Eric Clapton – Just One Night

Just One Night is a 1980 double album by Eric Clapton, recorded live at the Budokan Theatre, Tokyo, Japan in December 1979, when Clapton was touring in support of his final album that year, Backless. The album cover features a painting by Japanese artist Ken Konno. The album reached No. 2 in the US. and No. 3 in the UK and went gold.

Critical reaction to the album was largely positive. At the time of its release, Robert Christgau said the album featured both AM and FM favorites played both warm and raw, or both. “Ultimate Classic Rock” ranked the album in its “Top 100 Live Albums” as the superior of Clapton’s studio albums to date.

Although Eric Clapton released a number of live albums, none of them had ever captured the raw energy and dazzling virtuosity of Just One Night. The most notable difference between this album and Clapton’s other live albums is his band. Led by guitarist Albert Lee, the group is an assemblage of seasoned professionals who managed to put their wits on the tracks, pushing and coercing Clapton into the incredible guitar solos that can be heard throughout the album, such as the one on “Double Trouble” and in “Rambling On My Mind”. More than any of Clapton’s live albums, Just One Night suggests the guitarist’s dynamic performance in concert.

While the title is somewhat misleading, as the album was actually recorded over two nights at the Budokan, there’s no denying the superb playing of Clapton and his band on this album, locked around him, catapulting him to the top. It has often been said that Clapton was better in a live setting than in the studio. So this is truly an album that attests to that fact.

There’s definitely a country edge to the album’s sound, which is a bit surprising given the band’s British line-up. There is also excellent interplay between Clapton and his partner in crime guitarist Albert Lee as well as Chris Stainton on piano who, even today, still tours with Clapton.

The usual classics here are, “Wonderful Tonight”, “Ramblin’ On My Mind”, “After Midnight” in an overloaded performance, “Lay Down Sally” and “Cocaine”.

The guitar solo on “Cocaine” sounds a little different, because it goes through a Talk Box, made famous by Peter Frampton, with Clapton being one of the few times he’s used this device.

There are also some other gems on the album such as, “Tulsa Time”, “Double Trouble”, “Blues Power” and “Setting Me Up”, the latter being an interesting rendition of the track that originally appeared on the first album by Dire Straits, with Albert Lee taking over vocal duties here.

Just One Night is a must album for every Clapton fan and not only of course.

Through double this live album, I select the amazing “Double Trouble”.

Tracklist

A1. Tulsa Time 3:36

A2. Early In The Morning 7:00

A3. Lay Down Sally 5:15

A4. Wonderful Tonight 4:47

B1. If I Don’t Be There By Morning 4:00

B2. Worried Life Blues 8:20

B3. All Our Past Times 5:09

B.4 After Midnight 5:22

C1. Double Trouble 7:40

C2. Setting Me Up 5:29

C3. Blues Power 7:25

D1. Rambling On My Mind/Have You Ever Loved A Woman 8:40

D2. Cocaine 7:10

D3. Further On Up The Road 6:50