Eric Clapton’s 1991 live album “24 Nights” will be re-issued in June as “The Definitive 24 Nights”, with two massively expanded super deluxe box sets. Eric Clapton’s ground-breaking run of 24 concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall were some of the most ambitious shows of his career. Each night featured him performing a career-spanning set with one of three line-ups – a rock band, a blues band, or an orchestra conducted by Michael Kamen.
The original double live album and home video delivered great performances but only covered a fraction of what was filmed and recorded. That’s about to change.”
The double album that was released (on vinyl, CD and cassette) covered a fraction of what was filmed and recorded but now 34 years later that is about to change with a total of eight physical editions lead by 6CD+ 3blu-ray and 8LP+3blu-ray super deluxe edition box sets!
All audio has been restored, remixed and remastered and the three types of concert have been effectively formatted into three double albums which all fit on two CDs or three vinyl records (the exception is the Blues concert which fits on 2LPs). The two super deluxe edition box sets bring all of these together, which is why the CD version has six CDs and the vinyl edition has eight LPs.
Both box sets include three blu-rays (unavailable anywhere else), details of which are scant but which clearly will be devoted to the three types of show. A limited theatrical presentation called “Across 24 Nights” is planned for May which features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, so that suggests the blu-rays included in the box set should also feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack (not confirmed). “Clapton has performed at the Albert Hall] over 200 times , more than any other artist,” Warner Records said in a statement. “He also holds the record for the longest run of concerts at the venue. He set it in 1990 with 18 shows, then broke it the following year with 24 concerts. These were some of the most ambitious shows of Clapton’s career.
The biggest highlight from the orchestral concert – and possibly the entire boxed set – is the previously unreleased 30-minute epic, ‘Concerto for Guitar.’ Kamen composed the piece especially for Clapton, which made its live debut at Albert Hall.”
Clapton surrounded himself with superlative musicians for these concerts. The roster includes the likes of Johnnie Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, Chuck Leavell, Phil Collins, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Nathan East, Greg Phillinganes, Steve Ferrone, Ray Cooper and Jerry Portnoy.
Each box set also includes a hardcover book and an individually numbered lithograph featuring a photograph of Clapton by Carl Studna.
The three concerts (Rock, Blues and Orchestral) are also available individually as 2CD+DVD sets or 3LP (Rock, Orchestral) or 2LP (Blues) vinyl sets.
The “Definitive 24 Nights” and the individual “24 Nights” sets will be released on 23rd June 2023 via Warner Music.
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