Eric Clapton periodically releases live albums and they show the reason why there are few guitarists that walk with him. Sometimes on his studio albums, one loses sight of his extraordinary skills, but he continues to amaze in concert. The passages he reels off in songs like "After Midnight", "Cocaine", "Double Trouble", "Setting Me Up", "Blues Power" and "Rambling On My Mind" are thick, meaty and full of passion and power. Mr. Clapton scored a minor hit with the rollicking live version of Tulsa Time and the album peaked at number two for six weeks.

If you have any doubts about Eric Clapton's greatness on the guitar, then you probably haven't heard this double live album. I think that a lot of younger guitar players don't appreciate Clapton much, simply because they're only familiar with the Clapton who played Sunshine of Your Love or Change the World or whatever. They've never heard THIS Clapton. It's a wonder why he chooses to record songs like In my Father's Eyes when he's capable of playing something like Double Trouble (Probably the highlight of the album). Anyway, the album is pretty consistent, although it has some weaker moments in the 1st CD. (I don't care much for Wonderful Tonight or All Our Past Times) However, Clapton really picks up momentum in the 2nd CD. The 2nd CD is fantastic all the way through... especially Cocaine, Ramblin On my Mind, and the aforementioned Double Trouble. Long story short, if you're a fan of Clapton, or if you just like good guitar music, Just One Night is a no brainer. Buy it.

I have yet to write any reviews for Amazon although I am an avid shopper here. However, after seeing the earlier two reviews, I felt compelled to part with precedent. Although this album is not bad, it CERTAINLY is not "Clapton's best live album." I am a HUGE Clapton fan, and I own every recording he has ever released with every band he has been with, live and otherwise. Clapton's orginal songs sound weak here, with often weak vocals and shaky improvisation on the guitar. The blues covers he plays sound manufactured and "pop," a clear indication of the unfortunate turn his music would take througout the eighties. However, this album is not without its high points, those mostly being the Disc 1 closer "After Midnight," which is an interesting blend of Clapton's infamous cover of the song, with his energetic vocals, and JJ Cale's original with the soft beat and gentle guitar. The other high point of the album is the unique and novel medley of Ramblin' on My Mind and Have You Every Loved a Woman. Taken on their own, neither of these songs are outstanding, with Clapton's (at times) annoying eighties pop rhytum section pounding away in the background, but the unique mixture of the songs, from Ramblin' into Have You Ever than back into Ramblin', makes it at least a worthwhile listen. However, if you are looking for a great live Clapton album, I reccomend "Derek and the Dominoes Live at the Fillmore," as that is his best, or "Goodbye Cream" which is also up there, although an earlier recording.

Eric Clapton delivered his best live album with JUST ONE NIGHT. Most of the songs, both originals and covers, are top-notch, and the playing is hot and highly electric. If you get this album, along with 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD, SLOWHAND, ERIC CLAPTON, LAYLA, THE VERY BEST OF CREAM, BLIND FAITH, and the "Beano" album, you'll have a wonderful Eric Clapton library.

There must be something special about the Budokan arena in Tokyo. Numerous live albums have been cut there, and while Clapton didn't go with the flow and call his "Eric Clapton live at the Budokan", he did go to Japan in late 1979 and recorded this live album at the Budokan in December of that year.

"Just One Night" includes a couple of songs from "Backless", the album Clapton was touring behind at the time, and a few songs from his guitar hero-period as well. Fans who prefer Clapton's laid-back pop-rock albums should enjoy this album, but those who like him better when he is playing the blues may be disappointed. He does venture in to the blues idiom on several occations, though, and while a dull and lethargic "Early In The Morning" is worse than no "Early In The Morning" at all, Clapton's renditions of songs like "Worried Life Blues" and "Double Trouble" feature a lot of great guitar playing. "Ramblin' On My Mind", too, retains the smouldering fire of his earliest recordings, and it is almost impossible to screw up "Blues Power" and "Cocaine".

It's a shame that Clapton usually sang the blues in such a subdued and almost detached fashion at this point in his career; later releases prove that he could do much better. But fans of "70s Clapton" should be thrilled by these fine live versions of "Lay Down Sally", the pop ballad "Wonderful Tonight", and Danny Flowers' country-boogie "Tulsa Time".
In general, though, "Just One Night" is neither as bluesy nor as rocking as one might have hoped for. A bit more groove and a few more crunchy riffs would have been a welcome addition, but it's still a good live album, good enough for some 3 1/2 stars.