The fertile year that signalled the spectacular creative resurgence of Eric Clapton are celebrated with the release of Give Me Strength: The ‘74/’75 Recordings. This collection features no fewer than 29 bonus tracks (12 of them previously unreleased) from the extraordinary period between April 1974 and June 1975, in which Clapton reclaimed and enhanced his status as one of rock’s most legendary guitarists and singer-songwriters...

There are two editions of this album being released. There's a 2 disc collection and a 5 disc that includes 29 bonus tracks, of which 12 have never been released before. The 5 disc edition also, according to the press release, contains a Blu-ray.

As is usual with releases of this nature, we were sent MP3 files with which to review the finished album from and none of the Blu-ray content. So this review is solely based on the inferior audio quality that comes with compressed MP3 files, and the inability to comment on the DVD contents or the packaging.

Give Me Strength houses expanded, remastered versions of Clapton's acclaimed studio albums from the period, 461 Ocean Boulevard and There’s One In Every Crowd, the subsequent live set, Was Here (now remixed and expanded into a double CD), and a disc containing the complete, fabled Freddie King Criteria Studios Session. A sixth Blu-ray disc adds a newly-available 5.1 Surround Sound mix of 461 and the original quadrophonic mix of both studio releases.

Highlights of the album include Clapton's cover of Bob Marley’s 'I Shot The Sheriff', 'Please Be With Me', 'Give Me Strength', and a cover of Bob Dylan’s 'Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door'. The album also includes a selection of session outtakes and unreleased tracks, with unissued extras such as versions of 'Layla', 'Crossroads', 'Little Wing' and a 21 min, 45 sec version of 'Gambling Woman Blues'.

Whether you shell out for the 2 disc essential tracks edition, or the 5 disc (and Blu-ray) version with tons of extras will depend on how much of a Clapton fan you are. For me, the twin disc edition was sufficient - I found some of the extra material a little surplus to requirements. At the end of the day this is a rare treat for Clapton fans.

8

Nick Smithson