Cream at Royal Albert Hall DVD/CD

[Willie G. Moseley]

I bought the DVD in Nashville last week at the Opry Mills shopping center---Tower Records is next door to Gibson's bluegrass instrument workshop, where Gibson also sell instruments direct to the public for full list price (honest!---and if that takes this thread off on a tangent so be it). The DVD set was only $2 more than the CD; worth it for the visuals, I figgered.

As alluded to in the When Were You Born thread, I saw Cream on 27 OCT 68 at Chastain Park in Atlanta. Hitch-hiked fom Tuscaloosa w/ my college roommate. I still have never heard that much music come from three individuals players at any concert. Cream's live material from those days still holds up, even if transplanted to CD, IMO, but I was a bit skeptical about what would be accomplished at the '05 shows---a landmark musical presentation or nostalgia-mongering.

At first persual, my feeling is that it's somewhere in between. Peter Green biographer Martin Celmins has noted that any fan of Green in Fleetwood Mac shouldn't expect that kind of fire from Green now, maintaining that while he might have sounded, to quote a black musician in Chicago "like a Negro turned inside out", Green nows sounds like an older black man, and I agree. What's more, I expected---and pretty much got---the same from the new Cream concert material.

The potent and competent musicianship is still there, of course, but these guys are all in their sixties, so the results---particularly the vocals and arrangements----were "safer", for lack of a better term. The ferocity that was the trademark of Cream in concert nearly 40 years ago was muted if not missing at times, but was to be expected, I should think.

Sonically, this is a great effort, with the possible exception of Clapton using a Strat instead of a Gibson, but he still evokes some nice tones that fit in well. Bruce's almost-exclusive use of a short scale EB (reportedly having been owned by Felix Pappalardi) sounds fine, but Baker's drums don't seem to have the bombast that was heard in the '60s, particularly his use of double bass drums. His rolls aren't as "adventurous" either. Nevertheless, Ginger Baker is so rock-steady you could set the atomic clock by his playing.

The band plays it safe elsewhere, too, such as coming back in from an extension of "NSU" to the verse instead of the chorus. They don't stretch out too long, either, for the most part...but should we have expected that? Jack Bruce had a liver transplant a while back, fer cryin' out loud, and sits on a stool at times.

Don't get me wrong---I really enjoyed hearing material that only those three guys can perform in a meaningful way, but this isn't the Cream of my adolescence. It was one of the better reunions I've seen and heard, but I had the attitude not to expect what I'd heard in the late '60s...nor should anyone else expect such.

WGM/VGM

[tomteriffic]

I was in Beastly Buy this evening, a place I frequent infrequently, and they had the reunion concert and the farewell concert DVD's side by side on the shelf. I mentioned to Most Esteemed Redhead that it would be interesting to compare the two. I passed on the purchase, since my purpose in being there was to wrestle some money out of them, not give it to them. But, I may have to go back.

[Buzzy Fretts]

I'm still deciding whether I want to view the DVD so close to the NYC concerts next week. Your review pretty much frames up my expectations of the show. And I'm not so sure it is a bad thing. I don't want to see a nostalgia act. But in some ways if they could acheive that explosive quality, it would more of one - that's not who they are today. For me the best show they could offer would one that would exceed their childhood apex. Take all of their energy and adventure and add 40 years of wizened playing. Its gotta sound different. If they stayed together all these years, how couldn't it?

[Mike_C]

I gave the cd a listen to because I had the same thoughts. Personally I thought it was a safe version of Cream. Yes they are older but that doesn't mean that they have to be slower and safer. Just look at Iggy Pop for example. I was disapoited about the use of a strat instead of a Les Paul yes it was close but it wasn't the same. It was fun to listen to but I won't be getting it since I prefer the stuff that was done back in the day. Just my two cents. BTW I didn't think of it as a money grab performance although given the ticket prices I could see why some would think that but to me it was lacking the magic that I would expect from such a reunion.

[kizanski]

I'll buy a copy.

When Clapton plays a Gibson through a Marshall again.

[DavidE]

I gave the cd a listen to because I had the same thoughts. Personally I thought it was a safe version of Cream. Yes they are older but that doesn't mean that they have to be slower and safer. Just look at Iggy Pop for example. I was disapoited about the use of a strat instead of a Les Paul yes it was close but it wasn't the same. It was fun to listen to but I won't be getting it since I prefer the stuff that was done back in the day. Just my two cents. BTW I didn't think of it as a money grab performance although given the ticket prices I could see why some would think that but to me it was lacking the magic that I would expect from such a reunion.

Les Paul?

I though it was SG and 335?

[kizanski]

Les Paul?

I though it was SG and 335?

It was all of the above, as well as a Firebird I, although I think he used the Paul the least.

Every time you hear "Crossroads" on the radio (did Cream record any other songs, Daddy?), you're hearing that 335. That's part of the reason that "Blackie" selling for all of that dough annoyed me.

The point is that the Gibson/Marshall sound is THE Cream sound. Don't try to tell me (as Jack Bruce said), that they "tried to use Gibsons through a Marshall, but it didn't work."

Sure it didn't work....for Fender, having layed out all of that endorsement dough!

It must not have worked on all of the albums and concerts from the '60s that Cream did, I suppose.

Clapton moved on to Fenders. Fine.

I moved on as well. No new Cream for me.

"Fresh Cream," on the other hand...

[JohnnyThunders]

I agree Cream with out Gibson is well...spoiled Cream. Also I don't like "safer", which is always boring!

[MCChris]

Just look at Iggy Pop for example.

Good one. Or Lemmy, Gary Moore, any living member of AC/DC ... I hope to still have my fire into my 50s and beyond. I still got it as I close in on 40; I whipped a guy 10 years my junior into submission last weekend during my audition to be in his Cult tribute band. A quote from his e-mail a day later:

You have my seal of approval for guitar.  Im quite honored to jam with you...threw down pretty hard on Sunday.  I must apologize before for stating that you had to be rhythm guitarist....I hope that wasnt condescending in any way.....Id love for you to play some leads on stuff.  My chops are a bit rusty but they are coming back...

Take that, sonny LOL!

When Jack Bruce states that the old equipment "didn't work," he didn't mean functionally or tonally ... he meant within the framework of Clapton's contract with Fender. The least he could have done is play a Tonemaster like Townshend does.

[Mike_C]

Hell have Fender custom shop build him one of these if his deal with Fender is so restrictive. apologies for the xtra large photo.

[lonote049]

Funny thing, it looks like Jack's long-time Warwick endorsement didn't stop him from playing an EB-1 with the new Warwick EB-3 look(sort of)alike relegated to back-up duty. I haven't seen the concert DVD, so this is only what I've seen in concert still photos and read. I presume Jack played through Hartke amps and cabinets rather than Marshalls.

[Rechts]

I whipped a guy 10 years my junior into submission last weekend during my audition to be in his Cult tribute band. A quote from his e-mail a day later:

You have my seal of approval for guitar.  Im quite honored to jam with you...threw down pretty hard on Sunday.  I must apologize before for stating that you had to be rhythm guitarist....I hope that wasnt condescending in any way.....Id love for you to play some leads on stuff.  My chops are a bit rusty but they are coming back...

Take that, sonny LOL!

That other guitar player wasn't actually Billy Duffy, was it?

[MCChris]

That other guitar player wasn't actually Billy Duffy, was it?

Nah, although Duffy probably said something similar to Jerry Cantrell when they put Concrete Vampires together.

[Blueshound]

I'll buy a copy.

When Clapton plays a Gibson through a Marshall again.

I bought it hoping for some of the old fire and tone of the 60's era Cream. Well there sure wasn't any of that to be found on the DVD. I'm sorry, but that strat though a tweed twin sucked for those songs. What a waste of $20.

[jjguitarranch]

The DVD is excellent. Claptons tone is very good. A very dignified and professional perfomance. Bought it to make sure I wanted to actually go to the shows rather than selling my tickets. I'm going and can't wait.

I like his tone now and his tone then. It is different now and I think it works better for certain tunes they played.

Claptons skills as a vocalist are improved vs. version 1.0.

[kizanski]

Claptons skills as a vocalist are improved vs. version 1.0.

People pay to see Clapton sing like they pay to watch Billy Joel drive (or play guitar, for that matter*).

*Hamer content satisfied.

[Willie G. Moseley]

Ditto on the "people pay to see Clapton sing" notion, but I noticed right off that he's a lot more confident onstage at this juncture than he was in '68, as when I saw Cream back then, he barely even moved. The Albert Hall DVD shows him, as has other concert video material, to be moving around more and singing a lot more confidently. Chronological apples & oranges, but a positive type of maturity, IMO.

[MCChris]

Claptons skills as a vocalist are improved vs. version 1.0.

People pay to see Clapton sing like they pay to watch Billy Joel drive (or play guitar, for that matter*).

*Hamer content satisfied.

I'd pay to see Billy Joel drive if I could be assured that he'd be pulled from the wreckage Princess Di-style at the end.

[Buzzy Fretts]

+1 on the Billy Joel parking project.

Well UPS just made a stop and delivered some fancy tix. I am personally looking forward to listening to that sucky tone played through whimpy amps by 3 old guys.

[kizanski]

"Hello, Police? Yea, some sonofabitch just stole my wallet. Yes, just now. I cancelled the credit cards, but my Cream tickets were in there! They were decent seats, too: Section 336, Row L, Seat #1. Oh? You'll wait at the entrance to see who has that ticket and then get them to let me in? GREAT!"

[Willie G. Moseley]

Curious---my first flash when Kizanski posted "Hello, Police" was that he was gonna cite about three more old guys....

[Buzzy Fretts]

wait at the entrance to see who has that ticket and then get them to let me in? GREAT!

Hehe. I'll be sitting in a different seat. This one goes to my old buddy Gunther, the WWF champ. He's a nice guy.... once ya get to know him. Just don't piss him off...