Eric Clapton's first album was mixed three times: the first mix made Delaney Bramlett on which Eric Clapton encouraged to recordings, supported him as a musician, singer, producer and co-writer and had asked him "his" band. Due to a misunderstanding Eric Clapton mixed the album then again itself off (pretty bad, as he himself admits), so that the record company producer extraordinaire Tom Dowd undertook the Clapton already knew from working on "Disraeli Gears" three years earlier and whose final mix was then released.
This Deluxe Edition both mixes are the first time to hear. (Only by Slunky has already been published on the original album of Delaney Bramlett mix, and Easy now appears on both albums in Clapton mix.) Formally, the two versions differ in a slightly different title sequence and the fact that some of Delaney mixes significantly more weight place it on the wind and run a little longer (between eight and 44 seconds). In Delaney's version is missing with I've told you for the last time a title, but it shows up in the bonus tracks in a beautiful alternative version again.
In the Tom Dowd-mixing me personally like playing with the stereo image very well; These were the times when one of the bass and the drums had not necessarily contrary tones from the same speaker (let alone from the middle of the sound) better to pay attention to what the listener gives the possibility to the nuances of the rhythm section. On the other hand Delaney Bramletts sound mixes full and balanced and lift Leon Russell Piano somewhat more prominent. The biggest difference is noted in After Midnight: Tom Dowds "entschlackte" version only runs 2:49, while in Delaney's Mix (3:16, already in 1988 on "Crossroads" published), the blowers are great to hear and spice up the song clearly. (In order to create further confusion: Tom Dowds mix there are some samplers a slightly longer version (3:07), whose publication I had was also very pleased at the result of this deluxe edition.)
The very informative booklet encourages to form his own judgment; I prefer the Delaney mix, but fans will welcome the opportunity to determine differences and the recordings wrest new aspects.
The last doubters are warmly recommended the bonus tracks: It was only logical to add the excellent '69er Delaney & Bonnie & Friends Single comin' home / Groupie (Superstar), in which the cast of Eric's solo album is represented basically already. Also from the sessions for this album comes Teasin ', a single by King Curtis, which was previously found only on some ultra rare Japan sampler of Eric Clapton. The ten minute Blues in 'A', a typical representative of his time to have been already published in the "Blues" sampler (1999), according to the booklet; This would, however, refer it to a rare promo version.
Before the shooting in LA a few shots in London were made, the appearance of which I've already mentioned here told you for the last time, and Do not Know Why (sung on Delaney Bramlett). (The only drawback: both songs are much quieter than the rest Driven recordings.)
One last tidbit is the original version of Let it rain, She Rides, which can be heard here in a somewhat more transparent and more playful mix and with a completely different text and a more melodic and a little more melancholy vocal melody; this version like it almost better than Let it rain! An attractive alternative is in any case.
Finally, it should be noted that the deluxe edition proposes the '96 CD to lengths in remastering.
