to have a copy of the high res files?
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: wkhanna on September 04, 2011, 01:02:29 PM
Re the OT……..
I am in a dilemma.
I do not know of a version of Beethoven’s 9th that comes in at less the 60 minutes!
Were in world would you edit out the extra 5 to 9 minutes of music (depending on which performance you choose)?
Certainly not the finale!
And definitely not one second of the opening passage!
Yet I know of some who totally by-pass the second movement all together when listening to this Masterwork!?!?!?
Absolute heresy!!!!!!!

Anyway, therein lays my conundrum.
Only 60 minutes to listen to 65+ minutes of my last bit of music forever.
Life is so cruel; maybe I’ll just put the 9mm in my mouth and be done with all!

But wait! There is that ‘Greatest Broadway Show Tunes of All Times’ CD my wife has…….
Wonder what the play-time on that one is ?
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on September 04, 2011, 03:22:52 PM
Since you are a "Practicing Curmudgeon" I'll skip the actual question and instead point out the obvious.   There is a world of difference between deciding on an edit of a fully realized composition and deciding how you would better a compilation that was certainly not conceived  as an independent work.

Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: wkhanna on September 04, 2011, 08:30:50 PM
I will just answer the ‘actual question’ by saying I accidently posted in the wrong thread.
But us curmudgeons enjoy such annoying activities.
 :D
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on September 04, 2011, 08:44:24 PM
What is that slab of vinyl in your avatar?   Is it a DMM White Album?   If so, I could use it for this project.
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: wkhanna on September 04, 2011, 09:27:54 PM
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/wkhanna/aa/DSCF3291.jpg)


Give that man a prize!
It is in fact a DDR (Direct to Disc Recording) of Charie Byrd.
It's a 45 RPM on white vinyl pressed by Crysal Clear Records, Catalog# CCS 8002.

link to Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Byrd-Direct-Disc-Recording/dp/B001BT0X60/ref=sr_1_40?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1315185890&sr=1-40 (http://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Byrd-Direct-Disc-Recording/dp/B001BT0X60/ref=sr_1_40?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1315185890&sr=1-40)
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on September 05, 2011, 09:41:16 AM
There is one on Amazon for $5.   What kind of music is it?

Every D2D I've even owned has been a wonderful sounding recording of music I don't want to listen to.
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: wkhanna on September 05, 2011, 10:10:49 AM
Ha!
Hence the fact that when I picked it up at Jerry’s Used Records in Squirrel Hill a few years ago they had it labeled as ‘Audiophile’.

All kidding aside, Charlie Byrd was one of the most renowned jazz guitarists. He explored many genres of music including classical and Latin, and well known for his fusion of classical flamingo with jazz.
This particular LP is more listenable than most ‘audiophile’ labeled recordings, yet is still a bit eclectic for most tastes.

The sound quality is stunning, and it makes for a V good reference piece when evaluating system changes. If you are in the slightest bit interested, Jerry’s nearly always has a copy in the racks, usually for ~ $5 and in decent condition. People who typically bought this kind of stuff were quite anal in there care & handling of it.

Finding high quality recordings that you actually want to listen to is not an easy task in most cases. I have found, and highly recommend anything produced by Sheffield Lab, however. The majority of their productions were classical and Jazz, but besides having the dedication and technical ability to produce exquisite sounding recordings, they also had an ear for V good music that most people, regardless of personal preferences, would enjoy having in their library.
 
 As always, YMMV JMHO
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: SunnyDaze on September 05, 2011, 11:20:35 AM
I own all the Cream LP's in mint condition, if anyone wants to hear them at the shop when I finally make it back up there. You can hear tape hiss and edits on Disraeli Gears. It's amazing.

I've also got a mint copy of Blind Faith with the album cover that was yanked after day one, if anyone's interested in hearing it.

I have an excellent copy of the Layla LP as well, same rules apply. Ask and I'll bring it. Their cover of Little Wing is magical. Also, "Keys to the Highway" was a total improv jam session. Notice how it starts out rolling. The engineers came into the studio and noticed Clapton and Allman going at it, the producer screamed "Hit the f**king switch!"

Clapton's solo stuff, naw. Just naw.
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on September 05, 2011, 06:42:23 PM
anything produced by Sheffield Lab, however. The majority of their productions were classical and Jazz, but besides having the dedication and technical ability to produce exquisite sounding recordings, they also had an ear for V good music

I have one of theirs.

Thelma Houston and Pressure Cooker
I’ve Got the Music in Me
Direct disc recording
1975
Sheffield Lab-2 (SL7/SL8) pressed in Japan
Produced & Engineered by Bill Schnee

Pressure Cooker is:
Keyboards:
Larry Knechtel
Lincoln Mayorga
Mike Melvoin
Michael Omartian

Guitars:
Larry Carlton
Dean Parks

Bass:
Reinie Press

Drums:
Jim Gordon
Jim Keltner

Percussion:
Gary Coleman
Victor Feldman

Trumpets:
Chuck Findley
Paul Hubinon

Trombone & Bass Trombone:
Dick Hyde
Lew McCreary

Saxophones (& Flutes):
Jim Horn
Tom Scott

French Horn:
Richard Perissi

Singers:
Morgan Ames
Jim Gilstrap
Myrna Matthews
Marti McCall
Lisa Roberts
Jackie Ward

Last, but certainly not least, is the lead vocalist, Thelma Houston.


I thought it would be killer, but it is pure Muzak. :'(
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: wkhanna on September 05, 2011, 06:56:50 PM
Sorry to here that, I will stay away from it.
Should you come across any of the Harry James Band on Sheffield you may be pleasantly surprised.
I will let you all get back to Eric, now.
Pardon the diversion.

Bill
Title: Re: Clapton Crossroads
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on September 05, 2011, 07:38:54 PM
I'm the one who dragged you off topic.   Any apologies should be mine.