The Glorious Corner

CLAPTON’S 32 — 32 years ago (1992) Eric Clapton released 24 Nights which chronicled his stay at London’s Royal Albert Hall. With a terrific band, featuring Ray Cooper; Steve Ferrone; Nathan East, Phil Palmer, Alan Clark and Greg Phillinganes they sauntered through his impressive song catalog. One night, he was backed by an orchestra with no less than the late-Michael Kamen conducting the National Philharmonic Orchestra. It was in a word, exquisite.

There have been numerous videos on YouTube, but now, 32 years later, we get the whole concert with all the different bands. One night was a blues night with Jimmy Vaughn, Albert Collins and Buddy Guy included. Just superb. They even released a terrific trailer. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-0g9pXOnM4

As great as it is, I wonder why it took so long to release it? Clapton was in his rock-god persona then; dripping in Versace and is totally spot-on. Versace even designed his guitar strap!

“White Room,” “Badge,” “Pretending,” “Sunshine Of Your Love””and “Bad Love” are among my favorites and Phil Collins sitting in for a run at Dylan’s “Knocking On Heaven’s Door is pretty special too. Clapton was at that point hitting a high note for sure. Everything was clicking.

We waited and were finally rewarded. Just a perfect set.

SHORT TAKES — Jann Klose is joined by Annie Haslam at his Sellersville Theater concert on May 25 in Philadelphia … (Via Deadline) Apple TV+’s praised dramedy  Physical, starring and executive produced by Rose Byrne, will wrap its run with its upcoming 10-episode third season, which will debut August 2. Sources tell Deadline that Season 3 of the half-hour series, from creator and executive producer Annie Weisman and Tomorrow Studios, was written as a final chapter and will provide fans with a satisfying conclusion (while also leaving some things open-ended). Sad for sure, but the well seemed to have dried somewhat in Season 2. Byrne is simply stunning in this take-off on the rise of all the exercise-videos of the 80’s.

Jane Fonda sold 17 million of them! …

Tuesday night in NYC there was a paparazzi-chase involving Meghan Markle and Prince Harry after they received an award of the Ziegfeld Ballroom. Many media-pundits termed it a near-catastrophic and after what happened to Harry’s mother, can you blame them? Amazingly there were no arrests, no summons issued … nada. Something is off here and hopefully in the coming days,  new evidence will surface …(Via Crain’s) MSG in talks to sell former Hulu Theater for $1B to an Italian developer.

Yes, this is important because the former Hulu Theater used to be the legendary Felt Forum; the bastard sister-to MSG. Saw many, many great shows there. A tad smaller, more intimate and the sound was great. It was also known at times as The Theater at Madison Square Garden; The WaMu Theater and The Paramount Theater. Sad passing for sure … Could Eddie Murphy be the next inspector Clouseau in a new iteration of the Pink Panther –  following in the shadows of Peter Sellers and Steve Martin? I don’t think this is a good idea at all … RIP bassist John Giblin … HAPPY BDAY Mark Berry ; Howard Smiley; and Jerry Milani.

NAMES IN THE NEWS — Tony King; Amanda Naylor; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Angela Tarantino; Taylor Hackford; Dominic Patten; Lenny Beer; Jerry Love; Charlie Minor; Michael Leon; Mark Scheerer; Regis Philbin; Art Moore; Honey Rose Records; Jane Blunkell; Benny Harrison; and ZIGGY!