Customer Reviews

Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads...

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was at the epic length concert on June 30, 1999 (not July 30, as mistakenly written on this site), and I had a wonderful time listening to some of the most incredible guitar playing I'd ever heard. I was overjoyed to hear that a video/DVD of the show would be released, but I was very disappointed with the actual product. The concert lasted over three hours, and Amazon.com notes that the DVD/video is 170 minutes in their review, yet it is only 108 minutes! More than an hour of music has been cut out by the manufacturers, including what I believed to be the highlights of the show. Gone are Eric Clapton's "My Father's Eyes", "Pilgrim", Sheryl Crow's "Run Baby Run", "Leaving Las Vegas", "If It Makes You Happy", and Bob Dylan's "Not Dark Yet", "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat". Gone is the showstopping duet of between Dylan and Clapton of "Born In Time", a song Dylan wrote in 1991 that was covered by Clapton on his most recent album. Instead, what the producers of this DVD and video have put out are solid performanes of songs that have already been released on live albums and videos countless times. Sure, I enjoy hearing "Layla", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Tears In Heaven", "Wonderful Tonight", and "Old Love", but I have them live on other Clapton live releases, and they sound very much the same; I would have rathered to have selections that no other live recording is avaliable of, or even better, the entire concert. DVDs can hold 4-8 hours, so there's no reason why they couldn't have included everything. Also, on the DVD, the producers do not allow the "angle" feature to be used; for those unfamiliar with DVD, this is a feature that allows you to change the camera angle at which you're viewing the picture. It's especially useful in concert videos, because if you want to look at Clapton's guitar solo when they're showing Steve Gadd's drumming, you can - if they encode that feature, which they inexplicably chose not to. What angles they did choose were poorly selected; it's filled with bad framing and inappropriate zooms. It's a shame they didn't, because it was a fantastic concert.

I adore Clapton, and own all of his DVD's. I have to rate this one at the bottom of the list, though it is worth the purchase just to get the rare "Little Wing" performance. He uses the same arrangement/approach that the Dominos used, and it is good. After that, I have to agree with the other reviews here that critise the choices of selections from the concert that ended up on the DVD. I would really enjoy seeing the songs that were deleted, rather than the great, but oft repeated warhorses like "Sunshine of Your Love", and yet another "Tears in Heaven." There are just so many wonderful choices in his past repetoire that he NEVER performs now like "Strange Brew", "Forever Man", or "I Am Yours" that would be precious to many of his fans! But to avoid misunderstanding, I must say that what is here is predominantly great. (The only blatant exception being the horror of what is done to the usually poignant "Old Love" by a keyboardist that I have never seen with him before. I "skip" over that song always!)

The guests are somewhat unusual, though mostly pleasing. Sheryl Crow is fine, Bob Dylan is excellent, Dave Sanborn is probably good, (I rarely take note of horns), but the Mary Blige section is, ...well, ...unexpected!.

Clapton's backing band is mostly the same folks that are usually with him; Andy Fairweather-Low, Steve Gadd, and Nathan East with Katie Kissoon & Tessa Niles. They are always enjoyable to hear. (He later dropped the girls from his 2002 tour, and I missed them on "One More Car"/Rider). I have read that he sometimes determines his song selections according to the capabilities of his backing group. If that is so, then I would appreciate a little variety in the players he recruits - time is moving on, and I would love to hear/see him do some of the afformentioned tunes before he hangs up his new, graphic strat forever!

There are excellent performances by Clapton, Sanborn & Crow. The Blige and Dylan performances were not so good. A mixed bag. The other Clapton dvd's are probably better. Not a keeper but a good 1 off rental.

Well, I loved this DVD. From "Layla" (which, might I add, is not predictable, seeing as how it's the first time he's played the Derek and the Dominos version of the song in who knows how long) to "River of Tears", this is a great concert. The guest artists are excellent. Sheryl Crow and Clapton sound wonderful together, and I was glad to see her there. Mary J. Blige... I don't know, if it suits your fancy... and Bob Dylan was excellent if you like Bob Dylan, as I do. David Sanborn, one of the best rock saxophone players today, is an excellent addition to the house band, which includes standards like Nathan East, Steve Gadd, Andy Fairweather-Low, Tessa Niles, and Katie Kissoon, plus Tim Carmon, a great keyboard player who makes his keyboard solo sound like a guitar solo in "Old Love", and Dave Delhomme, who just sits and plays keyboards. Great companion to "Live in Hyde Park".

Very powerful concert with Eric, Sheryl Crow, David Sanborn, Bob Dylan, and the rest of the band playing in top form. The picture is crisp and the sound superb. A great disc for any dvd enthuisiast.

I attended this concert, and this production is faithful to the performance. I particularly enjoyed Hoochie Coochie Man, a blistering rendition of the Muddy Waters classic. David Sanborn highlights Little Wing, an Eric Clapton/Sheryl Crow duet, with some inspired sax. The rest of the show was so good that Bob Dylan's introduction for the final set was almost an anticlimax. I highly recommend this disc, I have played it almost every night since I acquired it.

From 'Hoochie-Coochie Man' to 'Change the World', Clapton does some serious guitar playing! The Dolby Digital does it justice too! After seeing this Clapton is the MAN!

In a rare peek into the vast live performance catalog of the guitar virtuoso, the Benefit for Crossroads DVD is a magical gem. I've been tracking Clapton's career since I was seven and see now that maturity and age have sweetened his bouquet and strengthened his potency. He has never played better and his voice has never sounded so strong and emotional.

If you're looking for cheap theatrics or even sophisticated ones, then you don't know Eric Clapton. This man puts on a show, but it is a show of music and musicianship unrivaled by anyone. There is little action and no explosions, but this is a concert, not a Jackie Chan movie. Clapton takes the stage and your attention and your heart on a sonic roller coaster ride - no diverting light show needed.

He performs a few classics with his usual passion as well as setting up a few I've never heard him do live. Hendrix's "Little Wing" from his stint as Derek is as powerful as ever. And when Sanborn takes what looks to be an unexpectedly long solo, Clapton and Sheryl Crow beam at him, smiling. A little magic caught on film.

But not the only magic.

"Old Love," one of his newer classics and rising in my list of favorite Clapton tunes, has quite a showing here. From dead silence as he plays through a searing emotional blues solo to cheering and applause in the middle of the song, this one demands to be heard.

His guests shine as well, particularly Sheryl Crow crooning "Difficult Kind," a song that has since become a favorite of mine.

Yes, I'm one of Eric Clapton's biggest fans. I nearly killed myself racing 80 mph, dodging tornadoes and T-storms to make it to his concert in Dallas' Reunion Arena in the early '90s. I bought this DVD without compulsion after having seen it on VH1. I'm just glad you cannot wear out a DVD or this one would be paper-thin powder.

If you're a Clapton fan, there is enough magic here to enthrall you for years - too much to mention. If you're not, you will be after watching this. Some magic is just too strong to resist.

I believe this DVD to be one of Eric's greatest pieces of work -showcasing his fantastic talent - untouched by anyone - the music was truly heartfelt and held intense meaning for Eric as well as the CAUSE for which it was held. TRULY MAGNIFICENT <><>
L. Barnes

If you're a musician, buy this; you cannot ensemble a band better than this one. Even their mistakes sound great. The band missed a few bars on a Mary J. Blinge song ... it is funny on how Mr. East (bassist) looks at Clapton smiling (they were having a blast...)

The sound is the best, considering is on a pack Madison Square Garden. I even put it better that the James Taylor and Eagles DTS. Yes, there are some boring songs but especially Dylan , but there are a couple of songs that simply are awesome.