Though not an entire set, this six-song snippet is an engrossing performance from the legendary supergroup Cream at San Francisco's Winterland on March 10, 1968. The group is in top form as they cruise through big hits ("Spoonful"), classic covers ("Crossroads"), and other assorted gems ("Tales of Brave Ulysees").
When you get three masters of their craft together, fireworks are going to happen. This performance is no exception. From the first notes of "Tales of Brave Ulysees," you can already hear Clapton's signature bluesy licks, this time featuring some heavy wah wah guitar. Same…entire summary
Eric Clapton - guitar, vocals
Jack Bruce - bass, vocals, harmonica
Ginger Baker - drums
Though not an entire set, this six-song snippet is an engrossing performance from the legendary supergroup Cream at San Francisco's Winterland on March 10, 1968. The group is in top form as they cruise through big hits ("Spoonful"), classic covers ("Crossroads"), and other assorted gems ("Tales of Brave Ulysees").
When you get three masters of their craft together, fireworks are going to happen. This performance is no exception. From the first notes of "Tales of Brave Ulysees," you can already hear Clapton's signature bluesy licks, this time featuring some heavy wah wah guitar. Same goes for Bruce and Baker, who can't help but stand out. A real highlight for fans will be an 11-plus minute version of the classic "Spoonful." The trio really gets into the groove, and Ginger Baker's frenetic, jazzy drumming is impossible to ignore. Baker's "Sweet Wine" is another fantastic bluesy track; the group sounds really plugged in.
Though it is only six tracks, the recording runs just short of 45 minutes, and it is sure to delight fans of Cream and of classic rock in general.
It's hard to know where to start when talking about Cream. In 1966, Eric Clapton was widely considered one of the best guitar players in rock 'n' roll, and after he left the Yardbirds, he got hooked up with Ginger Baker, a phenomenal drummer himself. After the two jammed together, Baker asked Clapton if he wanted to form a new group; Clapton agreed, but only on the condition that bassist Jack Bruce—who he had played with in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Powerhouse—be brought on board.
With Bruce in the fold, the group hit the studio in July of 1966, and their debut, Fresh Cream, was released in December of that year. Though it was not an automatic commercial smash, it features some of the most beloved rock songs ever recorded, including "I Feel Free," "Spoonful," and "I'm So Glad." Rolling Stone magazine ranked it the 101st best album of all time.
For their follow-up, they dialed back the blues a bit and went for a more psychedelic approach. And it worked. Disraeli Gears easily outsold its predecessor, and it helped Cream book its place in the pantheon of rock's greatest bands. With tracks like "Sunshine of Your Love," the trio also conquered America, hitting No. 4 on the Billboard Album Charts.
Sadly, Cream would only release two more albums, 1968's Wheels of Fire and 1969's phenomenal swan song, the aptly named, Goodbye. Though Goodbye only featured four new studio recordings, one of them, "Badge"—a song that Clapton wrote with George Harrison (who's wife, Pattie Boyd, Clapton famously went on to marry)—is one of the group's finest songs.
Like so many great artists from the era, their run was too short. Internal turmoil between the members, especially between Bruce and Baker, led to the group splitting up in May of 1968. But lucky for us, it was a hell of a prolific three years.
Read more about Eric Clapton in Crawdaddy!:
"Cream: Background to a Break-Up"
"Live Interview: Eric Clapton: The Word of God"
"Supergroups: The Dirty Mac vs. The Good, the Bad, and the Queen"
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