Real guitars, real drums, real vocals, no computers, no auto tune, no editing…. Just three incredible musicians caught at this moment in time! Incredible!
Eric was part of several bands including Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominoes, Delaney & Bonnie. As a solo artist, his collaborations have been legendary. He makes it look so easy, but the virtuosity is undeniable. Amazingly, he was hesitant to take on lead vocals, not being very confident in his singing ability. Thank goodness he overcame that. This performance is stellar, and you correctly identify the great talent of all 3 musicians, not just Eric. 1 + 1 + 1 = 100!
We can't forget The Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Blues Breakers and the Plastic Ono Band. There are a couple more that I am not sure of but Eric sure has one hell of a resume.
Yep, I second that. They were among the best - and this is them at their best! Anything with Eric plus a Gibson and a tube amp... go at it and have a listen!!
@@gingerbaker_toad696 Pretty much the only person who could cope with Baker's terrifying madness. Baker deeply appreciative of Clapton's friendship. Baker's big thing was timing and he rated that as the top quality in fellow musicians. The video does well to note the timing
Eric Clapton was the first and remains the only musician to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 3 times. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Yardbirds, again as a member of Cream, then again as a solo artist.
@@willow0828 The seminal individual and group from early 1960s that nurtured numerous young British blues focussed musicians who went on to become great.
WOW, it's difficult to fathom that, as a guitarist, you've not heard this before. It's impossible to overestimate the importance and influence of this performance. Clapton's attack and phrasing here were just ferocious. In 1968 there were 2 guys who could improvise a solo at this level. One was Clapton, the other was Hendrix. I recall an "in the listening booth" segment with Steve Lukather back in the 80s with this performance as the topic. His take was, "It doesn't get any better than this, unless it's Voodoo Child (Slight Return)." Every bend, every vibrato, it's state of the art." The influence of Clapton's Cream playing has been felt by every generation of blues/rock players, whether they're aware of it or not. "Crossroads" was THE standard for lead guitarists throughout the 70s. Eddie Van Halen was obsessed with these licks for his entire life. He played them flawlessly in an interview with Lisa Robinson. The performance can be found on UA-cam. On a side not, it's important to mention that the video in this clip is NOT of the actual performance. Clapton was playing the "Fool" SG on this performance, not the ES-335. This video footage is from the '68 performance at the RAH, not the 3/10/68 Fillmore show, which is where the audio was actually recorded. That original audio was later mixed with this video footage.
I really think he is faking it for the clicks. There is no way he hasn't head radio in his life before. It still gets played on classic rock radio stations.
Clapton was on fire for this performance, and Jack Bruce on the bass is practically playing a separate lead. Amazing that this much music came out of 3 guys, no tricks! This is why graffiti at that time said "Clapton is God!" I have thought since the day this was released that this is the best live jam I've ever heard.
This was one of the super groups of the 60's. Everyone of the 3 guys (Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker & Eric Clapton) was super talented but they also had big egos. So they didn't always get a long. They all came from previous successful bands. But in the few short years they were together they produced some classic songs such as "White Room", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Tales Of Brave Ulysses", "Strange Brew", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "SWLABR" etc.
5:18 "Our musicians aren't that impressive". Yeah. Growing up in the 90s I was really sad that the peak of Rock was long gone. There are very few outstanding musicians still alive. I think Stevie Wonder is still alive but bit by bit they are dying.
This was "the" song that started it. It was written by Robert Johnson in the 30's. Cream married blues with rock. Everyone who came after emulated this.
Old school music!! You know, no autotune, real musicians, play real music, playing real instruments using skill, talent and musicianship!!! Makes me weep when comparing to the pasteurised, homogenised, computer generated pap. Class, sheer perfection, sheer class!!😁😁🇬🇧
One of the best times for Clapton. More intense, he's on fire. So is the Entire band. Fantastic bass and drums too. Notice Clapton playing off the cymbals on his solos. Baker and Bruce are killing it too.
It should be noted that the video is from the "Goodbye" (?) movie and the sound is from the "Wheels of Fire" album. The two events were several months apart. The performance was before the video.
Yes, spot on Mike. The video is from Royal Albert Hall, London and the audio is from the Fillmore. The original RAH video wasn’t much better synchronised as during one song Eric seems to switch between wearing and not wearing a jacket. They took the RAH video from the two performances and edited them together thinking that nobody would notice.
You need to react to Clapton's song Layla which he recorded with his band Derek and the Dominoes in 1970. Clapton had switched from the Gibson humbucker/Marshall sound, he made famous in Cream, to a Fender Stratocaster with a small Fender Amp. He was joined by the legendary Duane Allman on guitar who used a Gibson Les Paul on the song. This track is musical fireworks, as the two guitar greats play off of each other. Duane showcased his incredible slide guitar technique. Interestedly, Duanne died in a motorcycle accident around a year after this was recorded. He was just 24 years of age. Please listen to the original album version.
I agree with your assessment of the song Layla. The long version is the best. Also, the entire album-Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs-is fantastic. A fine showcase for both Clapton and Allman. Every song on the album is a great blend of rock and blues, a style both Clapton and the Allman Brothers excelled at.
One can only imagine the buzz the crowd got from the euphoria that night. To experience that live performance must have been electrifying. Magic (among other things) was definitely in the air that evening. The audience must've had a smile that remained for days after that show. Another superb performance by Clapton you ought to add to your reaction list is the song, Key To The Highway, recorded live in the studio in 1970. It's a blues number that's has a nice groove that illuminates Clapton's prowess on guitar. Similar to this tune, it seems that he's about to finish up his lead, but then he kicks it into the next gear and blows everyone away with even better licks. It's simply amazing. For a period in the late 60s into the 70s, graffiti began to appear that said Clapton is God. Clapton laughed it off, but it gradually got into his mind. After all, that's one heck of an image to live up to. Cheers to your future reactions. Enjoy!
To Robert Johnson was the greatest influence on the blues is not an understatement. Johnson only recorded 29 songs before he was killed at a young age, but those songs laid the foundation of all the blues music that came afterward. Before Cream, Clapton first made a name for himself as the lead guitarist for The Yardbirds (the band that gave birth to Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page) and later wiith John Mayalll's Bluesbreakers. Check out the Bluesbreaker album with him on it, often referred to as the Beano album. Check out the Cream albums, they are all good.
Hearing someone say "hopefully good music" about Cream is just crazy to me, but I was around to hear them play then - Eric Clapton was in a lot of bands, all incredible - I have heard him play an 8 minute guitar solo live and it never got old - he is one pf the greatest guitarists in rock history - Ginger Baker is the metronome
This song is the first track on one side of the Wheels of Fire double album from this concert. The second track is Spoonful, another old blues tune. Spoonful is something like 17 minutes long with these three awesome musicians just jammin'! When I was playing basketball in college in the early 70's, these two tunes were my clear-my-mind-and get-ready-to-rumble pregame ritual.
You can do lists of the greatest musicians of rock and Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker are on the Mount Rushmore for each of their respective instruments and also jack Bruce who sung the majority of Cream songs isn't thought as one of Rock's greatest vocalists, but hew should be. All three were necessary to create such an amazing, and sizable collection of music in so short amount of time back in the late 60s.
Just subscribed last night. you are among the better in this genre. I'm old, so most of the musicians that are new to you are what I grew up on and still listen to now. Eric Clapton is a standout guitarists that other guitarists worship. His nickname is "Slowhand". You should check out his live performances at his own Crossroads Festivals where he has hosted many of the worlds best guitarists all playing on the same stage. Keep up the good work!
Yes. Their first album "Fresh Cream" is often overlooked; it suffers from a terrible recorded drum sound and some questionable mixing and arrangements. However, the lead guitar playing (ideas, technique, and tone) is epic. Some of his very best.
Jack Bruce the bass player was classically trained in Scotland at a young age. He and the drummer, Ginger Baker were arguably the most sought after Jazz and classical musicians of the early 60's era in Europe. Clapton hooked up with them with the thought that if he was going to showcase his virtuosity as a blues guitarist, he wanted seriously talented musicians around him. He got that and then some. Jack Bruce was a great vocalist and Ginger Baker brought virtuosity to the drums without limit. They made 4 to 5 albums in a two year period, caused the Beatles and Rolling Stones to rethink their approach to performing, but Clapton was somewhat insecure regarding which way to take his career as he got a pretty good heroine habit that took years to kick. No doubt though, Clapton and his group, Cream changed the marketplace of what people expected in the electric Rock evolution. If you want to take the time, go to UA-cam and watch their reunion concert of 1975 filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London. They were paid 15 Million dollars for 3 nights of sold out concerts and finally gave the public what they dreamed of, their greatest rock heroes back together before they got too old to perform. It was a great platform and the elder hippies of the 60's swarmed from the USA to be a part of this famous event. Jack Bruce was always the better singer than Clapton, but the fans worshiped Clapton's guitar solos. You gotta sit and watch the whole thing to appreciate. But, that's the business you are in, correct?
I saw Jack Bruce say that him and Ginger saw the band as a jazz trio with Clapton playing the Ornette Coleman role on the guitar. He said they just didn’t tell Clapton. He might have been joking but given the characters of Jack and Ginger maybe not😂
CREAM - aka The worlds first super group… the totality of what a 3 piece band was intended to be… Clapton is in a league of his own and he was my dads favorite musician of all time… unknowingly as a youngster, I had no idea he was passing along the gift of music all them years of our road trips, family vacations, just me and my dad kinda stuff, and so many other COUNTLESS MILES ALL OVER AMERICA… Above em all, CLAPTON was the man with the title BOSS when musicians gathered on any stage in my dads eyes… he never forced it on me but always encouraged me to just pick up the guitar… as our musical fates would ride together for 44 strong years, we both got to see Clapton live for each of our first times in 2007, together!!! Needless to say I finally took the advice from my dad and when we got home the next night I literally “just picked up the guitar” and got a little committed.. 3 months later we were making music together… my dad died just 7 short weeks ago and Sir Eric Clapton will most likely never know just how much he impacted me and my dad… so anytime I hear Clapton specifically now I can’t help but go back to that place where it made a man and his fathers already unbreakable bond into one that was never even questioned… and for that I’ll always be grateful…
Baker and Bruce were at each other's throats most of the time over creative differences and other things. While Clapton mostly stayed to himself, and stayed above the fray. But there was a lot of personal tension, which was why they split up after a couple of years. But WHAT a couple of years!!
There's a really good video of Eric, John Lennon, Keith Richards and Mitch Mitchell (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) appearing on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus in 1968. They called the group The Dirty Mac. You should check it out. They killed it.
I'm an old Millennial so the first time I heard Clapton was his MTV Unplugged album. I remember later on hearing about how he was this "guitar god" and I was confused because I thought of him as that Tears In Heaven guy. Eventually I heard Cream and his solo work and finally understood. Cream rips!
Eric Clapton started out in a group called the Yardbirds. The Yardbirds had several major guitarists i.e. Jimmy Page do yourself a favor and Google the Yardbirds. It was in the 60's and they played at my high school. Funny when you're 16 that you don't realize you're seeing future legends
Cream was the first "supergroup." It was essentially a jazz band fronted by a blues man, creating a standard of rock improvisation that has never been surpassed.
cream Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce on bass, Ginger Baker on drums. Most of lead vocals for Cream were sang by Jack Bruce. Among Eric's credits is the lead guitar for the Beatles "While my Guitar Gently Weeps". Other good trakes from Cream are Badge, Sunshine of your Love, White Room. 😊 Have fun in the dive into Cream.
Oh boy…..you have so much to hear and learn. I’m having fun watching you do these artists and tunes. But wow, you really didn’t know Clapton was in a band? More than one. Derek and the Dominoes, “Bell Bottom Blues” and “Layla”.
The first time I heard this version of "Crossroads", was on FM radio, in the early summer of 1968, while driving I-25 between Colorado Springs and Denver. As a guitar playing 18 year old, I was emotionally overwhelmed by this song, and Eric's soloing, to the point of tears in my eyes, and banging on the steering wheel, along with the beat. I'm 74 now, and everytime I hear this "Wheels of Fire" live version of Crossroads, to this day, I have to "crank it up"! I simply cannot listen to it, at "normal" volume, even now. Cheers! :D
Classic Clapton, classic 3 piece volume. Love this. I remember listening to this album on my cousin's reel to reel machine, and was captivated by the guitar tone.
Check out Clapron and Crow doing Little Wing. Also a documentary on Ginger Baker called Beware of Mr. Baker. He was a bit of a nutter. Love early Cream. This is a make over of an old Robert Johnson blues song.
The girl next door (16 at the time) bought a Cream album in '68, just because it was cool. The music was way too heavy for her, she hated it. My younger brother (also 16) was all over it, bought the album off her. And he went on from there, chasing music's limits. My oldest son rescued the albums from the dust and chaos of my brother's house a few years ago.
When I was a teenager, I used to sneak into the living room early in the morning to listen to WZMF, the most awesome FM Station and tune the green "eye" on our big Curtis Mathis Console Stereo, being careful to keep the volume low and try to sit between the two big speaker and listen to Cream or anybody else they through at me before anyone got up.
In 1968 music was real. Classically trained Jack Bruce - Cellist Glasgow conservatory -and Ginger Baker one of THE great rock/jazz/blues drummers. Nothing better EVER than Cream. Much of this improvised with Clapton and Bruce rivalling each other and Baker bringing it all on home
They called themselves Cream without shyness. They knew they were the cream of the crop of London musicians. Check out their reunion concert in 2005. See them all as old men. but they still brought the house down.
This footage is not the recording you are watching. The video portion is from their farewell concert at the royal albert hall. The audio is from their double album Wheels of Fire Album. the live version of Crossroads is what you are listening too.
Best sounding version of this song on UA-cam I've heard. Bass, drums clear as bells, bellbottoms and most of us boomers. Three extraordinary musicians jamming. Eternal. 😊❤
In the '60s/'70s, garage bands were everywhere. "Battle of the Bands" were prolific. Live music was in virtually every bar on weekends and hump day. It was analogous to sand lot baseball, little league, pony league, etc., producing the eventual big league baseball players. (I guess it would be soccer in Europe). I'm suddenly reminded of a song. "Nashville Cats".
"24 NIGHTS" live concert is the finest selections and performances you could ever hope to hear. All on one album. If I could have only one album for the rest of my life, it'd be this one. I know, because I can't imagine living without it. Nothing could replace it. (This, coming from my eclectic self. That's a huge statement.) Also, his guests are all spectacular in their own rights. With the likes of Steve Winwood and Jimmy Johnson!! There's not an average performance on it. 🎤 🎸 🎹
The World's FIRST SUPERGROUP, taking Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton from other Bands and, aptly, becoming CREAM. Graffiti all around London in 1969/1970 "Clapton Is God" lol
Hardly chaotic. Just inspired improvisation within a simple 12 bar progression. Clapton's solos in this piece are exceptional. Jack Bruce's bass lines are perfection.
Apologies if this has already been said, but important - this song is Robert Johnson in the 30s, considering selling his soul to the devil to be a master at his guitar. Makes sense Eric Clapton could feel this song.
Clapton was in a number of bands, in addition to his solo work. He also played with/for many very famous musicians. Eric got his start while the Brits were swapping bands and band members all over the place. His autobiography tells all of the things going behind the scenes.
Clapton and others lead the blues based British invasion. A very early power trio with 3 lead players. Ginger Baker playing 4 rhythms at once. African polyrhythms. Another early great power trio leader was the Irish bluesman Rory Gallagher. Check out Rory with his '61 Strat on "Shinkicker", "Bullfrog Blues" or anything else. He said no the the Rolling Stones, when asked to join. Also check out Dave Davies guitar with the Kinks "All Day and All of the Night". I saw Clapton in Tacoma, WA. I saw Janis Joplin and Savoy Brown in '69 at Winterland. Thanks Sebs
They call themselves Cream for something. "Caos in order" The esence of blues improvisation. Never is the same, some time is good, some times is bad, but some times, just a few times...you touch the sky.
before cream he was with jon mayall and the bluebreakers, then the yardbirds. that's where he built his rep, cream was called "cream" because they were cream of the crop of british rock during the '60's. didn't last too long, big egos at work. even though he was on heroin at the time, i think it's his best work; everything after, profitable as it was for eric, just sounded light, am easy listening...
Fantastic recording of Cream and a great reaction! The picture of the theatre marquee with Hendrix and other famous bands at 4:09 was that of the Fillmore East, the legendary music venue in New York City’s East Village. However, this Cream clip was filmed at the original Fillmore theatre in San Francisco (also called Fillmore West), which were both owned by the most famous rock promoter of the time, Bill Graham. These iconic venues witnessed some of the greatest rock shows in the late 60s and 70s. I’m so thankful that these shows were recorded and serve as a witness of the greatness of these classic rock performances.
Saw Cream in 68 at the Anaheim Convention Center. One of the best concerts I've ever been to. You should check out some of his guitar playinwith the Bluesbreakers. After Bluesbreakers and Cream he never had the same sound or intensity to me.
Wow, I've thought that for years, but never heard anyone else share that opinion. His solos became predictable and stale, almost as if they were scripted rather than improvised. At the time, I thought Clapton was God (not literally), but as time passed, he lost that feel he had early on. I loved Gary Moore's interpretations of Cream's songs when he played with Jack Bruce.
Saw them in 69 at their farewell concert at the LA Forum. Amen ! We were young kids looking for a fourth guy to explain this amazingly full and fiery tone. It wasn't just Marshall stacks
This is the Mt. Everest of guitar solos. I’ve listened to this a thousand times and never gotten bored with it. The only thing to equal it is Jimi’s “Voodoo Child.”
Sebs, yer in my wheelhouse now. Been a fan of Eric since I heard him in the Yard Birds, 1972. There are too many recommendations here, so I will watch as you explore him. Rock on.
This source video is deceptive. Notice how you can never see Clapton's fingers on the front of the fretboard. That's because you are listening to the Fillmore concert recording, which is on the Wheels Of Fire album's live half - but you are watching selected clips of the same song at the Royal Albert Hall in London, at their "Farewell Concert" (also on UA-cam). They had to show everything but his fingers, because they wouldn't match up. He's singing the same song, so they have a better chance of trying to match the vocals. At the start of the video, at 2:03, it says San Francisco and London, but doesn't say the audio is from one place and the video from another. Then at 2:10 it says "Live at Fillmore Winterland San Francisco..." which is weird because The Fillmore and Winterland are 2 different San Francisco venues - but the live half of the double album was only recorded (and not filmed) at The Fillmore West. The major downfall of the "Cream Farewell Concert" film is the trippy filming, which is even worse on other songs.
This was Eric Clapton's 3rd band that he was a part of. His first band was The Yardbirds, followed by John Mayall's Blues Breakers, then Cream. When Eric left The Yardbirds he was replaced there by Jeff Beck and then Jimmy Page.
Real guitars, real drums, real vocals, no computers, no auto tune, no editing…. Just three incredible musicians caught at this moment in time! Incredible!
Eric was part of several bands including Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominoes, Delaney & Bonnie. As a solo artist, his collaborations have been legendary. He makes it look so easy, but the virtuosity is undeniable. Amazingly, he was hesitant to take on lead vocals, not being very confident in his singing ability. Thank goodness he overcame that. This performance is stellar, and you correctly identify the great talent of all 3 musicians, not just Eric. 1 + 1 + 1 = 100!
We can't forget The Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Blues Breakers and the Plastic Ono Band. There are a couple more that I am not sure of but Eric sure has one hell of a resume.
@@sammybeck7794 Thanks for the important additions. Especially the Yardbirds.
More correctly Delaney and Bonnie and friends , with Eric Clapton. They made that distinction on the album.
The Buesbreakers.
Don’t forget the Yardbirds.
This is Cream. They were the cream. Three top musicians, the best of their kind. How can't it be so good. He was 23 at this time.
He was so good, Ginger loved him!.. now think of what he said about Mick Jagger..😅
Yep, I second that. They were among the best - and this is them at their best! Anything with Eric plus a Gibson and a tube amp... go at it and have a listen!!
Ginger and Jack were jazz musicians, according to Ginger and both regarded Clapton as one, too, despite his insistence he was a blues player.
@@gingerbaker_toad696 Pretty much the only person who could cope with Baker's terrifying madness. Baker deeply appreciative of Clapton's friendship. Baker's big thing was timing and he rated that as the top quality in fellow musicians. The video does well to note the timing
Eric Clapton was the first and remains the only musician to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 3 times. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Yardbirds, again as a member of Cream, then again as a solo artist.
He's eligible for for more: Delaney and Bonnie, Blind Faith, Derrick and the Dominos and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
@@onemorecastflyshop
Agree!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I’m unfamiliar with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Research time.
@@willow0828 The seminal individual and group from early 1960s that nurtured numerous young British blues focussed musicians who went on to become great.
Correct
He might it 4 times
WOW, it's difficult to fathom that, as a guitarist, you've not heard this before. It's impossible to overestimate the importance and influence of this performance. Clapton's attack and phrasing here were just ferocious. In 1968 there were 2 guys who could improvise a solo at this level. One was Clapton, the other was Hendrix. I recall an "in the listening booth" segment with Steve Lukather back in the 80s with this performance as the topic. His take was, "It doesn't get any better than this, unless it's Voodoo Child (Slight Return)." Every bend, every vibrato, it's state of the art." The influence of Clapton's Cream playing has been felt by every generation of blues/rock players, whether they're aware of it or not. "Crossroads" was THE standard for lead guitarists throughout the 70s. Eddie Van Halen was obsessed with these licks for his entire life. He played them flawlessly in an interview with Lisa Robinson. The performance can be found on UA-cam. On a side not, it's important to mention that the video in this clip is NOT of the actual performance. Clapton was playing the "Fool" SG on this performance, not the ES-335. This video footage is from the '68 performance at the RAH, not the 3/10/68 Fillmore show, which is where the audio was actually recorded. That original audio was later mixed with this video footage.
I really think he is faking it for the clicks. There is no way he hasn't head radio in his life before. It still gets played on classic rock radio stations.
@@EbonyPope I kept telling myself the same thing, he claims to be a guitar player not familiar with Cream comment?
Jack Bruce's bass on this song is 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker & Eric Clapton were top musicians and in the short time they were together as CREAM, produced some fantastic music!
Clapton was on fire for this performance, and Jack Bruce on the bass is practically playing a separate lead. Amazing that this much music came out of 3 guys, no tricks! This is why graffiti at that time said "Clapton is God!" I have thought since the day this was released that this is the best live jam I've ever heard.
Well said Sir....!!! Dead On
This was one of the super groups of the 60's. Everyone of the 3 guys (Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker & Eric Clapton) was super talented but they also had big egos. So they didn't always get a long. They all came from previous successful bands. But in the few short years they were together they produced some classic songs such as "White Room", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Tales Of Brave Ulysses", "Strange Brew", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "SWLABR" etc.
The only three time inductee to the rock and roll hall of fame.
Cream of the crop
Crème de la Crème.
5:18 "Our musicians aren't that impressive". Yeah. Growing up in the 90s I was really sad that the peak of Rock was long gone. There are very few outstanding musicians still alive. I think Stevie Wonder is still alive but bit by bit they are dying.
Incorrect, Ginger and Jack didn't get along. Clapton was tired of the fighting.
The band was called CREAM! This was live at the Filmore East in Manhattan, NY. Listen to Jack Bruce on bass, incredible.
I was at this concert at Winterland! It was my first concert and was truly unforgettable. Thanks for sharing this one!
This was "the" song that started it. It was written by Robert Johnson in the 30's. Cream married blues with rock. Everyone who came after emulated this.
"The Blues had a baby and they called it Rock 'n' Roll." -Muddy Waters
A lot of blues covers from the Brits. Stones, Zeppelin, Cream all had a few in their play lists. Diggin' deep for those gems!
Cream - Sunshine of Your Love. One of the most iconic songs of all time
Old school music!! You know, no autotune, real musicians, play real music, playing real instruments using skill, talent and musicianship!!! Makes me weep when comparing to the pasteurised, homogenised, computer generated pap. Class, sheer perfection, sheer class!!😁😁🇬🇧
One of the best times for Clapton. More intense, he's on fire. So is the Entire band. Fantastic bass and drums too. Notice Clapton playing off the cymbals on his solos. Baker and Bruce are killing it too.
It should be noted that the video is from the "Goodbye" (?) movie and the sound is from the "Wheels of Fire" album. The two events were several months apart. The performance was before the video.
Yes, spot on Mike. The video is from Royal Albert Hall, London and the audio is from the Fillmore. The original RAH video wasn’t much better synchronised as during one song Eric seems to switch between wearing and not wearing a jacket. They took the RAH video from the two performances and edited them together thinking that nobody would notice.
"look how calm he is". That's why his nickname is Slowhand. Effortless brilliance.
And after more than 50 years, Clapton is still touring and performing. He is a master of masters.
You need to react to Clapton's song Layla which he recorded with his band Derek and the Dominoes in 1970. Clapton had switched from the Gibson humbucker/Marshall sound, he made famous in Cream, to a Fender Stratocaster with a small Fender Amp. He was joined by the legendary Duane Allman on guitar who used a Gibson Les Paul on the song. This track is musical fireworks, as the two guitar greats play off of each other. Duane showcased his incredible slide guitar technique. Interestedly, Duanne died in a motorcycle accident around a year after this was recorded. He was just 24 years of age. Please listen to the original album version.
I agree with your assessment of the song Layla. The long version is the best. Also, the entire album-Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs-is fantastic. A fine showcase for both Clapton and Allman. Every song on the album is a great blend of rock and blues, a style both Clapton and the Allman Brothers excelled at.
They were famous for their improvisation, which showed their talents to the full.
One can only imagine the buzz the crowd got from the euphoria that night. To experience that live performance must have been electrifying. Magic (among other things) was definitely in the air that evening. The audience must've had a smile that remained for days after that show.
Another superb performance by Clapton you ought to add to your reaction list is the song, Key To The Highway, recorded live in the studio in 1970. It's a blues number that's has a nice groove that illuminates Clapton's prowess on guitar. Similar to this tune, it seems that he's about to finish up his lead, but then he kicks it into the next gear and blows everyone away with even better licks. It's simply amazing.
For a period in the late 60s into the 70s, graffiti began to appear that said Clapton is God. Clapton laughed it off, but it gradually got into his mind. After all, that's one heck of an image to live up to. Cheers to your future reactions. Enjoy!
To Robert Johnson was the greatest influence on the blues is not an understatement. Johnson only recorded 29 songs before he was killed at a young age, but those songs laid the foundation of all the blues music that came afterward. Before Cream, Clapton first made a name for himself as the lead guitarist for The Yardbirds (the band that gave birth to Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page) and later wiith John Mayalll's Bluesbreakers. Check out the Bluesbreaker album with him on it, often referred to as the Beano album. Check out the Cream albums, they are all good.
Hearing someone say "hopefully good music" about Cream is just crazy to me, but I was around to hear them play then - Eric Clapton was in a lot of bands, all incredible - I have heard him play an 8 minute guitar solo live and it never got old - he is one pf the greatest guitarists in rock history - Ginger Baker is the metronome
16 when this hit..Cream was huge...what great music from them!! Sunshine of your Love.. Strange Brew..on and on!!!
Jack Bruce is incredible Scotland is extremely proud
7:02 this is one of the few transitions where you can listen to it as many times as you want over and over and you still can't figure out what they do
Eric Clapton was in Cream, Blind Faith & Derek & The Dominoes (Layla)
This song is the first track on one side of the Wheels of Fire double album from this concert. The second track is Spoonful, another old blues tune. Spoonful is something like 17 minutes long with these three awesome musicians just jammin'! When I was playing basketball in college in the early 70's, these two tunes were my clear-my-mind-and get-ready-to-rumble pregame ritual.
You can do lists of the greatest musicians of rock and Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker are on the Mount Rushmore for each of their respective instruments and also jack Bruce who sung the majority of Cream songs isn't thought as one of Rock's greatest vocalists, but hew should be. All three were necessary to create such an amazing, and sizable collection of music in so short amount of time back in the late 60s.
Just subscribed last night. you are among the better in this genre. I'm old, so most of the musicians that are new to you are what I grew up on and still listen to now. Eric Clapton is a standout guitarists that other guitarists worship. His nickname is "Slowhand". You should check out his live performances at his own Crossroads Festivals where he has hosted many of the worlds best guitarists all playing on the same stage. Keep up the good work!
Two words “ Sweet Wine” studio version of Fresh Cream their 1st album . Incredible guitar solo .
Yes. Their first album "Fresh Cream" is often overlooked; it suffers from a terrible recorded drum sound and some questionable mixing and arrangements. However, the lead guitar playing (ideas, technique, and tone) is epic. Some of his very best.
Jack Bruce the bass player was classically trained in Scotland at a young age. He and the drummer, Ginger Baker were arguably the most sought after Jazz and classical musicians of the early 60's era in Europe. Clapton hooked up with them with the thought that if he was going to showcase his virtuosity as a blues guitarist, he wanted seriously talented musicians around him. He got that and then some. Jack Bruce was a great vocalist and Ginger Baker brought virtuosity to the drums without limit. They made 4 to 5 albums in a two year period, caused the Beatles and Rolling Stones to rethink their approach to performing, but Clapton was somewhat insecure regarding which way to take his career as he got a pretty good heroine habit that took years to kick. No doubt though, Clapton and his group, Cream changed the marketplace of what people expected in the electric Rock evolution. If you want to take the time, go to UA-cam and watch their reunion concert of 1975 filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London. They were paid 15 Million dollars for 3 nights of sold out concerts and finally gave the public what they dreamed of, their greatest rock heroes back together before they got too old to perform. It was a great platform and the elder hippies of the 60's swarmed from the USA to be a part of this famous event. Jack Bruce was always the better singer than Clapton, but the fans worshiped Clapton's guitar solos. You gotta sit and watch the whole thing to appreciate. But, that's the business you are in, correct?
The Royal Albert Hall reunion was in the mid-2000s rather than 1975. I know that because I was there.
I saw Jack Bruce say that him and Ginger saw the band as a jazz trio with Clapton playing the Ornette Coleman role on the guitar. He said they just didn’t tell Clapton. He might have been joking but given the characters of Jack and Ginger maybe not😂
CREAM - aka The worlds first super group… the totality of what a 3 piece band was intended to be… Clapton is in a league of his own and he was my dads favorite musician of all time… unknowingly as a youngster, I had no idea he was passing along the gift of music all them years of our road trips, family vacations, just me and my dad kinda stuff, and so many other COUNTLESS MILES ALL OVER AMERICA… Above em all, CLAPTON was the man with the title BOSS when musicians gathered on any stage in my dads eyes… he never forced it on me but always encouraged me to just pick up the guitar… as our musical fates would ride together for 44 strong years, we both got to see Clapton live for each of our first times in 2007, together!!! Needless to say I finally took the advice from my dad and when we got home the next night I literally “just picked up the guitar” and got a little committed..
3 months later we were making music together… my dad died just 7 short weeks ago and Sir Eric Clapton will most likely never know just how much he impacted me and my dad… so anytime I hear Clapton specifically now I can’t help but go back to that place where it made a man and his fathers already unbreakable bond into one that was never even questioned… and for that I’ll always be grateful…
The biggest middle finger to an abusive Family I ever saw.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏The best Song.Wooooh! 💛
Baker and Bruce were at each other's throats most of the time over creative differences and other things. While Clapton mostly stayed to himself, and stayed above the fray. But there was a lot of personal tension, which was why they split up after a couple of years. But WHAT a couple of years!!
There's a really good video of Eric, John Lennon, Keith Richards and Mitch Mitchell (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) appearing on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus in 1968. They called the group The Dirty Mac. You should check it out. They killed it.
This song is going to be played at my funeral. First super band!
jack bruce and ginger baker were there too guy. Listen, both of them played with jazz groups, they can be traced back to miles davis via tony williams
Your reaction to his tone... its only a reaction a guitarist will have. Everyone appreciates his tone, but guitarists, we worship this tone.
I'm an old Millennial so the first time I heard Clapton was his MTV Unplugged album. I remember later on hearing about how he was this "guitar god" and I was confused because I thought of him as that Tears In Heaven guy. Eventually I heard Cream and his solo work and finally understood. Cream rips!
Wheels of Fire is my favorite Cream album, lots of old blues done in 60's rock fashion like Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.
Eric Clapton started out in a group called the Yardbirds. The Yardbirds had several major guitarists i.e. Jimmy Page do yourself a favor and Google the Yardbirds. It was in the 60's and they played at my high school. Funny when you're 16 that you don't realize you're seeing future legends
Three of the greatest musicians
Slowhand (Eric Clapton) is one of the best ever. His sound is always so soulful and smooth.
We were so lucky to have Clapton, Hendrix, jeff beck from this era.
Cream was the first "supergroup." It was essentially a jazz band fronted by a blues man, creating a standard of rock improvisation that has never been surpassed.
cream Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce on bass, Ginger Baker on drums. Most of lead vocals for Cream were sang by Jack Bruce. Among Eric's credits is the lead guitar for the Beatles "While my Guitar Gently Weeps".
Other good trakes from Cream are Badge, Sunshine of your Love, White Room. 😊 Have fun in the dive into Cream.
thats how it is when you hear the best musicians in the world !!!
Musicians keep it together by paying attention to each other
Oh boy…..you have so much to hear and learn. I’m having fun watching you do these artists and tunes. But wow, you really didn’t know Clapton was in a band? More than one. Derek and the Dominoes, “Bell Bottom Blues” and “Layla”.
Jack Bruce was the bassist for Cream
Clapton was in two bands prior to Cream, The Yardbirds and John Mayall's Blues Breakers, both were well established bands.
The first time I heard this version of "Crossroads", was on FM radio, in the early summer of 1968, while driving I-25 between Colorado Springs and Denver. As a guitar playing 18 year old, I was emotionally overwhelmed by this song, and Eric's soloing, to the point of tears in my eyes, and banging on the steering wheel, along with the beat. I'm 74 now, and everytime I hear this "Wheels of Fire" live version of Crossroads, to this day, I have to "crank it up"! I simply cannot listen to it, at "normal" volume, even now. Cheers! :D
Classic Clapton, classic 3 piece volume. Love this. I remember listening to this album on my cousin's reel to reel machine, and was captivated by the guitar tone.
Ginger Baker was a timing master, so they were always going to be in time even during their improvs.
Any legit guitarist listens to Clapton for heaven's sake. He is one of the greats.
Check out Clapron and Crow doing Little Wing. Also a documentary on Ginger Baker called Beware of Mr. Baker. He was a bit of a nutter. Love early Cream. This is a make over of an old Robert Johnson blues song.
The girl next door (16 at the time) bought a Cream album in '68, just because it was cool. The music was way too heavy for her, she hated it. My younger brother (also 16) was all over it, bought the album off her. And he went on from there, chasing music's limits. My oldest son rescued the albums from the dust and chaos of my brother's house a few years ago.
Ginger Baker. Another fabulous drummer. YAY!!!!
Dude, he was so good there were graffiti scrawls in Britain that said “Clapton is God”
When I was a teenager, I used to sneak into the living room early in the morning to listen to WZMF, the most awesome FM Station and tune the green "eye" on our big Curtis Mathis Console Stereo, being careful to keep the volume low and try to sit between the two big speaker and listen to Cream or anybody else they through at me before anyone got up.
In 1968 music was real. Classically trained Jack Bruce - Cellist Glasgow conservatory -and Ginger Baker one of THE great rock/jazz/blues drummers. Nothing better EVER than Cream. Much of this improvised with Clapton and Bruce rivalling each other and Baker bringing it all on home
Oh yeah, saw them in Baltimore in1968, jammed better than most.
They called themselves Cream without shyness. They knew they were the cream of the crop of London musicians. Check out their reunion concert in 2005. See them all as old men. but they still brought the house down.
This footage is not the recording you are watching. The video portion is from their farewell concert at the royal albert hall. The audio is from their double album Wheels of Fire Album. the live version of Crossroads is what you are listening too.
Cream was the first "Super group". Clapton, Jack Bruce on Bass and Ginger Baker on Drums.
They're just very good musicians!
Clapton grew his blues chops with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers... and Mayall just passed away at 90..
The bass man, the bass😮😮😮
"Badge" is also great song by Cream to check out.
Best sounding version of this song on UA-cam I've heard. Bass, drums clear as bells, bellbottoms and most of us boomers.
Three extraordinary musicians jamming. Eternal. 😊❤
In the '60s/'70s, garage bands were everywhere. "Battle of the Bands" were prolific. Live music was in virtually every bar on weekends and hump day. It was analogous to sand lot baseball, little league, pony league, etc., producing the eventual big league baseball players. (I guess it would be soccer in Europe). I'm suddenly reminded of a song. "Nashville Cats".
"24 NIGHTS" live concert is the finest selections and performances you could ever hope to hear. All on one album. If I could have only one album for the rest of my life, it'd be this one. I know, because I can't imagine living without it. Nothing could replace it. (This, coming from my eclectic self. That's a huge statement.)
Also, his guests are all spectacular in their own rights. With the likes of Steve Winwood and Jimmy Johnson!! There's not an average performance on it. 🎤 🎸 🎹
I am so blessed to have come up in the time of all this great music and musicians
Clapton, yes!!!
The World's FIRST SUPERGROUP, taking Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton from other Bands and, aptly, becoming CREAM.
Graffiti all around London in 1969/1970 "Clapton Is God" lol
The bass and drums are crazy good too.
Hardly chaotic.
Just inspired improvisation within a simple 12 bar progression.
Clapton's solos in this piece are exceptional.
Jack Bruce's bass lines are perfection.
Apologies if this has already been said, but important - this song is Robert Johnson in the 30s, considering selling his soul to the devil to be a master at his guitar. Makes sense Eric Clapton could feel this song.
Oops, didn’t get to watch all the way to the end:)
Clapton was in a number of bands, in addition to his solo work. He also played with/for many very famous musicians. Eric got his start while the Brits were swapping bands and band members all over the place. His autobiography tells all of the things going behind the scenes.
Clapton and others lead the blues based British invasion. A very early power trio with 3 lead players. Ginger Baker playing 4 rhythms at once. African polyrhythms. Another early great power trio leader was the Irish bluesman Rory Gallagher. Check out Rory with his '61 Strat on "Shinkicker", "Bullfrog Blues" or anything else. He said no the the Rolling Stones, when asked to join. Also check out Dave Davies guitar with the Kinks "All Day and All of the Night". I saw Clapton in Tacoma, WA. I saw Janis Joplin and Savoy Brown in '69 at Winterland. Thanks Sebs
Eric the love of my life😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
The 27 club is a thing. Brian Jones was the Rolling Stones founder.
Whoever edited that cream video needs to get their head examined. The quick cuts are maddening
The drummer was Ginger Baker and he was crazy good. He was regular crazy too.
They call themselves Cream for something. "Caos in order" The esence of blues improvisation. Never is the same, some time is good, some times is bad, but some times, just a few times...you touch the sky.
before cream he was with jon mayall and the bluebreakers, then the yardbirds. that's where he built his rep, cream was called "cream" because they were cream of the crop of british rock during the '60's. didn't last too long, big egos at work. even though he was on heroin at the time, i think it's his best work; everything after, profitable as it was for eric, just sounded light, am easy listening...
No fancy electronics, tube amps, pure sound!!!
probably the greatest guitar solos ever, they say the second solo was ground breaking and brought in modern blues
Fantastic recording of Cream and a great reaction! The picture of the theatre marquee with Hendrix and other famous bands at 4:09 was that of the Fillmore East, the legendary music venue in New York City’s East Village. However, this Cream clip was filmed at the original Fillmore theatre in San Francisco (also called Fillmore West), which were both owned by the most famous rock promoter of the time, Bill Graham. These iconic venues witnessed some of the greatest rock shows in the late 60s and 70s. I’m so thankful that these shows were recorded and serve as a witness of the greatness of these classic rock performances.
Saw Cream in 68 at the Anaheim Convention Center. One of the best concerts I've ever been to. You should check out some of his guitar playinwith the Bluesbreakers. After Bluesbreakers and Cream he never had the same sound or intensity to me.
Wow, I've thought that for years, but never heard anyone else share that opinion. His solos became predictable and stale, almost as if they were scripted rather than improvised. At the time, I thought Clapton was God (not literally), but as time passed, he lost that feel he had early on. I loved Gary Moore's interpretations of Cream's songs when he played with Jack Bruce.
Saw them in 69 at their farewell concert at the LA Forum. Amen ! We were young kids looking for a fourth guy to explain this amazingly full and fiery tone. It wasn't just Marshall stacks
This is the Mt. Everest of guitar solos. I’ve listened to this a thousand times and never gotten bored with it. The only thing to equal it is Jimi’s “Voodoo Child.”
that's a23 year old Eric knocking it out with 2 of the best musicians to ever grace a stage-his 2nd solo on this is off the scale good.
Sebs, yer in my wheelhouse now. Been a fan of Eric since I heard him in the Yard Birds, 1972. There are too many recommendations here, so I will watch as you explore him. Rock on.
Eric was in the Yardbirds before he was in Cream.
72 was when I first heard YB,
"Clapton is God!"
This source video is deceptive. Notice how you can never see Clapton's fingers on the front of the fretboard. That's because you are listening to the Fillmore concert recording, which is on the Wheels Of Fire album's live half - but you are watching selected clips of the same song at the Royal Albert Hall in London, at their "Farewell Concert" (also on UA-cam). They had to show everything but his fingers, because they wouldn't match up. He's singing the same song, so they have a better chance of trying to match the vocals. At the start of the video, at 2:03, it says San Francisco and London, but doesn't say the audio is from one place and the video from another. Then at 2:10 it says "Live at Fillmore Winterland San Francisco..." which is weird because The Fillmore and Winterland are 2 different San Francisco venues - but the live half of the double album was only recorded (and not filmed) at The Fillmore West. The major downfall of the "Cream Farewell Concert" film is the trippy filming, which is even worse on other songs.
Graffiti on a London wall-
Clapton is God
Bonnie Bramlett of Delaney and Bonnie taught and encouraged Clapton to sing. He preferred just to play guitar at first.
This was Eric Clapton's 3rd band that he was a part of. His first band was The Yardbirds, followed by John Mayall's Blues Breakers, then Cream. When Eric left The Yardbirds he was replaced there by Jeff Beck and then Jimmy Page.
The three greatest musicians to ever live!