Eric Clapton - Live In Hyde Park DVD > Reviews > Old Jackal In Hyde Park.

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Advantages:	One Of The Best Live Concerts Performed By Eric Clapton Et Al .
Disadvantages:	None, Unless You Don't Like Blues Or Rock Music Or Eric Clapton Or Live Music .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

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The Menu
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The DVD menu opens by way of an excerpt from the concert to come. The crowd is panned over by the camera, towards the stage where Eric Clapton is playing his familiar guitar riffs from "Badge". When you hear this, you know there is going to be some great music on this DVD, believe me, there is!

These choices are self explanatory really:
· Play / Resume · Is for playing the concert immediately or resuming the concert from the point you were last at.
· Songs · Takes you to the list of songs available in the concert.
· Audio · Gives you the choice of either: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound or DTS 5.1 Surround or PCM Stereo.
· Lyrics · Allows you to turn the lyrics on or off (visible as subtitles during playback of the concert, so you can sing to your heart's content).
· Credits · Lets you know just who is who on stage if you didn't know already. Plus all the other main people involved in making this DVD.

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The Band
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· Eric Clapton - Guitars / Vocals · Dave Bronze - Bass Guitar · Steve Gadd - Drums · Andy Fairweather Low - Guitar · Jerry Portnoy - Harmonica · Chris Stainton - Keyboards · Roddy Lorimer, Simon Clarke, Tim Sanders - The Kick Horns · Katie Kissoon, Tessa Niles - Backing Vocals · East London Gospel Choir ·

A rockin' Blues group, that take over your senses for approximately ninety minutes. So chill, thrill, but you won't sit still. Clapton at his consistent best, with some of his most faithful, musically talented companions by his side. If you like Blues, if you like Rock, buy this blues rock with Clapton, not Clacton written all through it!

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The Setting
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Hyde Park, London, Saturday June 29th, 1996. A hugely packed arena for one of Clapton's best performances, expertly carried out in aid of the Prince's Trust.

Well filmed, excellent camera shots from the stage over the crowd. Flicks of members of the band whenever you think you should be seeing each individual on there. Visually, audibly, a very entertaining all round concert.

The camera begins by panning over the crowd, to the stage where Eric Clapton casually walks on. Smiling, nodding, he proceeds to pick up an acoustic guitar. You can see his level of concentration is intense. Once he begins plucking a few acoustic notes, his facial expression is showing a type of seriousness, which is a way of knowing he means business!

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The Tracks
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As mentioned above, E.C. begins by playing a few finger pickin' acoustic notes. These don't immediately become a recognized song of his. That's what I like so much about his music. Every time he plays a live concert, even though he might be playing a popular song from the past, he always makes them sound fresh or new. You don't get an exact replica from an album. To me this is great, like hearing something for the first time, but knowing it isn't going to be played or sung badly. Well this track goes into one of his best well known songs, but sung as the MTV "Unplugged" version of Layla!

1) Layla - Clear, crisp, laid-back! This first track makes you feel comfortable, with it's bass guitar, light harmonica, drum beat, keyboard with some trumpet, saxophone backing, oozing with a bluesing, slightly jazzy in the vocal department, rendition of probably his most well known song.
Layla, which was originally performed by his band "Derek & The Dominoes" about thirty years ago, now has an acoustically popular version, if the crowd applause is any measure to judge it. My first favourite track of the concert, gets you thrillin' for a chillin', very worthy of a 10/10.

2) Badge - An old one again from around three decades ago. His then group "Cream" made this one a memorable classic, which is another almost definite inclusion for any E.C. concert. I think it was written by E.C. with George Harrison. Everyone is well balanced. E.C.'s in fine voice. His electric guitar backed by all again. This is probably the best version of Badge I've heard for a long time. Great guitar riffs as usual, again they make the song sound "fresh". What a fantastic ability he has to be able to do that! With vocal backing, light bass guitar work, all are looking "lost" in the music. There is also a very neat little keyboard piece between each verse. The song moves strongly to a pause, as the guitar note hangs in the air, ready to drop, then build up in tempo, where there is the chorus of, "Where is my badge?"..... repeated. This is a tremendous rock, blues song, made visually to look "easy" here. A real treat to watch as well as hear. Another well deserving track for 10/10.

3) Hoochie Coochie Man - If you know the blues, you will know this song. Originally by Willie Dixon, it has a very common blues intro, which hooks you in right away. The words, "A gypsy woman told my mother, 'fore I was born, she said you got a boy child comin', gonna be a son of a gun, gonna make pretty womens, jump 'n' shout, then the world's gonna know, what it's all about"..... Harmonica solo, true blues sound with E.C.'s voice just perfect singing the blues. Hoochie Coochie Man, might give you a good excuse to sing along by using the lyrics available on each track. It's one of those songs that I think you can enjoy by becoming a part of it. I say that, as everyone else goes out of the room when I sing, I am alone in the crowd! For being perfectly performed by everyone, for the solo harmonica piece, it's got to be a 10/10.

4) I Shot The Sheriff - Song by Bob Marley originally. Keyboard intro, electric guitar of E.C.'s quickly awakes. A light reggae, nothing like as much as I would have preferred. This one isn't the best version I've heard by E.C., but it is well played by everyone. The electric guitar pieces are the stand out bits for me, he just continues to amaze me with his ability to make old music sound new. A little tame on the reggae side, as I said, but simple to sing with. I'm too picky I suppose, though I like it. It's a good 9/10.

5) It Hurts Me Too - I can honestly say that now he is older, E.C. sounds more like the young Peter Green of the original Fleetwood Mac, whose gritty vocals made British blues music more akin to it's roots. This really does remind me so much of those sounds. Great guitar blues, wonderful vocal blues too. I have to sing along with this one, it's so easy to do. A typical slide guitar sound, clinking piano, electric guitar blasting out blues notes. Another rocky bluesy number, you can feel the pain as it hurts me too! A positive 10/10.

6) Wonderful Tonight - Just about every woman's favourite by E.C., so it seems to me. He introduces this one, by thanking everyone for being there, as well as for staying! As if they would want to leave, wow, never! Actually, that is something he does after every song in every concert, he says "Thank you!" Back to this track though. Not a very different sound to this one. I think you can only make Wonderful Tonight sound romantic anyway. Classic song, sleepy, dreamy, cuddle up music played in the open air. His guitar does offer up a little difference to this version, not much though. A pleasure to have this on the DVD, a pleasure to hear yet again. I'll give this a 10/10.

7) Five Long Years - Wow, how many great blues songs can you fit on here? Old "Slowhand" sure moves fast, is this man ever going to tire? I don't think so. A long guitar intro, more harmonica, classic blues music, gritty again vocals. Electric blues just as it should be, rockin' you making you sway, sing or play air guitar. I love it, astounding stuff. Piano solo (almost), plinking, tickles the blues ivories. Harmonica solo, rootsy sound, mellow sound. Some sax again, just about everyone performs in this fairly long song, but definitely electric blues guitar riffs rule. There are so many colours in the blues, that's my interpretation of it anyway! Stirs up the emotions pretty good I think. This one was originally by Eddie Boyd, who once did an album or two with P.G.'s Fleetwood Mac. Another perfect blues one that warrants a 10/10.

8) Tearin' Us Apart - This was originally sung on an album by E.C. with Tina Turner, Phil Collins was on the drums then. Here is a beautiful version of it, rockin' guitar, more a rock song than a blues song. Great guitar intro again, with backing of keyboards, then everyone, including a fair bit of brass. That guitar of E.C.'s is so distinctive. More superb riffs, creating that freshness once more. His strong voice along with Katie Kissoon's make it almost "Gospel" like, very soulful. Out comes that air guitar again, either that or the imaginary drum kit. Turn on the lyrics, sing as loud as you want (but close the windows, draw the curtains, turn up the volume, ROCK!). I don't tire of listening to music played this well, another 10/10.

9) Old Love - A track from the album Journeyman, which if you haven't heard yet, you should, it's a romantic rocker of an album, with some blues on it that might make the hair on your neck stand up. George Harrison wrote one of the tracks on that album with E.C. Sorry I drifted away from the concert. Old Love is a slow ballad, the lyrics touch my soul, the guitar riffs, the bluesy bits, reach inside me. A smoochy song, makes me close my eyes just as they do, lost in another world of old memories, but feeling goooood. I could put this on repeat just to dream away another five or so minutes. A top class rock, pop, blues song, guaranteed to bring you some emotions of some sort. Has to be another 10/10.

10) I'm Tore Down - A Freddie King song originally. Blues with feeling, but not one that I like that much. It seems a little bland in relation to the rest. The only thing that keeps it afloat is the guitar playing, a little spasmodic in comparison. For me, this isn't very exciting. You could probably chill to nearly fridge temperature, a bit of a chiller but not a thriller. 7/10.

11) Have You Ever Loved A Woman - Another Freddie King song originally. Another not so exciting one, but better than the last. I enjoy the guitar playing here, the soft drum beats in the background. It does have more feeling to it, digs pretty deep in places. E.C. seems to really be deep into this one too. He sings it as well as any other. I can hear the P.G. similarity again also, which mixes well with the smoother riffs. It's growing on me the more I listen, so I'm going to give it a hard pushed 9/10.

12) White Room - A classic again from the "Cream" years. A fair bet this one is included in most concerts again, as it has been often. Still sounding as fresh as ever. Given new life here again. The lyrics are meaningful. E.C.'s performance along with the rest of the group make this a stand out track. Lot's of brass backing, the vocals are soft from the backing group, while E.C. grits out his words nicely again. Back to the guitar riffs, which have spoiled us throughout the whole concert. You can see that everyone is enjoying being witness, as well as party to this music. Giving their all on stage, not only on this track, but on all tracks. One of my definites for that high 10/10.

13) Every Day I Have The Blues - Obviously another big blues song. I can't remember whose this was originally, but it is a great song. A swinging blues track with all those guitar playing moments that you need, riffs that need plenty of air space, maybe riff rafs? That air guitar can fly with this track. Nearing the end of the concert, E.C. is still going strong, as are the rest of the band. If you think any of these should be tired out by now, watching this, you will know that they look like, sound like they could go on for another hour or two. Well, this rootsy blues number sits firmly with the other great blues examples on here. Harmonica, bass guitar, brassy backing, mainly lead guitar pushing out that electric blues sound again, also untiring vocals. It proves to be another contender for at least a 9/10.

14) Holy Mother - Oh no, the last track of the concert. The time flies by when you are enjoying yourself so much. This is from the same album as Tearin' Us Apart originally. It's not so bluesy, more a pop rock song that has the reliable Gospel backing sound. Well he is asking the Holy Mother, "Hear my cry!". A fairly slow song, seeping soulful lyrics. Adapted vocally from the gritty sound, E.C. now sings as he does in Wonderful Tonight. The guitar is played gently through this track. The prominent, almost Bob Dylan sound of the harmonica near the end, makes this track a perfect one to end on. Then the guitar leaps in to the forefront of the East London Gospel Choir chorus, giving us the riffs familiar throughout. It's good, it makes me want to play the concert again, but the rating for this one is a 9/10.

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There, you have approximately 89 minutes of a superbly performed concert. The DVD is region coded for 2/3/4/5/6, so will play on all regions EXCEPT region 1 players. The picture format is in 4.3 PAL fullscreen.

The sound quality in any one of the available settings, is impeccable as far as I can hear. That says a lot for some concerts or live performances don't come across so well. This one exceeds I think.

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The Title
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Just a quick explanation for my title of this opinion. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, so they say. With Eric Clapton, you don't need to. Give him a Park filled with people, he will perform better than the last time, so it appears. Also, he has the ability to change his sound, from pop to rock to blues. Many faces, but all recognizable.

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Take into account that I am a big fan of Eric Claptons music, so maybe I rate some songs higher than I might if I wasn't. Although, it's probably safe to say if you like rocking blues music, with plenty of atmosphere, guitar music which is played faultlessly, LIVE!, This is for you.

If you want a quick bargain, this DVD can be purchased from www.play.com for just £9.99p delivered in the UK. This is correct today the 3rd January 2003.

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Thanks very much for reading this. All comments are welcome. I hope you found this helpful :-)