SoundBoard

The Lost Polydor Tapes “Archives Pathfinder” is an October 2001 Mid Valley release. Over six discs, this covers outtakes and alternate mixes from three albums over a five year period. Eric Clapton, released in 1970, his first solo album, 461 Ocean Boulevard was issued in 1974 and is considered to be one of his best solo releases, and its follow up There’s One In Every Crowd which wasn’t as successful. These three make up his first three true solo albums (Layla released under Derek And The Dominos).

This set is authoritative simply because, despite the list above, titles with Clapton studio outtakes are very rare, unlike title for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones which are simply out of control. Archives Pathfinder is the only comprehensive collection documenting any time period of his career. And the sound quality is uniformly excellent for all the volumes.

Vol. IV = Outtakes and Alternate mixes Album "461 Ocean Boulevard"

Disc four opens with the unreleased track ”Something You’ve Got,” an uptempo rock instrumental. “It’s Never Too Late (To Be Sorry)” is another unused song. The first take is a fast tempo rock version with Clapton and Yvonne Elliman repeating the title over and over again for two and a half minutes. The second is slower and lasts for seven minutes.

Unnamed instrumental jams fill the middle of the disc. The jam in the key of “F” is two and a half minute long fast paced gospel improvisation. The following jam in C# lasts for almost twenty minutes and has two halfs. The first half is a slower, syncopated blues number dominated by organ and duel guitars with both Terry and Clapton taking turns. It then turns into a quicker paced rocking number with the guitars weaving the melody around an exaggerated bassline.

Jam in F is a seven minute straight forward 12-bar blues. This sounds much like the improves you can find on many Clapton live recordings. It is followed by two jams in the key of E. The first lasting eight minutes, is a catchy, fast paced funk jam. The second lasts nearly as long and it returns to a heavier gospel feel.

There are two jams which feature Clapton and Terry on the Dobro, playing what would be recorded as “Give Me Strength.” Finally, “Eric After Hour Blues” is a five minute blues jam that first surfaced on the limited edition bonus disc that came with The Blues in 1999 and also is included on the 2004 deluxe edition of 461 Ocean Boulevard. “Walkin’ Down The Road” is a fully polished outtake that also appears on Crossroads 2and on the deluxe edition.