British Rocker Eric Clapton, an 18-time Grammy winner and the only three-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, emulated American Rhythm and Blues to become the most commercially successful guitarist of all time. He has toured and recorded with many notable bands including: The Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, and Derek and The Dominos. His solo recordings have sold over 280 million records. His live performances, supported by Nathan East on bass and Steve Gadd on drums, continue to sell out worldwide.
Now comes The Dominos, authentic American R&B players, with their retrospective on the music of Eric Clapton… and the only tribute with a guitarist/vocalist who can actually do justice to the Clapton catalogue.
The History of Eric Clapton is an entirely electric set with every tune performed in its original key and tempo. Nearly every arrangement is also true to the original. Randell Young has the same vocal range as Eric Clapton so all of the high notes are going to be there and nearly all of the lead vocals are phrased just like the original recordings.
Like Eric Clapton, Randell Young plays a modified Stratocaster and gets that sweet Clapton guitar tone using just the amplifier and guitar — not a single noisy, pedal-based sound processor or amp modeler to be found anywhere. There are countless well-known and well-loved guitar licks and many solos that are presented verbatim; and, just as you would hear at any of Eric Clapton’s live show, there are also many solos that are improvised — in the style of Eric Clapton, of course.
Like Nathan East (Clapton’s long-time touring bassist), The Dominos keep the original bass lines where they continue to work well (Badge and Sunshine of Your Love for example) but also update some of the older tunes with a more groove-friendly, R&B authentic bass line. Aaron Hice (bass) and Vinny Massaro (drums) hold down The Dominos’ rhythm section. Ruby Greenberg and Elissa Sophia Metropoulos (keys), both strong lead vocalists, bring great pitch and blend to the backup vocals while covering The Dominos’ piano and organ parts.
The History of Eric Clapton can be presented as a two-hour show with no intermission or as a 90-minute first show followed by an intermission and a 70-minute second show but can be shortened or expanded to accommodate any format. The Dominos have over three hours of material properly arranged and rehearsed. The material presented is so epic that every song literally has its own Wikipedia page.
There are no backing tracks, auto-tune or sequencing. Every note is performed live by Aaron Hice, Ruby Greenberg, Randell Young, Elissa Sophia Metropoulos and Vinny Massaro.
The History of Eric Clapton
First Show
White Room (1968 from Cream Wheels of Fire)
Sunshine of Your Love (1967 from Cream Disraeli Gears)
Let It Rain (1970 from Eric Clapton)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (1968 from The Beatles)
Crossroads (1968 from Creme – Wheels of Fire)
Bell Bottom Blues (1970 from Derek and the Dominoes)
Cocaine (1977 from Slowhand)
Tearing Us Apart (1987 from Eric Clapton and Tina Turner)
I Shot The Sheriff (1974 from 431 Ocean Boulevard)
Before You Accuse Me (1989 from Journeyman)
After Midnight (1970 from Eric Clapton)
Had to Cry Today (1969 from Blind Faith)
Pretending (1989 from Journeyman)
Layla (1970 from Derek and the Dominos)
Sweet Home Chicago (2004 from Sessions for Robert J)
Second Show
Bottle of Red Wine (1970 from Eric Clapton)
Down Home Blues (1982 from ZZ Hill)
Forever Man (1985 from Behind the Sun)
Can’t Find My Way Home (1969 from Blind Faith)
Motherless Children (1974 from 431 Ocean Boulevard)
Change the World (1996 from Phenomenon)
Only You Know and I Know (1972 from Delaney & Bonnie)
Wonderful Tonight (1977 from Slowhand)
Statesboro Blues (1928 from Blind Willie McTell)
Encores
Badge (1969 from Cream Goodbye)
Born Under A Bad Sign (1968 from Cream – Wheels of Fire)
Breaking Point (1989 from Journeyman)
Last Two Dollars (1996 from Johnny Taylor)
Lay Down Sally (1977 from Slowhand)
Midnight Special (1934 from Huddle William “Lead Belly” Ledbetter)