24 Nights

1991 live album by Eric Clapton
24 Nights
Live album by
Eric Clapton
Released8 October 1991
RecordedJanuary–February 1990
February–March 1991
VenueRoyal Albert Hall, London
GenreRock, blues
Length105:20 (original album)
347:56 (expanded edition)
LabelDuck / Reprise
ProducerRuss Titelman
Eric Clapton chronology
Journeyman
(1989) 		24 Nights
(1991) 		Rush
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Consumer Guide(neither)[2]
The New York Times(favourable)[3]
Rolling Stone[4]

24 Nights is a 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.[5] The cover illustration is by Peter Blake. It was reissued in June 2023 as The Definitive 24 Nights in a limited edition box set containing songs which were not included in the original release.[6] The reissue contains 35 previously unreleased performances and the collection is divided into three sets: Rock, Blues, and Orchestral.[7]

Background

Following a record-setting run of 12 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in 1989, Clapton broke his own record in 1990, playing 18 nights at the venue between 18 January and 10 February 1990, and again in 1991, playing 24 nights between 5 February and 9 March 1991. The album was named after the 1991 run, but included songs from both the 1990 and 1991 runs.

The 1990 concerts were performed with four different ensembles. The first six nights featured a four-piece band, with Clapton, bassist Nathan East, drummer Steve Ferrone and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. The second six nights featured a nine-piece band, with the four-piece band joined by Phil Palmer 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, Richard Cousins on bass, and Jamie Oldaker on drums, plus special guests Buddy Guy and Robert Cray. And finally three orchestra nights, with the nine-piece band joined by the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Michael Kamen.[8]

The 1991 concerts had a similar configuration, with four different ensembles, this time for six nights each. The only change in the four-piece, nine-piece, and orchestral groups was the substitution of Chuck Leavell for Alan Clark. Phil Collins played some shows in 1991. The blues band was reshuffled, with Joey Spampinato replacing Richard Cousins on bass, and adding Jimmie Vaughan as a regular guitarist, Leavell on keyboards, and Jerry Portnoy on harmonica; Guy and Cray were joined by an additional guest performer, Albert Collins.[9]

Recording

Five of the 1990 concerts were recorded for the live album – the final nights of the first three ensembles, and the final two nights of the orchestra.

The four-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 nine-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 nights with the first three ensembles, and the two orchestra nights before the final night.

"Badge" was taken from the four-piece show on 10 February 1991. The nine-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" and "Cocaine" which were subsequently released on various CD singles of "Wonderful Tonight".[10] "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" (second solo only) on the "24 Nights" DVD are different from their album counterparts. 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

  1. "Badge" (Eric Clapton/George Harrison) – 6:51
  2. "Running on Faith" (Jerry Lynn Williams) – 6:49
  3. "White Room" (Jack Bruce/Pete Brown) – 6:10
  4. "Sunshine of Your Love" (Bruce/Brown/Clapton) – 9:11
  5. "Watch Yourself" (Buddy Guy) – 5:39
  6. "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" (Billy Myles) – 6:52
  7. "Worried Life Blues" (Big Maceo Merriweather) – 5:28
  8. "Hoodoo Man" (Amos "Junior" Wells) – 5:41

Disc two

  1. "Pretending" (Jerry Lynn Williams) – 7:08
  2. "Bad Love" (Clapton/Mick Jones) – 6:25
  3. "Old Love" (Clapton/Robert Cray) – 13:01
  4. "Wonderful Tonight" (Clapton) – 9:11
  5. "Bell Bottom Blues" (Clapton/Bobby Whitlock) – 6:39
  6. "Hard Times" (Ray Charles) – 3:45
  7. "Edge of Darkness" (Clapton/Michael Kamen) – 6:30

The Definitive 24 Nights (2023)

Disc one (Rock)

  1. "Pretending" (Jerry Lynn Williams) – 6:47
  2. "Running on Faith" (Jerry Lynn Williams) – 7:09
  3. "Breaking Point" (Jerry Lynn Williams/Marty Grebb) – 6:22
  4. "I Shot the Sheriff" (Bob Marley) – 8:01
  5. "White Room" (Jack Bruce/Pete Brown) – 6:01
  6. "Can't Find My Way Home" (Steve Winwood) – 7:01
  7. "Bad Love" (Clapton/Mick Jones) – 6:17
  8. "Before You Accuse Me" (Ellas McDaniel) – 6:25
  9. "Lay Down Sally" (Clapton/George Terry/Marcy Levy) – 8:05
  10. "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan) – 6:11
  11. "Old Love" (Clapton/Robert Cray) – 8:58
  12. "No Alibis" (Williams) – 6:39
  13. "Tearing Us Apart" (Clapton/Greg Phillinganes) – 7:01
  14. "Cocaine" (J.J. Cale) – 6:34
  15. "Wonderful Tonight" (Clapton) – 8:59
  16. "Layla" (Clapton/Jim Gordon) – 8:08
  17. "Crossroads" (Robert Johnson) – 8:55
  18. "Sunshine of Your Love" (Bruce/Brown/Clapton) – 11:26

Disc two (Blues)

  1. "Key to the Highway" (Charles Segar/William Broonzy) – 6:32
  2. "Worried Life Blues" (Big Maceo Merriweather) – 5:24
  3. "You Better Watch Yourself" (Walter Jacobs) – 5:12
  4. "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" (Billy Myles) – 6:57
  5. "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" (Walter Jacobs) – 7:23
  6. "Something On Your Mind" (Cecil James McNeely) – 6:12
  7. "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)" (Otis Rush) – 6:18
  8. "It's My Life Baby" (Don Robey/Ferdinand Washington) – 6:54
  9. "Johnnie's Boogie" featuring Johnnie Johnson (Johnnie Johnson) – 2:48
  10. "Black Cat Bone" featuring Albert Collins (Sam Hopkins) – 4:59
  11. "Reconsider Baby" (Lowell Fulson) – 10:50
  12. "My Time After a While" featuring Buddy Guy (Bob Geddins/Ron Badger) – 10:54
  13. "Sweet Home Chicago" (Robert Johnson) – 5:23
  14. "You Better Watch Yourself (Reprise)" (Walter Jacobs) – 3:03

Disc three (Orchestral) Featuring the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Michael Kamen

  1. "Crossroads" (Robert Johnson) – 9:57
  2. "Bell Bottom Blues" (Clapton/Bobby Whitlock) – 6:01
  3. "Lay Down Sally" (Clapton/George Terry/Marcy Levy) – 5:51
  4. "Holy Mother" (Clapton/Stephen Bishop) – 5:24
  5. "I Shot the Sheriff" (Bob Marley) – 8:12
  6. "Hard Times" (Ray Charles) – 3:52
  7. "Can't Find My Way Home" (Steve Winwood) – 6:59
  8. "Edge of Darkness" (Clapton/Michael Kamen) – 6:15
  9. "Old Love" (Clapton/Robert Cray) – 9:18
  10. "Wonderful Tonight" (Clapton) – 9:22
  11. "White Room" (Jack Bruce/Pete Brown) – 5:58
  12. "Concerto for Electric Guitar" (Kamen) – 28:57
  13. "A Remark You Made" (Josef Zawinul) – 1:40
  14. "Layla" (Clapton/Jim Gordon) – 8:18
  15. "Sunshine of Your Love" (Bruce/Brown/Clapton) – 8:43

Track listing (DVD)

Clapton wore this custom-made Versace suit for the recording sessions in 1991.
  1. "Running on Faith" (6:49)
  2. "White Room" (6:10)
  3. "Sunshine of Your Love" (9:11)
  4. "Watch Yourself" (5:39)
  5. "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" (6:52)
  6. "Worried Life Blues" (5:28)
  7. "Pretending" (7:08)
  8. "Bad Love" (6:25)
  9. "Old Love" (13:01)
  10. "Wonderful Tonight" (9:11)
  11. "Bell Bottom Blues" (6:39)
  12. "Hard Times" (3:45)
  13. "Edge of Darkness" (6:30)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart performance for 24 Nights
Chart (1991–2014) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 49
Australian Music DVD (ARIA)[12] 34
Danish Music DVD (Hitlisten)[13] 2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14] 36
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] 48
Italian Music DVD (FIMI)[16] 13
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[17] 29
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[18] 49
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 19
UK Albums (OCC)[20] 17
US Billboard 200[21] 38
US Top Music Videos (Billboard)[22] 5
Chart performance for The Definitive 24 Nights
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[23] 187
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] 30
Scottish Albums (OCC)[25] 64
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[26] 31
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 27
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[28] 59
Chart performance for 24 Nights: Rock
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[29] 146
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] 16
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 60
Scottish Albums (OCC)[25] 43
Chart performance for 24 Nights: Blues
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[32] 131
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[33] 25
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[34] 82
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 52
Scottish Albums (OCC)[25] 58
Chart performance for 24 Nights: Orchestral
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[36] 159
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[37] 31
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[38] 40
Scottish Albums (OCC)[25] 47
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 99

Certifications

Album

Certifications for 24 Nights album
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[40] Gold 100,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[41] Gold 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[43] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Video

Certifications for 24 Nights video
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] Platinum 15,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[45] Platinum 10,000^
United States (RIAA)[46] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ William Ruhlmann: 24 Nights Eric Clapton. Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  2. ^ Christgau, R. Eric Clapton. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  3. ^ Pareles, J: Ever Solid and Reliable. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  4. ^ 24 Nights Album Review. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  5. ^ 24 Nights at Where's Eric!
  6. ^ "Eric Clapton Announces 'The Definitive 24 Nights' Box Set". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Eric Clapton's deluxe upgrade of 24 Nights: a hits collection and a collectors dream". Louder Sound. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  8. ^ 1990 Eric Clapton Tour archive Archived 19 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine at Where's Eric!
  9. ^ 1991 Eric Clapton Tour archive Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine at Where's Eric!
  10. ^ 28 February 1991 - Eric Clapton Tour archive Archived 20 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine at Where's Eric!
  11. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. ^ "The ARIA Report – Issue 704" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Australian Web Archives. 18 August 2003. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2003. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Musik Video Top-10 UGE 32-2001". Hitlsten (in Danish). IFPI Danmark. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 41 dal 2014-10-06 al 2014-10-12". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (in Italian). F.I.M.I. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  17. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  18. ^ "Charts.nz – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Eric Clapton | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Eric Clapton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  22. ^ "Top Music Videos" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 103 (51). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 76 21 December 1991. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – The Definitive 24 Nights" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  24. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – The Definitive 24 Nights" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  25. ^ a b c d "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  27. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – The Definitive 24 Nights". Hung Medien.
  28. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  29. ^ "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Rock" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  30. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Rock" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  31. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Blues" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Blues" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  34. ^ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  35. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Blues". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  36. ^ "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Orchestral" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  37. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Orchestral" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  38. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2023. 26. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  39. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Orchestral". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  40. ^ "ABPD Gold Sales Award – "24 Nights"". Equipboard, Inc. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  41. ^ "AMPROFON Gold Sales Award – "24 Nights"". Equipboard, Inc. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  42. ^ "British album certifications – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  43. ^ "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  45. ^ "Canadian Sales Rocket Up" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 103 (50). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 14 December 1991. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  46. ^ "American video certifications – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 December 2015.

External links

Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations
Singles
Soundtracks
Concert films
Collaborations
Tours
Bands
Related
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
  • MusicBrainz release group