Posted on 10/06/2005 7:44:59 AM PDT by disraeligears
The DVD and CD of Cream's summer stand at the Royal Albert Hall has just been released I guess to coincide with their multiple night gig at Madison Square later this month.
Check out the multiple songs available for video streaming from AOL Music.
For those Freepers under 40, this is the best rock band for muscial virtuoso, writing talent, power, innovation, etc. to come out of the 60's.
Beatles for me were rock/pop; Stones were good, but their music was basic blues rips, the talent wasn't as high. The Who were in a different realm, more operatic.
Cream was just three guys with disparite styles who's fusion created a legacy that still influences year after year, decade after decade: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Robin Trower, James Gang, Grand Funk, Beck, Bogert Appice, Rush, ZZ Top, King's X, Nirvana, etc.
Moreover, if you consider the singer/guitarist/bassist/drummer model, then Cream's influence is even broader: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, etc.
I spent many a day in my teens working on Clapton's licks off the "Disraeli Gears" album. For those of us who only know his post-"Tears in Heaven" output, *this* is the music that made the "Clapton is God" graffiti so popular. Yeah, he lost his edge after the Layla album, but he was the hottest act in town around 1967 or so. OK, maybe aside from Hendrix, but I don't want to get into that argument...
Amen, brother. I first became a Clapton fan when "Journeyman" came out -- it's still my favorite Clapton solo album. I caught the post TiH tour (the one where he also played "Circus") and the Blues tour (with the late Gatemouth Brown as the opening act).
I've come to the conclusion that Clapton works best when he's not the center of attention. He's fabulous in Cream and Derek & the Dominos, as well as when he's part of "all-star" assemblies (ala Prince's Trust, Concert for George, etc.). However, I got a copy of his One More Rider DVD and was underwhelmed. The best part of the show is when Billy Preston does "Will it Go Round in Circles," and the band *finally* gets some energy.
Anyway, I've listened to the live stream, and I look forward to the DVDs. The playing isn't as good as Live Cream v2 (one of my favorite live albums by anybody), and I can quibble with the track selection (do we *really* need two versions of "Sleepy Time Time"), but I'm just ecstatic that the three guys are playing together.
Think -- in the last year Cream has reformed, classic Floyd played a gig, and Brian Wilson released and toured "SMiLE." Are there any other unprobably acts left?
Also, however, Cream benefited greatly from an incredible arranger (and average bassist/singer) named Felix Pappalardi, who produced and arranged "Wheels of Fire" and "Disraeli Gears," then later was killed by his own wife. He was the George Martin of the group.
Just saw the DVD, and I saw them live in 1968. I detected a somewhat different group---a little less energy, esp. on "Crossroads"---but still fabulous musicianship. I have to say I don't think Baker is too bright, but a helluva drummer. He seemed much more "straight" in terms of his playing than in the 60s---fewer odd rhythms, less playing off Baker or Clapton, and more . . . well, . . . cowbell.
Mike, Clapton was asked once in an interview who was better, him or Jimi, and he said, "Well, I'll play a lick, then Jimi will play a lick, then Jeff Beck will come along and beat both of us."
One other mention: when I "saw" Cream in 1968, they were on a circular rotating stage . . . that broke, so all I could see 90% of the time, except when they went way out front to sing, was Ginger Baker. Being a drummer, that didn't bother me, but it was nice to finally "see" Clapton (or, in the words of Clinton's Surgeon General, "Clapner") and Bruce play.
IMO, the reason they were so talented was that one was an extraordinary lyricist and the other was extraordinarily talented at musical arrangements.
Without George Martin the Beatles would never have gone has far as they did. He produced their songs and played on many of their songs. He was the one who wrote the scores of the strings and he often told who to play what. Often times the Beatles would come into the studio with skeletons of songs and George was the one who helped them attain their unique sound. No George Martin, a different Beatles.
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