''24 Nights'' is the fifth live album by Eric Clapton, compiled from 42 concerts performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, in 1990 and 1991. It was released on 8 October 1991. The cover illustration is by Peter Blake.

Background

Following a record-setting run of 12 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in 1989, Clapton broke his own record in 1990, by playing 18 nights at the venue between 18 January and 10 February 1990. These concerts were performed with four different ensembles. The first six nights featured a 4-piece band, with Clapton, bassist Nathan East, drummer Steve Ferrone and keyboardist

Greg Phillinganes Gregory Arthur Phillinganes (born May 12, 1956) is an American keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and musical director based in Los Angeles, California. A prolific session musician, Phillinganes has contributed the role of keyboards to numerous alb ...

. The second six nights featured a 9-piece band, with the four-piece band joined by

Phil Palmer Philip John Palmer (born 9 September 1952) is a rock sideman and session guitarist who has toured, recorded, and worked with numerous artists. He is best known for his work with Eric Clapton and Dire Straits. Biography Palmer grew up in nor ...

on guitar, Alan Clark on keyboards, Ray Cooper on percussion, and backing vocalists Katie Kissoon and Tessa Niles. Then came three nights with a blues band, featuring Johnnie Johnson on keyboards, Robert Cousins on bass, and Jamie Oldaker on drums, plus special guests

Buddy Guy George "Buddy" Guy (born July 30, 1936) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He is an exponent of Chicago blues who has influenced generations of guitarists including Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Stevie Ray Vaugh ...

and

Robert Cray Robert William Cray (born August 1, 1953) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He has led his own band and won five Grammy Awards. Early life Robert Cray was born on August 1, 1953, in Columbus, Georgia, while his father was statione ...

. And finally three orchestra nights, with the 9-piece band joined by the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by

Michael Kamen Michael Arnold Kamen (April 15, 1948 – November 18, 2003) was an American composer (especially of film scores), orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, songwriter, and session musician. Biography Early life Michael Arnold Kamen was born ...

. The following year, Clapton played the titular "24 Nights", between 5 February and 9 March 1991. This run had a similar configuration as the previous year, with four different ensembles, this time for 6 nights each. The only change in the four-piece, nine-piece, and orchestral groups was the substitution of Chuck Leavell for Alan Clark. The blues band was reshuffled, with

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replacing Robert Cousins on bass, and adding Jimmie Vaughan as a regular guitarist, Chuck Leavell on keyboard, and Jerry Portnoy on harmonica; Guy and Cray were joined by an additional guest performer,

Albert Collins Albert Gene Drewery, known as Albert Collins and the Ice Man (October 1, 1932 – November 24, 1993),Skeely, Richard. "Albert Collins: Biography" Allmusic.com. was an American electric blues guitarist and singer with a distinctive guitar style. ...

Recording

Five of the 1990 concerts were recorded for the live album -- the final night with the first three ensembles, and the final two nights with the orchestra. The 4-piece band recording on 24 January 1990 produced the versions of "Running on Faith", "White Room" and "Sunshine of Your Love" that were included on the CD and DVD. "Worried Life Blues", "Watch Yourself" and "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" were from the blues band recording on 5 February 1990. "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Hard Times" with the orchestra were taken from the first of those sessions, on 9 February 1990. No songs were used from the 9-piece band recording on 1 February 1990, or the second orchestral recording on 10 February 1990. Clapton reportedly was not satisfied with these recordings, and delayed the release of a CD until the following year. Another five concerts were recorded in 1991, this time the penultimate night with the first three ensembles, and the two orchestra nights before the final night. "Badge" was taken from the 4-piece show on 10 February 1991. The 9-piece band session on 18 February 1991 produced "Pretending", "Bad Love", "Old Love" and "Wonderful Tonight" for this album, plus recordings of " No Alibis", "

I Shot The Sheriff "I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley and released in 1973 with his band Bob Marley and the Wailers. Bob Marley and the Wailers version The song was first released in 1973 on The Wailers' album '' Burn ...

" and "

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" which were subsequently released on various CD singles of "Wonderful Tonight".28 February 1991 - Eric Clapton Tour archive
at Where's Eric! "Hoodoo Man" was from the blues band night recorded on 28 February 1991. "Edge of Darkness" was from the first orchestral session on 7 March 1991. No songs were used from the second orchestral recording on 8 March 1991. The versions of "Old Love", "Wonderful Tonight" and "Pretending" (2nd solo only) on the "24 Nights" DVD are different from their album counterparts. They were not taken from the previous night's show. They can be identified as 1991 by the appearance of Chuck Leavell, who was not with the band in 1990.

Track listing (CD)

Disc one

# "

Badge A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and ...

" ( Eric Clapton/ George Harrison) – 6:51 # "Running on Faith" ( Jerry Lynn Williams) – 6:49 # " White Room" (

Jack Bruce John Symon Asher Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish bassist, singer-songwriter, musician and composer. He gained popularity as the primary lead vocalist and ‍bassist ‍of British rock band Cream. After the group disband ...

/ Pete Brown) – 6:10 # " Sunshine of Your Love" (Bruce/Brown/Clapton) – 9:11 # "Watch Yourself" (

) – 5:39 # "

Have You Ever Loved a Woman "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" is a blues song written by Billy Myles and first recorded by American blues artist Freddie King in 1960. The song is performed as a slow 12-bar blues with King's vocal and guitar accompanied by a small combo of pia ...

" ( Billy Myles) – 6:52 # "

Worried Life Blues "Worried Life Blues" is a blues standard and one of the most recorded blues songs of all time. Originally recorded by Big Maceo Merriweather in 1941, "Worried Life Blues" was an early blues hit and Maceo's most recognized song. An earlier song ...

" (

Big Maceo Merriweather Major Merriweather (March 31, 1905 – February 23, 1953), better known as Big Maceo Merriweather, was an American pianist and blues singer. He was mainly active in Chicago through the 1940s. Career Born in Newnan, Georgia, he was a self-tau ...

) – 5:28 # " Hoodoo Man" ( Amos "Junior" Wells) – 5:41

Disc two

# " Pretending" ( Jerry Lynn Williams) – 7:08 # " Bad Love" (Clapton/ Mick Jones) – 6:25 # " Old Love" (Clapton/

) – 13:01 # " Wonderful Tonight" (Clapton) – 9:11 # " Bell Bottom Blues" (Clapton/

Bobby Whitlock Robert Stanley Whitlock (born March 18, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, with Eric Clapton, in 1970–71. Whitlock's musical career began with Memp ...

) – 6:39 # " Hard Times" (

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

) – 3:45 # "

Edge of Darkness ''Edge of Darkness'' is a British television drama serial produced by BBC Television in association with Lionheart Television International and originally broadcast in six 55-minute episodes in late 1985. A mixture of crime drama and politica ...

" (Clapton/

) – 6:30

Track listing (DVD)

# " Running on Faith" (6:49) # " White Room" (6:10) # " Sunshine of Your Love" (9:11) # "Watch Yourself" (5:39) # "

Have You Ever Loved A Woman "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" is a blues song written by Billy Myles and first recorded by American blues artist Freddie King in 1960. The song is performed as a slow 12-bar blues with King's vocal and guitar accompanied by a small combo of pia ...

" (6:52) # "

" (5:28) # " Pretending" (7:08) # " Bad Love" (6:25) # "Old Love" (13:01) # " Wonderful Tonight" (9:11) # " Bell Bottom Blues" (6:39) # "Hard Times" (3:45) # "

" (6:30)

Charts

Weekly charts

Certifications

Album

Video

References

External links

Eric Clapton Bootography
{{Authority control Albums produced by Russ Titelman Eric Clapton live albums Live albums recorded at the Royal Albert Hall 1991 live albums Reprise Records live albums Eric Clapton video albums