Actually, I would pay good $$ to see Eric and Chuck Leavell by themselves, EC on acoustic & CL on a baby grand, telling stories....

What date is this from? It looks like maybe a 04 or 05ish set list.

Actually, I would pay good $$ to see Eric and Chuck Leavell by themselves, EC on acoustic & CL on a baby grand, telling stories....

You ain’t a kiddin. That would be nice.

It's not from a tour, someone just posted their ideal setlist and lineup. I'd make a few adjustments to it though.

It depends if the dream band has to be all people who are still alive. That would also determine the setlist, but I will stick with the living.

Off the top of my head...

Tell The Truth
Had To Cry Today
No Alibis
Got To Get Better In A Little While
Anyday
Motherless Children
Five Long Years
Old Love
Running On Faith
Pretending
The Core
Outside Woman Blues
Badge
Sunshine Of Your Love
Layla (electric)

Encore:
Keep On Growing
Crossroads (Cream version, not the version he has been doing for years, and no background vocals on it.)

The band:

Eric Clapton: Guitar/Vocals
Steve Winwood: Organ/Vocals
Derek Trucks: Guitar
Marcus Miller: Bass
Steve Jordan: Drums
Chris Stainton: Keyboards
Sharon White: Vocals
Michelle John: Vocals

Why wouldn't Chuck play with EC again? Some of Chuck's finest playing is on that Unplugged album. Did things go sour after that?

I like Eric with Paul Carrack in the band. Great organ player and singer. Eric even let's him sing the hit he had with the band Ace "How Long."

I don't know of any reason Chuck and Eric are on the outs. Back in the 80's Clapton said he was asked to join the Allman Brothers after Duane was killed but he turned it down. He said he probably should have as they were a smoking band then. But he lamented that he wouldn't have stayed long. Said he just can stay in a band long. Said he and Jeff Beck have the same problem. They like to call the shots so they are happier putting together solo bands for their tours.

Gregg Allman said the same. He liked being the only chef in the kitchen. But still need to be in the Brothers when they are together but it's hard sometimes. Too many chefs.

Clapton hasn't sounded better than when he had both Steve Jordan and Ian Thomas on drums, like he did at Crossroads 2007.....plus Winwood, Derek, Doyle II, Willie Weeks. Add Chuck Leavell to that lineup and it would be his dream lineup for me.

The ideal for me would be if he joined the Allman Brothers at the Beacon and played a mix of blues, Allman tunes, and Derek and the Dominos classics. I'd like to see it a point when the last lineup of the ABB were really rolling though - say around the third week of March in 2009 - give or take.

Clapton hasn't sounded better than when he had both Steve Jordan and Ian Thomas on drums, like he did at Crossroads 2007.....plus Winwood, Derek, Doyle II, Willie Weeks. Add Chuck Leavell to that lineup and it would be his dream lineup for me.

Plus 1. Please let Chuck play in this dream line up.

I like the set lists mentioned above and thankfully poster included:
The Core
Got to get better,
No Alibis
Pretending,
Badge check out live version 08 Hyde Park
Add:
I shot the sheriff,
Have you ever loved a woman
White Room

Why wouldn't Chuck play with EC again? Some of Chuck's finest playing is on that Unplugged album. Did things go sour after that?

I believe he got burned on royalties from the 1992 unplugged record.

Yeah, Chuck had a falling out with Clapton's management over the album royalties. I don't think he blamed Eric directly, but he did discuss it in detail in his biography. It's been a long time since I read that book, so I don't remember the details.

I like Eric with Paul Carrack in the band. Great organ player and singer. Eric even let's him sing the hit he had with the band Ace "How Long."

I went to a show where Carrack sang "How Long", "Tempted" and "High Time We Went" and that was probably 2 too many songs with him singing on a Clapton show.

That is why when I made my band I only included Derek and not a 3rd guitarist. Clapton is far too giving on the stage. I would rather Clapton have more lead time with a second guitarist than having the 3rd one up there taking time away from the other two. Nothing against DBII, but would have loved to have seen Eric and Derek do a few shows with just two guitarists.

Slothrop 8. If your dream band for Clapton included the late Gregg Allman and the late Butch Trucks, why make it the last lineup?? Add the late Duane Allman and the late Berry Oakley? The first line up was better than the last lineup on several fronts. With all due respect to Derek Trucks, seeing Eric Clapton letting it cook on Key To The Highway and ABB and Derek and the Dominos songs such as Layla, Elizabeth Reed etc etc would be far more exciting than Eric with Derek Trucks. The original line up was never equaled by ANY later lineup and Gregg, Butch, Jaimoe, Dickey ALL have said it AFTER 2014.

But it's just a dream of a dream band because the ABB doesn't exist now and will never play again.

WarEagleRK. You do agree Paul Carrack is a fine organ player. When I saw them do High Time We Went, Clapton played a smoking solo.

I’ve often thought while in “what if” land of the original ABB with Chuck included. Not intending anything disrespectful, if you add gold to gold, it’s more gold.

[Edited on 9/17/2018 by sckeys]

WarEagleRK. You do agree Paul Carrack is a fine organ player. When I saw them do High Time We Went, Clapton played a smoking solo.

Definitely. Just thought three times of him singing was a bit too much for a Clapton show even though he did great versions of those songs. Clapton is too generous on the stage at times.

Duane had strong interest in expanding the band. He even announced in 1970 on a New York radio interview they were adding a seventh member but it never happened and Duane was coy about who he was talking about. Some said it was Ace and Ace just wanted to go and come when he wanted.

Back in 1972 when Chuck joined, I really felt if Duane had lived and Chuck was brought into Capricorn just as he did, Duane would have loved Chuck's playing and attitude and would have invited him to join.

Some thought the 7th member was one of Jaimoe's horn player friends but not long before he died Butch Trucks said they were not up to playing on Fillmore East and Tom Down told Duane they had to go but Ace could stay. Butch said only one of them could really play and it wasn't Juicy who was closest to Jaimoe.

Other fans back in the wake of Duane saying they were adding a 7th member thought it was Clapton but that seems out of the question for 1970. But Duane and Clapton really became tight and Tom Down said Duane lit a fire under Clapton and that is when the Layla sessions became the classic recordings they are. What actually happened was Clapton pushed Duane to join Derek and the Dominos. And Duane surprisingly to the fans then including me missed some shows to play with the Dominos. But he soon returned to the Brothers. So if you think about it, the 1972 5 man band had already played a few gigs.

I saw the 5 man band just before Eat A Peach came out. Gregg and Berry Oakley looked so empty in their eyes. They had some hot moments where Gregg and Dickey soloed before Duane died but it was like looking at the Manhattan skyline on September 12, 2001. Duane Allman missing left such a huge hole. Sometimes Gregg would play were Duane would solo and sometimes Dickey which means Gregg and Dickey did two solos on certain songs and Butch and Jaimoe said after 2014 that an energy left the band when Duane died and they never had it again or played like that again. Jaimoe said he was so connected to the music and Duane's energy that at times would leave his body. That is big time spiritual or Jaimoe was getting the top quality stuff from somebody.

You are right WarEagleRK. When I saw Clapton, Carrack sang How Long about 4 songs in then High Time We Went near the end. 3 or more of another singing other than Clapton hurts it being a Clapton show. In 1988 I saw the Dickey Betts Band at a club and I got the same vibe because Warren Haynes and Johnny Neal both sang two each. I assumed they looked at it as a band rather than Dickey solo. Like Santana was/is a band not Carlos solo. And Carlos never sings doesn't he?

Slothrop 8. If your dream band for Clapton included the late Gregg Allman and the late Butch Trucks, why make it the last lineup?? Add the late Duane Allman and the late Berry Oakley? The first line up was better than the last lineup on several fronts. With all due respect to Derek Trucks, seeing Eric Clapton letting it cook on Key To The Highway and ABB and Derek and the Dominos songs such as Layla, Elizabeth Reed etc etc would be far more exciting than Eric with Derek Trucks. The original line up was never equaled by ANY later lineup and Gregg, Butch, Jaimoe, Dickey ALL have said it AFTER 2014.

Your opinion on the matter is well documented blackey and I admire your unrelenting passion and enthusiasm for the original lineup. For me personally, I believe Derek/Warren/Oteil to be collectively superior as players to Duane/Dickey/Oakley. Not as writers, not as originators of material - but as pure players who are going to interpret this material for me - I will take the Derek/Oteil/Warren group over the originals every time and twice on Sunday. Your mileage may vary, and I know for a fact yours does - but Derek Trucks is a much more interesting player to me than anyone who was in the original lineup. And I love, love, love the original lineup. However, for my personal taste, I like the last one better. I am well aware that this is not a matter we are going to see eye to eye on - and your strenuous objections are noted - but my Clapton dream setlist and lineup absolutely includes Derek Trucks.. I like Jack Pearson as a player better than any of the originals too while I'm riling people up. We stand on the shoulders of giants.

Seems to me that there was speculation that the "7th" member might have been Bobby Caldwell.

Yes Old Coot now that you mention Bobby Caldwell I remember that name. Duane said in a New York City radio interview in 1970 they were going to add a 7th member but it never happened. Whoever it was said no.

Slothrop8 I respect that you think the last line up was the best. But not to me. To me the early 90's lineup came the closest to the original.

There is no question Butch, Jaimoe and Gregg liked the original the best and the energy, creativity and the excitement they felt playing in the original was an experience they never felt again. They all said it. Butch said he eventually got bored with Derek and Warren. He knew exactly what they were going to do. Butch said he was trying to get his Freight Train Band to get free and not be afraid to jump in the deep end and take the jam songs somewhere they've never been. Butch said they stopped playing that way when Duane died and even the last line up wouldn't get free and especially Warren was to worried about a train wreck.

Also the Allman Brothers Band is the original band. With the exception of Brothers and Sisters, the original band is what everybody listens to and all they play on the radio.

Do you really think Fillmore East and Eat A Peach would be better records if Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes and Otiel were on them rather than Duane Allman, Dickey Betts and Berry Oakley?

If the last lineup had been the original lineup, the band would have never been any bigger than Cowboy, Grinderswitch or Molly Hatchet.

If the original ABB is responsible for Molly Hatchet, I might need to reconsider my love of the original ABB.

Back to the original topic, what ever happened to George Terry after his long run in Clapton's band?

Although EC has had extremely talented female backup vocalist thru the years, I've never really felt like the backup vocals helped the arrangements.

Yes Old Coot now that you mention Bobby Caldwell I remember that name. Duane said in a New York City radio interview in 1970 they were going to add a 7th member but it never happened. Whoever it was said no.

Slothrop8 I respect that you think the last line up was the best. But not to me. To me the early 90's lineup came the closest to the original.

There is no question Butch, Jaimoe and Gregg liked the original the best and the energy, creativity and the excitement they felt playing in the original was an experience they never felt again. They all said it. Butch said he eventually got bored with Derek and Warren. He knew exactly what they were going to do. Butch said he was trying to get his Freight Train Band to get free and not be afraid to jump in the deep end and take the jam songs somewhere they've never been. Butch said they stopped playing that way when Duane died and even the last line up wouldn't get free and especially Warren was to worried about a train wreck.

Also the Allman Brothers Band is the original band. With the exception of Brothers and Sisters, the original band is what everybody listens to and all they play on the radio.

Do you really think Fillmore East and Eat A Peach would be better records if Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes and Otiel were on them rather than Duane Allman, Dickey Betts and Berry Oakley?

If the last lineup had been the original lineup, the band would have never been any bigger than Cowboy, Grinderswitch or Molly Hatchet.

2nd to last paragraph is spot on & I agree 100%

Last paragraph is not close to spot on and I disagree 100%

LOL, I love reading this stuff & love the ABB

Dead Mallard. Would the last line up if it had been the first been as big as the ABB was in the 1970's?

They would have had Gregg's songs but not Dickey's. And void of the energy and leadership of Duane Allman. And the unique bass playing so key to the ABB sound also would be missing. No doubt it would be a different band with very good musicians but I continue to doubt that band would of had the major albums and sell out shows the original band broke out with.

This was the part of your post I disagreed with:

If the last lineup had been the original lineup, the band would have never been any bigger than Cowboy, Grinderswitch or Molly Hatchet.

Okay Dead Mallard. I think you are saying if the last lineup was the first line up they wouldn't have been as big as the Allman Brothers Band in the early 1970s but they would have been bigger than Grinderswitch, Cowboy or Molly Hatchet. I agree with that now that I think about it.

By the way I loved Cowboy back in the early 70s and they should have been a bigger band. Sea Level is another band that should have been bigger.

I had the opportunity to talk to Charlie Daniels in 1976 or 7 and ask about The South Is Going To Do It Again and one of the groups he mentions in the song is Barefoot Jerry. I'd never heard of them. Charlie said he and the record company and others thought Barefoot Jerry was so good live they couldn't miss when he wrote and recorded the song. By the time the album and single were released, the debut Barefoot Jerry album went no where. And the band unfortunately never broke out and Charlie said he was very surprised.

That's right.

Love me some Cowboy too & Charlie in the 70's.