Its quite astonishing to know that the band Cream existed only for more than two years,from 1966 to the latter part of 1968.But the group's influence,charisma and charm would last a lifetime.Their now legendary status has inspired other bands particularly that of hard rock and other heavy metal groups to experiment with the so-called 'power trio' format.Fascinating enough,when the band reunited in 2005 and did two major concert tours in Madison Square Garden and Albert Hall after 27 years since the band's breakup,most of the audience on their reunion concert were young people,most of which were not even born yet during the band's heyday in the sixties.
Clapton,Bruce and Baker were all certified and already established musicians with excellent resumes on their previous groups even before Cream was formed.With Eric Clapton playing with the then bluesy Yardbirds and left the band when the latter went into more pop and commercially influenced.
Bassist Jack Bruce had a stint and was Eric's bandmate with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers when Clapton left the Yardbirds to be a blues purist.Drummer Ginger Baker on the other hand had a brief stint with Manfred Mann before forming the group with Bruce and Clapton.
Born on March 30,1945,his exceptional talent in blues guitar was quickly noticed on his first band the Yardbirds.He got the nickname slowhand way back in the sixties with his first band because he would often break a string and the audience would clap their hands slowly as he replaces a new one.
Clapton was reportedly unhappy when the Yardbirds was handled by Mickie Most and thus brought the band into a more commercial phase and took them away from their blues roots.
Pissed with the kind of musical direction the band was taking,Clapton left the Yardbirds and decided to become a blues purist.He eventually joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in 1965 where he met and first teamed up with future Cream bandmate Jack Bruce.
Bassist Jack Bruce was born on May 14,1943 in Scotland,having a brief stint with bands in the early sixties with little commercial success,he joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers where he first met guitarist Eric Clapton.
Bruce was known to be a connoisseur of fretless bass guitars.He once told an interviewer that the first time he got hold of the bass,he fell in love with it because it was loud and easier to play.He even called the electric guitar somewhat a damn instrument and would always prefer the bass.
GINGER BAKERGinger Baker was the band's drummer.He was once the object of envy of John Bonham when the latter saw him with his post-Cream group Air Force.Bonham reportedly grabbed two sticks on each hand and started pounding off the famous drum riff on Zeppelin's song "Four Sticks"[hence,the title name was given] which can be found on the band's fourth album.
Baker on the other hand,was a virtuoso in his own right.Having that weird oversized drum kit,he pounded off his way to rock stardom.Heavily influenced by jazz drummers from the late 1950s,he helped established Cream's unique drum sound sealing the group's now legendary status.
ALBUMS
Released in 1966,this is,incredibly,the band's debut album.Consists mainly of blues covers,the band had indeed a fresh start considering all members were already established musicians and had been with famous groups before Cream was formed.
The album had a string of hits including "I Feel Free",a mix of blues,pop and psychedelic rock written by Pete Brown with music by Jack Bruce.
The album was largely dominated in the role of lead vocals by bass player Jack Bruce,with Eric Clapton sharing and sometimes serving as alternate vocalist.
TRACK LISTING:
1.I Feel Free (Jack Bruce-Pete Brown)
2.N.S.U. (Jack Bruce)
3.Sleepy Time Time (Jack Bruce-Janet Godfrey)
4.Dreaming (Jack Bruce)
5.Sweet Wine (Ginger Baker-Janet Godfrey)
6.Cat's Squirrel (instrumental-traditional arrangement)
7.Four Until Late (Robert Johnson with arrangements by Eric Clapton)-Eric Clapton on lead vocals
8.Rollin' And Tumblin' (McKinley Morganfield)-Muddy Waters cover
9.I'm So Glad (Skip James)
10.Toad (Ginger Baker)
Unless otherwise stated-lead vocalist is Jack Bruce.
While Fresh Cream is a formidable debut,its the second album Disraeli Gears that Cream's sound eventually came on its own and had the band earned its respect as one of rock music's mighty gods.
The album has become an instant classic because of its unique style and sound.One song in particular,"Sunshine Of Your Love" remains a staple for budding rock guitarists and is one of the most famous classic rock songs ever to come out.
Other songs that defines Disraeli Gears' rock prowess are "Tales Of Brave Ulysses" in which Homer's book Odyssey was re-interpreted by the band in a psychedelic and hard rock form,"Strange Brew",a typical blues with awesome guitar licks and vocal by Eric Clapton, "SWLABR" which is an acronym for She Walks Like A Bearded Rainbow--a song filled with lyrics describing psychedelia or perhaps on how substances affect the minds of our songwriters/rock idols during that time.
The album is also known for the balance of vocal duties between Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton and for the first time,Ginger Baker sang lead vocals on one song called "Blue Condition" which was also written by him.Eric Clapton sang more lead vocals on this album than the first one released by the band a year earlier.Disraeli Gears peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 album charts in 1968.
TRACK LISTING:
1.Strange Brew (Clapton-Pappalardi-Collins) lead singer:Eric Clapton
2.Sunshine Of Your Love (Clapton-Bruce-Brown) lead singer:Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton
3.World Of Pain (Pappalardi-Collins) lead singer:Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce
4.Dance The Night Away (Bruce-Brown) lead singer:Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce
5.Blue Condition (Baker) lead singer:Ginger Baker
6.Tales Of Brave Ulysses (Clapton-Bruce-Sharp) lead singer:Jack Bruce
7.SWLABR (Bruce-Brown) lead singer:Jack Bruce
8.We're Going Wrong (Bruce) lead singer:Jack Bruce
9.Outside Woman Blues (Reynolds) lead singer:Eric Clapton
10.Take It Back (Bruce) lead singer:Jack Bruce
11.Mother's Lament (traditional) lead singer: Ginger Baker,Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton
Disraeli Gears was re-issued in 2004 in a deluxe two CD format with an additional second disc containing the mono mixes and several outtakes.
WHEELS OF FIRE
Released in 1968,the band's third album was a huge success,rocketing to number one on the Billboard 200 charts.The album was also noted for its ambitious double disc format combining both studio and live material.
The album's strongest song "White Room" was heavily noticed with the band's awesome use of feedback.Not to mention Clapton's wah wah laden guitar solos which has influenced and continues to influence would be musicians and rock fans both young and old.
TRACK LISTING
Disc one:In the Studio
1.White Room (Bruce-Brown)
2.Sitting On Top Of The World (Vinson-Chatmon-Burnett)
3.Passing The Time (Baker-Taylor)
4.As You Said (Bruce-Brown)
5.Pressed Rat And Warthog (Baker-Taylor)
6.Politician (Bruce-Brown)
7.Those Were The Days (Baker-Taylor)
8.Born Under A Bad Sign (Booker T-William Bell)
9.Deserted Cities Of The Heart (Bruce-Brown)
Disc Two:Live at Filmore
1.Crossroads (Robert Johnson arr.Eric Clapton)
2.Spoonful (Willie Dixon)
3.Traintime (Bruce)
4.Toad (Baker)
Shortly after its release,Cream announced the news of the band breaking up and held their farewell concert tour that started in Oakland,California and ended at London's Royal Albert Hall.
GOODBYE
Goodbye is the band's fourth and last album.Released in March of 1969,the album came out shortly after the band broke up.
Like its predecessor,the album was also noted for its content with the combination of both studio and live material.
One song from the album called "Badge" was written By Eric Clapton and George Harrison.George eventually returned a favor and played guitar on Cream's last album after Eric Clapton played in the White Album.
TRACK LISTING:
1.I'm So Glad (Skip James)
2.Politician (Bruce-Brown)
3.Sitting On Top Of The World (Vinson-Chatmon-Burnett)
4.Badge (Clapton-Harrison)
5.Doing That Scrapeyard Thing (Bruce-Brown)
6.What A Bringdown (Baker)
FAREWELL TOUR 1968
Its quite astonishing to know that Cream announced their break-up while the band was still at the peak of their career.However,it was a smart move for the band to do such coz the group became even larger than life after doing so....
2005 REUNION
Cream's reunion concert held in October 2005 surprised many rock fans as much as they did upon hearing the announcement of their break-up and farewell tour 27 years earlier.Thanks to the band's astonishing achievement and classic albums,it wasn't surprising that kids who weren't alive during the band's heyday were also there almost outnumbering the elders who were the first hand fans of the group.It wasn't surprising that even a 14 year old boy who attended most probably with his parents and saw the band play onstage got mesmerized and even made a beautiful comment on Rolling Stone stating his admiration that Clapton is indeed a guitar god. A concrete proof that a lot of bands from the sixties have that unique and timeless appeal that would last for generation after generation.Considering that a lot of bands and songwriters which were the Beatles' contemporaries[with the fab four leading the era as one of rock music's immortals] were still unbeaten and unmatched by newer bands of today.
Cream by the way,were inducted in the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993 where the band was last seen together again,though they did not go on tour.Eric Clapton is the first rock star to be inducted in the Hall Of Fame three times:one as a member of the Yardbirds,as a member of Cream and as a solo artist.
The awesome music of the sixties was known for its prowess,mystery and the genius of the people who wrote the songs.One book is not enough to describe or explain how or why such music had so much appeal and how beautiful each melody is.But one thing stands above the rest and Im pretty sure every rock fan is thankful for....Thank God Eric Clapton left the Yardbirds!
(c) Keith Vernon Adagio
