Eric Clapton - 1999-03-15 - New York, NY (SBD)

On a night when Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Curtis Mayfield, Del Shannon, Dusty Springfield and The Staple Singers were inducted into a the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Eric Clapton did what he always does, put his stardom aside to play the consummate supporting role. During what Rolling Stone magazine said "was the most emotionally moving, musically satisfying night the Hall has ever seen," EC was omnipresent yet invisible, always on stage, yet never stealing the limelight.  He and D'Angelo paid tribute to Curtis Mayfield on  I’ve Been Trying and Early In The Morning.  He backed Bonnie Rait on Blue Suede Shoes; Rait, Joel and Dion on What I’d Say; and then Bono and Bruce on People Get Ready. To cap it all off, he and his trusty Fender were on stage when Sir Paul McCartney closed the night with a moving rendition of Let It Be. This soundboard recording captures all those historic performances from March 15, 1999, 17 years ago today.  By the way - maybe the Hall of Fame folks took noti e because next year they made Clapton the only 3 time inductee into the institution, recognizing his solo career after previously inducting him as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream.