ERIC CLAPTON Bercy, Paris 22nd April 1995

Here we have one of Eric's finest shows. Ever. For some reason he is always 'on fire' when playing in 'La Belle France'. Every time I've seen him perform anywhere in that wonderful country, there's always that little bit of 'je ne sais quoi'. Take this fabulous show for example. Right from the get-go he's playing like a man possessed. Songs such as 'Sinners Prayer' are played with a passion. Or 'Every I Have the Blues'. His playing is almost verging on the manic. But in a controlled fashion. I call it his 'runaway train' approach, where he and the band hurtle along like an express train on steroids. And watch 'Five Long Years'. Have you ever seen him so happy, especially when he sits down and lets his band members take the limelight? Maybe it's the crowd who are really appreciative - sometimes it was hard to film the subject matter due to their literal jumping up and down - or maybe it's because his daughter, Ruth, is present, filmed dancing side-stage for a few frames during 'Tore Down'. But whatever it is, Eric is 'in the zone'. I've always attested to the magnificent performances on the European leg of his NBTB tour. Shows such as Ghent, Rotterdam, Maastricht, Barcelona & Paris are, amongst many, real stand-out performances and all, luckily, captured for posterity. And this is why you're now watching this show. Without someone bothering to get the equipment in and capturing it for your enjoyment, it would only be a memory. If you have any shows that you've once filmed or recorded over the years, get in touch with '[e-mail]' and get them digitized and ensure that they won't turn to dust, just as surely as we all will, eventually.