@@kofibaker8385 excellent great to hear. I’m in philadelphia so if you ever get out to the east coast of America I’ll try to come see you! Thanks for stopping by the channel.
Ive also read where he thought Carl Radle and Jim Gordon were the best rhythm section he ever played with. Can you imagine Bruce and Gordon together? Wait. APOSTROPHE with Zappa.
@Liam he has played with mostly every body!. He always says everyone is the best he has ever met. From Duane, to Albert Lee, Knopfler, R Cray, Ginger, Jack, Jeff, Radle, Gordon, Doyle,. He seems to be well spoken
Ginger and Jack were soul mates. The best fucking rhythm section in rock n roll history. No doubt they're up there arguing, bickering, fighting and making music with each other still.
Have heard that another reason Clapton wanted Bruce in Cream is that he didn't see himself as the lead vocalist. In those days, Clapton sang, but Bruce had the really big high voice - some say setting the stage for '70s rock singers. A cogent writer observed that each member of Cream were playing in a different band: Clapton thought it was a blues band; Bruce thought it was a vehicle for his songs, and .Baker thought he was playing in jazz/rock combo (before the term "fusion" even existed).
@@maximilliancunningham6091 But he still was a better bass player than a vocalist. So I can understand why he doesn't get the credit he deserves. His mouth harp playing was also superior.
I loved how their live shows were competitions especially between Baker and Bruce. The live Filmore cut of Spoonful is a wonderful example of great musicians working to out do each other and push each other to greater heights. Their conflicting personalities brought the best out of them when it worked. Rock In Peace - Ginger and Jack
When I first heard Cream, as a teen, in 1967, it blew me away, sonically. They were the first and finest Supergroup of the 60's! And their music remains, timeless! Thanks for the video on this famous feud, between Baker and Bruce.
I met Jack at the ElMocombo in Toronto in 1988. I was scared to death and only 18. I snuck into the club in the afternoon during his soundcheck He was very sweet and very encouraging. I’ll never forget how my biggest giant was so kind. Bless his soul.
Jack and Ginger loved each other. They had a lot of fights and certainly had their share of differences, but I’ve read multiple interviews from each of them where they’ve literally said they “love” each other. I think they just had trouble getting along and communicating in an effective way. That was the problem.
It was very similiar to the relationship that Peter Townsend and Roger Daltry have in the WHO. It mellowed after Keith Moon passed, but in the mid-60's they would get at each other's throats.
It couldn’t have been true hatred. Otherwise they never would have worked together so many times. To this day, I believe that most thunderstorms are Ginger and Jack shouting at each other in the heavens.
Great job "Guitar Historian"! When I first heard Cream back in '67, I was BLOWN AWAY!... So often I find myself still listening to Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, Wheels of Fire & Fresh Cream. Bruce, Baker & Clapton, gave me more than they ever knew. "White Room" still plays in my mind, every day...
Amen to this piece. It was very well researched. I heard a lot of stories about the Alexis Korner \Graham Bond days even that Clapton had jammed with Bruce and Baker with Korner's band after he left the Yardbirds. That must have been a magical time in England. My best friend spent time in England and witnessed the guitarist transition in the Yardbirds from Top Topham to Eric Clapton and his stories about it were a marvel.. {RIP}.
I've never had any trouble separating an artist's work from their personality. John Bonham was violent and mean when he was drunk. But I sure enjoy his drumming. Ginger was bitching and criticizing everyone all the time . But he was a brilliant . Pete Townshend is a bitter , weird SoB but wrote great material. Clapton is insecure and not at all open minded musically. Ritchie Blackmore is an anti social , difficult guy. John Lennon was a cynical , self important weirdo. Jeff Beck is notoriously hard to work with. As far as I am concerned it's none of my business how they behave when they're not creating. I can enjoy their work
I`ve allways said Great talent is fantastic and divinely inspired, but please don`t let me be in the kitchen when they are trying to make breakfast first thing in the morning......too close...too close....
But for me once I know they are not nice people I lose interest eventually. I've met Pete Townshend and he was pretty good to me I don't think John Lennon was unimportant .I do think Eric Clapton is overrated and not that bright and kind of a right-winger I once spoke to Ray Charles's band and they said if you knew every bad thing about the artists you listen to you wouldn't have much to listen to.They said they just look the other way when the Ray was being an a-hole. We stuck with him for the music.
40 years ago I saw Jack Bruce & friends playing in a bar in Perth, I stood 6" from him, the hairs stood on the back of my neck because out of all the bands & rock stars I had seen, & have since, Jack was the greatest (along with Rory Gallagher)
Ginger's dad wanted him to be a tough guy and that's what he turned into. He loved to tussle and fight and he would goad people into a fight. He was totally anti-social and screwed over his children, wives, brothers, sisters, everybody he came across. But he lived for the drums. He felt that was his true calling in life. I saw him in 1967 at the Whiskey and all 3 of them were at the height of their proficiency and talents. "Spoonful" was great and lasted like a half hour. Ginger was the best drummer I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of drummers over the years. I'll always remember Jack doing, "Theme From an Imaginary Western," and "On the Road to Dreams" which is called something else. Oh, and if your viewers have not watched the 2006 reunion concert at Prince Albert Hall they have to watch it. Fantastic four night concert.
Ginger Baker joined Hawkwind, played brilliant drums on the Leviataion album but wanted to take over the band and bring Jack Bruce in. Dave Brock had plenty of experience of people trying to hijack his band so Ginger was out.
Well, he was turned into something. I don't look at guys as tough who will pull knives, or other weapons, and bully other people, whether to get his way or just to intimidate someone. Tough guys don't need to talk about being tough, nor feel the need to always be out to "prove it." Anyways, an incredible band. Their powerful live shows helped create other forms of Rock, and inspired the music of the progenitors of all forms of Heavy Metal, Black Sabbath. It's not uncommon for great musicians, and powerful creative forces, to ve difficult personalities , especially together. Cool video.
I don't know how anyone can make the claim that either Eric or Ginger were the musician Jack Bruce was, Clapton himself call the classically trained Jack the "musician" of the band Cream. He claimed that Jack taught him how to sing properly and the structuring of song writing. You only have to look at the caliber of great players that Jack went on to collaborate with: John McLaughlin, Tony Williams, Allan Holdsworth, Gary Husband, Billy Cobham, to name a few. Clapton and Baker never played with musicians like that. He also had a totally original sound to his bass, he was a truly great musician.
Been waiting on this one! You can damn sure get your hands on some great pics I've never seen in my life! Well researched and delivered too! Very well done, sir! Very well done!
After writing my other entry here, and reading a few others, I've had an epiphany - Baker had Borderline Personality Disorder, that's clear. It's main dynamic is the sufferer's fear of abandonment. A relationship with a Borderline usually involves esteem which alternates between idealization and devaluation, but develops otherwise uneventfully. As it approaches greater intimacy, a seemingly trivial event will arouse the latent fear of abandonment, and an inappropriately explosive response. This recurring violent instability becomes the norm for the relationship. The fact that Baker and Bruce achieved an immediate, deep synergy while playing could easily account for Baker's early acceptance of Bruce as an emotional confidant, setting the relationship up for violent collapse at the first implication of abandonment, e.g. Jack's "playing too loud." The same dynamic is evident in Baker's deteriorating rapport with the filmmaker Jay Bulger in his 2012 documentary "Beware of Mr. Baker."
Pretty great !! Born in '57 with the good stuff nearly used to cut my teeth. First band i got albums from was The DC5 which i loved, Then i heard Cream. The first band i had to have every album from, starting with Wheels Of Fire. Bought BBM abit late but worked out OK,,,the RI had tracks from RAH. I like these offerings but this is the first i know i'll view more than once. Nice work !!
Jack Bruce was and is my bass Idol. Thank you for this. Edited for the purpose to mention. Jack Bruce Songs for a tailor "Never tell your mother she's out of tune" that had a groove that James Brown could of got down with. Another is the ferocity on "the clearout" they sound absolutely brilliant.
I saved and bought an EB3 because I appreciated his playing and his tone. Plus its a beautiful bass. I never have been able to get to his skill level but it's fun trying
Great video. Brilliantly structured. Riveting from start to finish. Thanks a lot. It was only after the BBC documentary on Jack that I realised what a sense of humour he had.
What a great way to start this video talking about Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce in the context of gravitational pull. Such a fantastic video and series!
Jack Bruce and Paul McCartney are the two most influential bassists in rock history, imho. There are other great, great rock bass players but those two were the head turners. They are quite different as players, of course. But both alerted a generation of bass players to the melodic and creative possibilities of the electric bass. I don’t include the soul and R&B greats of the ‘50s and ‘60s for two reasons: 1) Both Bruce and McCartney began their careers under the influence of those bass masters and learned from their recordings as young musicians. And, (2) the early blues/soul pioneers were not playing rock and roll, at rock and roll volume and intensity. They were still in the soul groove, all of them having had studio and live experience not only as soul players, but themselves being influenced by the great jazz bassists of the era.
I 'm sorry James ,but I do not understand your argument . Bruce approached the bass guitar from the point of view of a classicly trained cellist and a Jazz loving double bass player . McCartney came from the point of view of being a guitarist having to switch to bass after Stu Sutcliffe left the band . Both Jack and Paul were very influenced by the Tamla Motown bass sound ( James Jamerson ) but came to it from different directions .
You mentioned the song "White Room" as being on the album "Disraeli Gears", it was actually the first song on side 1 of their third record "Wheels Of Fire." An honest mistake as the song has the sound and feel of the "Disraeli Gears" era. BB
Thanks The Guitar Historian. ... The short history of Cream, they present a paradox insofar that even though comprising this great fusion of three-man talent, I suppose it was inevitable because of the animosity between Ginger and Jack, that the 'cream would curdle'. But not before leaving an indelible mark in music history for us to look back on with appreciation of the music they made and indeed, Cream were the 'supergroup' pioneers of a sort. Moving on in time, being UK resident in London, I was fortunate enough to attend one of the reunion concert evenings at the RAH and when the three members came out at the end to hold hands/acknowledge the delighted audience, I perceived a reticence of Ginger Baker/Jack Bruce making even very brief physical contact. ... I would also add, that in the happy anticipation before the performance started, we got chatting with various others seated immediately to the side, behind and in front of us. All said they had flown over from the USA just to see them! Actually, consider myself really lucky to have got two tickets. Seats were sold-out very early-on when I tried, but having checked the RAH list for late cancellations/returned seat tickets just a few days prior, the stars then aligned for me. Certainly consider it money well spent, although like perhaps a number of others, I would have liked to have seen Eric play using a Gibson and Marshall which would have been the icing on the cake 'soundwise'. ... Nevertheless, in typing this I recall there was one of those mini Marshall battery home-practice amps sitting on Eric's gear!
Here in Oakland, we had this un cluttered blues trio instrumental formula all through world war II , and in my mind i continue to imagine immortal heavy wieght pioneers formulating heavy power trios -line ups -the likes of Robert Nighthawk on guitar , with Joe Comfort on bass , and Jo Jones on drums. Earl Hooker on guitar , with Dave Myers on bass , and Fred Bellows on drums. God have mercy on us Don't get me wrong It's impossible to listen to Cream without marveling at the immortal resound that they have on us, it's a remarkable odessey , and a remarkable journey for them [and us] from their begining , and will resound forever Forever and Forever
Hi, Your channel is one of my favourites on UA-cam - you really do your homework and I enjoy your comments that are insightful and intelligent. This had to be one of my favourites so far. Cream is one of my all time favourite groups and I loved the solo work of Jack Bruce especially his collaborations with Pete Brown. I had to watch this twice in a row - it was so interesting and will probably watch a few more times. Interesting that the tension between the three stars was what made Cream so great before the tension just imploded. They had so many timeless hits. Thanks so much !!
Wow, that was good! Have Ginger's book, saw the documentary and have been a fan of Cream since '68. Your very well done documentary includes a few things I didn't know. Thank you! My high school years were 68-71 and Cream never left my turntable. If I were forced to choose only one band to listen to during those magical times, Cream is it. Funny how turbulence creates absolute wonder and beauty. Just listen to Deserted Cities of the Heart. ❤
Ginger was critical of everything! ….. and everyone - except for a lifelong devotion to Eric Clapton. He hated Bonham and Moon, and never spoke well of ANY Rock drummer, other than Charlie Watts. GB was supremely talented drummer - but a pretty unpleasant man. Jack was spot on with the “bitter old man” comment. I am fairly confident that Jack was probably no picnic either - being creatively obsessive and correspondingly grumpy at times when he felt things weren’t quite right. But his epic partnership with co-writer Pete Brown, and the lasting quality of his vocal power were huge factors in the Cream success - and his characteristic, busy bass virtuosity was the very heart of their sound. Artistically, and directionally Cream were every bit as important and influential as either the Beatles or Zeppelin, albeit that effectively they crashed and burned after just over 2 meteoric years. The reason they split was the very same dynamic that created their stunning success - the combination of creative genius and inter-personal frailty. On stage, nearly all the personal antipathy SEEMED to fade away, and the music just took over - toweringly. It was the talking part they could never make work. Throughout long and hugely distinguished playing careers, none of the three EVER achieved a lasting bond with any other performer (although Clapton’s frequent collaborations with Mark Knopfler came closest). In a way, we were all incredibly lucky that Cream held together for 30 months - long enough to produce some of the most timeless and iconic music ever. And to set the benchmark for Live improvisational Blues/Rock which has IMHO never been bettered. A great and insightful piece, with plenty of new material and fotos - thanks fella !!
@@catherinewilson3880 He did indeed - soul mates in many ways - but not truly a performing collaboration. Don’t misunderstand me - EC was a huge hero for me in my teens, and - based on his work then - has been ever since. I have seen him play live many, many times - and no-one could touch him for pure blues technique in 65-75 (even Hendrix) - but he, Jack and Ginger were essentially 3 loners who just happened to be able to hold a playing relationship together for long enough to create a musical moment which would last for 50+ years without showing any signs of age. In my reflective old age, I consider it the greatest privilege to have lived through the era of Cream and Free, the Beatles and Zeppelin, Taste and the Nice, Tull and Dire Straits …….. and so many others. Truly magical times.
And? So what. He’s wrong yeah, but its just one man’s opinion. Buddy Rich said shit about rock drummers and country music. Zeppelin has a legacy filled with scandal and Bonham was a drunk and labeled as a “Beast”. Still will never take away from the legacy and art they created with their instruments. Speaking of, check out the last book they made about Bonham.
Ginger always blamed Jack for everything . " He's getting more money than me ! " , but Jack wrote most of the songs . Ginger was a terrible business man . He wasted most of his Cream money building a recording studio in Africa that hardly anyone used and later had a failed olive plantation in Italy . Jack bailed him out many times with gigs on U.S. tours and the gig in the band with Gary Moore . According to Ginger . everything was Jack's fault . There are two excellent biographies on Jack Bruce :- Jack by Steven Myatt and Composing Himself by Harry Shapiro . Ginger realeased a memoir called Hellraiser . Read them and make up your own mind . One last thing , Whiteroom is not on Disreali Gears but on Wheels of Fire .
Great material. Lots of detail. I have been a Cream fan and the fan of the individual players since they debuted. Glad you corrected the "White Room" thing, but "Disraeli Gears" contained other highly memorable Cream pieces such as "Tales of Brave Ulysses". One of the first intentionally psychedelic songs. "And when your fingers find her She drowns you in her body Carving deep blue ripples In the tissues of your mind The tiny purple fishes Run laughing through your fingers And you want to take her with you To the hard land of the winter"
There are some fantastic comments here. All I can add is that I was a little surprised hearing the knife story for the first time a few years ago. How these guys survived in career together is beyond me!
Thank you for this. You are creating quite a compendium of music history, and it is great that you are covering so many British players. Just a few things: - Jack wasn't the first bassist with Alexis Korner, nor Graham Bond. He apparently got the Bond gig by approaching the band whilst they were on stage and telling them he was better than their bassist. They relented and said he could do a tune. Ginger recalled how little Bruce exited the club and returned with a big upright, forcing his way through the crowd to the stage. Intent on embarrassing him, the band played a difficult tune at an exceptionally fast tempo. Baker said they were all surprised when Jack not only followed the changes but played with great ease. So they fired their bass man and gave the gig to Jack. When Jack joined Manfred Mann (which he did after a short stint with John Mayall, who said Manfred, a neighbour of Mayall's, offered more money) the lads were surprised that he didn't need to rehearse. Whatever they played, he nailed it first time. BTW, Jack took over the bass spot when the band's guitarist left to do soundtrack work and bassist Tom McGuiness switched to guitar. When Bruce quit to form Cream, Klaus Voorman, best known at the time for playing an 8-string with Paddy, Klaus & Gibson and doing the artwork for the Beatles' 'Revolver' and the Bee Gees debut album, took over. - For the Powerhouse project - just a one-off for the album - Ginger was apparently supposed to play drums but backed out thus the excellent Pete York of the Spencer Davis Group doing the session (along with SDG singer/keyboardist Stevie Winwood). The Roosters, Clapton's pre-Yardbirds band, included Tom McGuiness, later a founding member of Manfred Mann. McGuiness and Manfred Mann singer (and Powerhouse harmonica player) Paul Jones are still together in the Manfreds, which is Manfred Mann minus Manfred, who has Manfred Mann's Earth Band. McGuiness and Jones are also in the Blues Band. - 'White Room' is on 'Wheels of Fire', not 'Disraeli Gears. - 'Band On the Run' was NOT recorded at Baker's studio in Lagos. According the Ginger is was supposed to be done there but was recorded at EMI's studio in that city. Though that ENU studio was under-equipped and antiquated, record company politics - McCartney was signed to EMI - came into play. - When Ginger quit BB&M, Gary Husband (Level 42, John McLaughlin...) took his place. There is video on UA-cam. I have a board CD of a gig and the band is ripping. Moore's aggressive approach was, IMO, more conducive to achieving the Cream-like sound that trio was chasing. With his Les Paul - the one previously owned by Peter Green and now with Metallica's Kirk Hammett - Moore was more the guitarist Clapton once was and had a much more relevant sound than EC had at the 2005 Cream reunion gigs. - In the photo of Jack in the blue shirt, where you mention his illness, the chap to the right of the photo is drummer Ted McKenna. He was originally with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band (who were sensational), then the likes of Greg Lake, Rory Gallagher, and...Gary Moore. Sadly, Ted died a few years back during a routine hernia operation. - And on a pedantic point, it's 'Neasden' where Ginger lived when he first summoned Clapton for a meeting, not 'Neesden'. Like I said, pedantic. Thank you again. A fine job and plenty of insight for those unfamiliar with the history.
Hey would you have any early recordings of these bands or know how to access them? I have some Alexis Korner, and Graham Bond lps, but would love to go deeper into that era of music.
@@1blastman No, I have Graham Bond's 'Sound of '65', 'There's A Bond' and 'Solid Bond', but that is it. I was more into the Bluesbreakers than Bond. And though the history interests me, the Alexis Korner/Cyril Davies & Blues Inc. music from the Ealing Club and Marquee is not really my thing. In addition to the aforemention albums, there is a 'Graham Bond Organisation Live at Klooks Kleek' CD and a comprehensive box set, 'Wade In the Water'. But I never dug deep in that area. Still, thank you for asking. I love that there are folk like you interested in this sort of thing.
Wonderful vid. You should do one on Alexis Korner, by himself. I knew Alexis and spent a week with him recording an album in Bermuda, 1970. I was only 23, the learning experience of my young life. He was a sweetheart of a man and as complex as he was visionary. You hear so many people call John Mayall the father of British Blues, which he may have been. But Alexis was The Godfather of it all and, in fact, encouraged Mayall to continue in the blues at a time John was somewhat discouraged. Alexis was a beloved figure in The U.K. for not only his music, but his work in radio, as a voice over person for advertisements, and a narrator of documentary films-“A Film About Jimi Hendrix,” being one. At times he was his own worst enemy, certainly, but he and Cyril Davies were the engineers that started the The British Blues craze. Not enough people really know much about Alexis Korner and what he meant to British music history and pop culture. Alexis was … The Man.
Are Alexis and Cyril in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? If any two deserve it, they do. The British Blues movement that spawned so many great bands - the Stones, Chris Youlden and Savoy Brown, Dave and Jo Ann Kelly, Long John Baldry, T.S. McPhee, Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac, 10 Years After, Cream and so many more were given a boost and a start from Korner and Davies.
@@1blastman Neither are in the RRHOF. As much as I surely agree with you, it’s not surprising. And, I’m not sure they should be. They pioneered the British Blues Explosion and that led to fame and fortune for the second wave of the British Invasion. Alexis, et al., were the jump-off point for all the artists you mentioned and more. But I think that generation of Brits were uniquely British. For the same reason, The Shadows are not in the RRHOF. The RRHOF is uniquely American. The Stones, Zep, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Cream and Hendrix made their names once they made it in America. We could make a grand case for Alexis, Cyril, and others to be in the Blues Hall Of Fame, but that’s even more about the roots of it all. For better or worse, The Blues was spawned by the Black Experience, which took place in the American South. You may disagree, and that’s ok. Nothing will ever diminish my respect and love for Alexis Korner. He was beloved in The UK and will always be remembered as Godfather Of The British Blues.
@@larrypower8659 I've mentioned this in other posts about other British Blues musicians like Jo Ann Kelly and Chris Youlden, but some bankrolling powers that be in England should create a British Blues\Rock HOF which would include not only the white British Blues musicians that spawned the British Blues movement, but also honor those Black musicians like Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Allen Toussaint and a host of others into this true Blues HOF. The Brits need to do a HOF that is uniquely British.
I would much rather go to London and go to revived editions of the clubs from back then and a real rockers museum than go to Cleveland which is like Secaucus, New Jersey, but doesn't have as much culture.
I think their intense touring schedule and how loud they played was a significant factor in their demise. They really needed some time away from each other, but I think Stigwood said we gotta get it while we can.
Thanks!!!! Good Comments and many important facts!!!! I Think, Cream was the best time for Jack. So he tried to make something like CREAM with the MOUNTAIN-musicians to found the Formation WEST, BRUCE AND LAING.They made music like Cream AND from CREAM. And Ginger could play in his own way. And Eric was at his BEST!!! They pushed him to Play like the devil. Eric was never better .Thank You!!! A.🤩😇
I have seen Cream live twice and always thought that their studio recordings never quite captured their sound, except for Goodbye Cream, which was recorded live.
Great Video, little correction though - 10:33 White Room was featured on the next Cream Album "Wheels Of Fire" one Year later and not on Disraeli Gears
Jack and Ginger are beating the crap out of each other in rock and roll heaven in between jams with Hendrix and Gary Moore. I always thought Jack Bruce was the main instigator and troublemaker in Cream until I saw Beware Mr. Baker. Easy to understand how Ginger had a hard time finding people to play with.
St. Peter acts as a talent scout at the Pearly Gates. Only the finest musicians get in, no matter how cruel, abusive and depraved they were in Life. But if you never made the hit charts, couldn't sing or play an instrument.... you were consigned to the "other" place.
Thank you for another great video! It’s a shame those guys couldn’t resolve their differences, and yet, despite or perhaps because of their differences they were awesome.
This is great contemporal musical history told in an evenly great and ripping way; I thank you very much for that, sir! Been' enjoying mysel greatly over here with it and of course I subscribed right away after stumbling over your channel, keep up the good work please.
I think the BBM album is up there with Disraeli Gears as a “complete” album. But Wheels of Fire has to be the best. For nostalgia the Albert Hall performance which I attended on the Thursday…….brilliant. What a band……..
Try to imagine Cream with the addition of Steve Winwood on keyboards vocals and second guitar. Or, imagine Blind Faith with multi-instumentalist Jack Bruce on bass & vocals instead of Ric G. Is it too hard to imagine that Eric Clapton was overwhelmed by Jack's talent, training and experience? Listen to Jack Bruce on "As You Said" from Wheels of Fire. Probably the only Cream song ever recorded without Clapton on guitar. Eric's inferiority complex was on full display. I'm tired of people blaming the end of Cream on Bruce-Baker hijinx.
Jack Bruce is one of my most favorite bass players of all time his voice is so good too back then I'd love how he's able to hit those high notes with basically just a higher range baritone voice but still he would be able to push it way up to those high notes but sometimes it was always a crap shoot if you would actually hit him especially live I think that's why when they recorded him they forced him to sing falsetto and certain parts
There may be 3 or 4 Cream fans who haven't seen the documentary "Beware of Mr. Baker". Before forming a final impression of the Cream/Baker/Bruce furball, one should see the film. The film makes it clear that, regardless of any other factors, the elephant in the room was Baker's mental illness - Borderline Personality Disorder. If you're unfamiliar with the condition, read Wikipedia's entry on it, then watch the film.
A few errors in the video. One is where Guitar Historian mentions that Graham Bond formed the Graham Bond Organisation (they used the British spelling of that word) with Jack, Ginger, Dick Heckstall-Smith and John McLaughlin. That's wrong -- Heckstall-Smith and McLaughlin were never in that band at the same time, Heckstall-Smith replaced McLaughlin. Also, when BBM got together, Jack and Ginger had played together relatively recently before that, because Jack had Ginger play on his A Question Of Time album and convinced Ginger to play the tour promoting the album. Although here again, Ginger was difficult, because despite agreeing to do the tour, Ginger refused to learn or play any of Jack's non-Cream material. So Jack had to hire a second drummer to play material from Jack's solo albums, then Ginger would play the final set of material which was all Cream songs. Furthermore, it's interesting that when Ginger Baker was in Hawkwind, Ginger hated the bassist they had. Ginger tried to fire the bassist so that Hawkwind could bring in Jack Bruce. Hawkwind leader Dave Brock didn't like that idea one bit. Who knows if Jack would have been willing to join Hawkwind anyway. Ginger's troublemaking ways meant that his days as a member of Hawkwind were cut short.
I saw in the August 1980 edition of Rolling Stone magazine, -eric mentioned that while touring America, he [ with Cream ] he and the other members would separate and stay with friends they had met in the cities they did shows in [ .] In light of many of their phonograph records were recorded here in Oakland California, the curiosity I have is ; did Eric hang out back in those years with any of the Oakland Blues musicians , [for instance] Bob Geddins , Lowell Fulson, Tiny Powell, Bev Stovall , Nicky Baxter , Louis Madison, Jimmy Mc Cracklin, Johnny Fuller , Roscoe Gordon [ ? ] I can't resist mentioning Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac had the miracle of being able to record with Otis Spann, Walter Shakey Horton, Willie Dixon and several unusually good Blues musicians....... I saw in Guitar Player Magazine [October 1989 issue] a mention of the planned "get together" of members Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker with Albert King, possibly joining them with Booker T. Jones, and William Bell for a remake of "Born under a bad sign", i often wonder what happened to the plans for that get together [ . ]. In that article , Albert King was quoted as merely wanting a paltry ten thousand dollars advance money [ ! ] Bizarre
Somehow I always thought Eric would be gone first, here he is, still today, fighting on, you may agree or disagree on EC's bent on vaccination, Eric will always be Eric!!! Saw him in the 70s, amazed he could play after giving up heroin!!! 😊🎸 I listen to all of Jack Bruce's solo albums, Ginger both in Baker Gurvitz Army and his many collaborations including Hawkwind, the best song he wrote outside of Cream was Master Of Reality - Sunrise On The Sufferbus simply titled T.U.S.A and you guys in America still can't make tea!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍🥁🎸
Ginger's drumming in Masters of Reality was brilliant also his work with PIL. Loved Jack's solo work.... will have to give BBM and BLT a good listen. One regret is never seeing Cream in 67 or 68. Still have my original Disraeli Gears vinyl copy Great thread this very informative and interesting👍👍
Don't worry me and malcom are keeping the feud going 😆
Haha thanks for watching, Kofi! Hope everyone is well. Nettie disappeared off of Facebook is everyone alright?
@@TheGuitarHistorian yes all good thanks , will be back on the road next year . netty runs the ginger Baker page so probably taking all her time up .
@@kofibaker8385 excellent great to hear. I’m in philadelphia so if you ever get out to the east coast of America I’ll try to come see you! Thanks for stopping by the channel.
Very nice job, I love old Cream talk! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Kofi I've seen you play....you are tremendous....and I saw your Dad live 8 times....
Ginger Baker - “Jack and I started a jazz band,. We just didn’t tell Eric that.”
Read a recent interview with Eric where he said Cream was probably was the best band he was ever in. I would remove the probably.
Ive also read where he thought Carl Radle and Jim Gordon were the best rhythm section he ever played with. Can you imagine Bruce and Gordon together? Wait. APOSTROPHE with Zappa.
Blind Faith wasn’t too shabby
@Liam he has played with mostly every body!. He always says everyone is the best he has ever met. From Duane, to Albert Lee, Knopfler, R Cray, Ginger, Jack, Jeff, Radle, Gordon, Doyle,. He seems to be well spoken
@@danamaguire4285 About to say the same thing, lol.
Cream pushed Clapton to play his best solos of his career. Having a rhythm section like that forces you to play with all that energy
Ginger and Jack were soul mates. The best fucking rhythm section in rock n roll history. No doubt they're up there arguing, bickering, fighting and making music with each other still.
You bring up an interesting point - which two musicians - drums and bass - made up the best fv
I like how you characterized Jack and Ginger, with reverence and respect. Good work Sir.
Have heard that another reason Clapton wanted Bruce in Cream is that he didn't see himself as the lead vocalist. In those days, Clapton sang, but Bruce had the really big high voice - some say setting the stage for '70s rock singers.
A cogent writer observed that each member of Cream were playing in a different band: Clapton thought it was a blues band; Bruce thought it was a vehicle for his songs, and .Baker thought he was playing in jazz/rock combo (before the term "fusion" even existed).
Bruce is one of the Great under appreciated Rock Vocalists of All Time
Bruce had one of the finest voices of the 2nd half of the 20th century.
@@maximilliancunningham6091 But he still was a better bass player than a vocalist. So I can understand why he doesn't get the credit he deserves. His mouth harp playing was also superior.
I met Jack Bruce in 1993. Lovely guy - also my hero as a bassist. I was very lucky to met my idol. ☺️
I loved how their live shows were competitions especially between Baker and Bruce. The live Filmore cut of Spoonful is a wonderful example of great musicians working to out do each other and push each other to greater heights. Their conflicting personalities brought the best out of them when it worked.
Rock In Peace - Ginger and Jack
When I first heard Cream, as a teen, in 1967, it blew me away, sonically. They were the first and finest Supergroup of the 60's! And their music remains, timeless! Thanks for the video on this famous feud, between Baker and Bruce.
Love both of them and for me, Clapton was at his best when backed by those two. They bourght out his best playing
So true !
Absolutly RIGHT and TRUE!!!!! A.😇😉🙃🙂
Young and creative.
I would have to agree with that, what a powerhouse of a band.
@Golden Cymbals Flying Now that would have been a fantastic trio. Hendrix Jack and Ginger
I met Jack at the ElMocombo in Toronto in 1988. I was scared to death and only 18. I snuck into the club in the afternoon during his soundcheck
He was very sweet and very encouraging. I’ll never forget how my biggest giant was so kind.
Bless his soul.
Ginger was scary...I sold him two bikes for his kids and he demanded a massive discount... he got it!
LOL.
Ginger isn 't a human being, he is nothing, but a DRUM-MONSTER🤬👹👿, but - who is better outside the jazz-area ???? Who??? Who knows anybody ??? A.🤔
Scottish?
Wow what a way to run a business letting some A@@hole tell you what to do.
What?? 😁
Jack and Ginger loved each other. They had a lot of fights and certainly had their share of differences, but I’ve read multiple interviews from each of them where they’ve literally said they “love” each other. I think they just had trouble getting along and communicating in an effective way. That was the problem.
Heroin may have also contributed.
It was very similiar to the relationship that Peter Townsend and Roger Daltry have in the WHO. It mellowed after Keith Moon passed, but in the mid-60's they would get at each other's throats.
Saw Jack Bruce play with John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham on drums at the Rainbow in London in 1979 ...phenomenal musicians...
You are a lucky men!!! Mclaughlin and Jack! AND COBHAM! - (He is my Nummer 2!) EXTRAORDINARY AND HUGE!!! What a luckly man! A.😄😂😇
Sick lineup.....
@@anauticalgate5496 Where was this?
I got to see Jack Bruce live with Ringo's All Starr Band. He sang the Cream songs just like the recordings and played the bass like a master.
It couldn’t have been true hatred. Otherwise they never would have worked together so many times. To this day, I believe that most thunderstorms are Ginger and Jack shouting at each other in the heavens.
Great job "Guitar Historian"!
When I first heard Cream back in '67, I was BLOWN AWAY!... So often I find myself still listening to Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, Wheels of Fire & Fresh Cream. Bruce, Baker & Clapton, gave me more than they ever knew. "White Room" still plays in my mind, every day...
You had two copies of Fresh Cream, then?
Amen to this piece. It was very well researched. I heard a lot of stories about the Alexis Korner \Graham Bond days even that Clapton had jammed with Bruce and Baker with Korner's band after he left the Yardbirds. That must have been a magical time in England. My best friend spent time in England and witnessed the guitarist transition in the Yardbirds from Top Topham to Eric Clapton and his stories about it were a marvel.. {RIP}.
@@johnbuell8035...yep! UK original version & the US version.
I saw Cream in 1968, my second concert (Jimi Hendrix was my first).
Holy crap!
What an induction to music....who could follow that!
I've never had any trouble separating an artist's work from their personality. John Bonham was violent and mean when he was drunk. But I sure enjoy his drumming. Ginger was bitching and criticizing everyone all the time . But he was a brilliant . Pete Townshend is a bitter , weird SoB but wrote great material. Clapton is insecure and not at all open minded musically. Ritchie Blackmore is an anti social , difficult guy. John Lennon was a cynical , self important weirdo. Jeff Beck is notoriously hard to work with. As far as I am concerned it's none of my business how they behave when they're not creating. I can enjoy their work
Here bloody Here👍👍👍
I`ve allways said Great talent is fantastic and divinely inspired, but please don`t let me be in the kitchen when they are trying to make breakfast first thing in the morning......too close...too close....
But for me once I know they are
not nice people I lose interest eventually. I've met Pete Townshend and he was pretty good to me I don't think John Lennon was unimportant .I do think Eric Clapton is overrated and not that bright and kind of a right-winger I once spoke to Ray Charles's band and they said if you knew every bad thing about the artists you listen to you wouldn't have much to listen to.They said they just look the other way when the Ray was being an a-hole. We stuck with him for the music.
@@intuneorange I don't really understand that. I don't pay any attention to them outside of listening to the music they make.
Eric not open - minded??? I believe he is a true musicologist... But he knows what is good and not so good, and he only likes the 1st
40 years ago I saw Jack Bruce & friends playing in a bar in Perth, I stood 6" from him, the hairs stood on the back of my neck because out of all the bands & rock stars I had seen, & have since, Jack was the greatest (along with Rory Gallagher)
Ginger's dad wanted him to be a tough guy and that's what he turned into. He loved to tussle and fight and he would goad people into a fight. He was totally anti-social and screwed over his children, wives, brothers, sisters, everybody he came across. But he lived for the drums. He felt that was his true calling in life. I saw him in 1967 at the Whiskey and all 3 of them were at the height of their proficiency and talents. "Spoonful" was great and lasted like a half hour. Ginger was the best drummer I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of drummers over the years. I'll always remember Jack doing, "Theme From an Imaginary Western," and "On the Road to Dreams" which is called something else. Oh, and if your viewers have not watched the 2006 reunion concert at Prince Albert Hall they have to watch it. Fantastic four night concert.
Story was Ginger ran after the bus that carried his Dad off to war.
It was the last time he saw him alive.
Deserted Cities of the Heart. Great song.
@@patr2can Live Cream Vol 2 Rages !!
Ginger Baker joined Hawkwind, played brilliant drums on the Leviataion album but wanted to take over the band and bring Jack Bruce in. Dave Brock had plenty of experience of people trying to hijack his band so Ginger was out.
Well, he was turned into something. I don't look at guys as tough who will pull knives, or other weapons, and bully other people, whether to get his way or just to intimidate someone. Tough guys don't need to talk about being tough, nor feel the need to always be out to "prove it." Anyways, an incredible band. Their powerful live shows helped create other forms of Rock, and inspired the music of the progenitors of all forms of Heavy Metal, Black Sabbath. It's not uncommon for great musicians, and powerful creative forces, to ve difficult personalities , especially together. Cool video.
I don't know how anyone can make the claim that either Eric or Ginger were the musician Jack Bruce was, Clapton himself call the classically trained Jack the "musician" of the band Cream. He claimed that Jack taught him how to sing properly and the structuring of song writing. You only have to look at the caliber of great players that Jack went on to collaborate with: John McLaughlin, Tony Williams, Allan Holdsworth, Gary Husband, Billy Cobham, to name a few. Clapton and Baker never played with musicians like that. He also had a totally original sound to his bass, he was a truly great musician.
Jack Bruce was the only person that had any training and he was actually trained as a concert cello
Very good documentary….thank you..
Been waiting on this one! You can damn sure get your hands on some great pics I've never seen in my life! Well researched and delivered too! Very well done, sir! Very well done!
After writing my other entry here, and reading a few others, I've had an epiphany - Baker had Borderline Personality Disorder, that's clear. It's main dynamic is the sufferer's fear of abandonment. A relationship with a Borderline usually involves esteem which alternates between idealization and devaluation, but develops otherwise uneventfully. As it approaches greater intimacy, a seemingly trivial event will arouse the latent fear of abandonment, and an inappropriately explosive response. This recurring violent instability becomes the norm for the relationship.
The fact that Baker and Bruce achieved an immediate, deep synergy while playing could easily account for Baker's early acceptance of Bruce as an emotional confidant, setting the relationship up for violent collapse at the first implication of abandonment, e.g. Jack's "playing too loud."
The same dynamic is evident in Baker's deteriorating rapport with the filmmaker Jay Bulger in his 2012 documentary "Beware of Mr. Baker."
Eric Clapton talked about “not being able to diagnose him,not being a Psychiatrist”.
Ginger should've been breast fed by Dr. Ruth Westheimer..........
Pretty great !! Born in '57 with the good stuff nearly used to cut my teeth.
First band i got albums from was The DC5 which i loved, Then i heard Cream.
The first band i had to have every album from, starting with Wheels Of Fire.
Bought BBM abit late but worked out OK,,,the RI had tracks from RAH.
I like these offerings but this is the first i know i'll view more than once.
Nice work !!
Jack Bruce was and is my bass Idol. Thank you for this. Edited for the purpose to mention. Jack Bruce Songs for a tailor "Never tell your mother she's out of tune" that had a groove that James Brown could of got down with. Another is the ferocity on "the clearout" they sound absolutely brilliant.
I saved and bought an EB3 because I appreciated his playing and his tone. Plus its a beautiful bass. I never have been able to get to his skill level but it's fun trying
I like “He the Richmond” off that album.
You'll do for me.. he is my bass hero and because of him I play a 1968 Gibson EB3. ...Jack Bruce was and is for all time "The Guvnor".
Great video. Brilliantly structured. Riveting from start to finish. Thanks a lot. It was only after the BBC documentary on Jack that I realised what a sense of humour he had.
They were both great and payed the sound track to my life I still love Cream!!
What a great way to start this video talking about Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce in the context of gravitational pull. Such a fantastic video and series!
Jack Bruce and Paul McCartney are the two most influential bassists in rock history, imho. There are other great,
great rock bass players but those two were the head turners. They are quite different as players, of course. But both
alerted a generation of bass players to the melodic and creative possibilities of the electric bass. I don’t include the
soul and R&B greats of the ‘50s and ‘60s for two reasons: 1) Both Bruce and McCartney began their careers under the
influence of those bass masters and learned from their recordings as young musicians. And, (2) the early blues/soul
pioneers were not playing rock and roll, at rock and roll volume and intensity. They were still in the soul groove, all of
them having had studio and live experience not only as soul players, but themselves being influenced by the great jazz
bassists of the era.
Sorry but no
I 'm sorry James ,but I do not understand your argument . Bruce approached the bass guitar from the point of view of a classicly trained cellist and a Jazz loving double bass player .
McCartney came from the point of view of being a guitarist having to switch to bass after Stu Sutcliffe left the band . Both Jack and Paul were very influenced by the Tamla Motown bass sound ( James Jamerson ) but came to it from different directions .
The "Ox" John Entwhistle was also a force on bass.
@@jamesball5743 I would have to agree sir! Paul Mcartney No...not as a bassist
You mentioned the song "White Room" as being on the album "Disraeli Gears", it was actually the first song on side 1 of their third record "Wheels Of Fire." An honest mistake as the song has the sound and feel of the "Disraeli Gears" era.
BB
Damn that was my bad
Tales of Brave Ulysses is on Disraeli Gears. Same descending chord progression in D with a wah wah guitar, but yeah you are certainly right.
Minor correction: White Room was on Wheels of Fire, not Disraeli Gears.
Thanks The Guitar Historian. ... The short history of Cream, they present a paradox insofar that even though comprising this great fusion of three-man talent, I suppose it was inevitable because of the animosity between Ginger and Jack, that the 'cream would curdle'. But not before leaving an indelible mark in music history for us to look back on with appreciation of the music they made and indeed, Cream were the 'supergroup' pioneers of a sort. Moving on in time, being UK resident in London, I was fortunate enough to attend one of the reunion concert evenings at the RAH and when the three members came out at the end to hold hands/acknowledge the delighted audience, I perceived a reticence of Ginger Baker/Jack Bruce making even very brief physical contact. ... I would also add, that in the happy anticipation before the performance started, we got chatting with various others seated immediately to the side, behind and in front of us. All said they had flown over from the USA just to see them! Actually, consider myself really lucky to have got two tickets. Seats were sold-out very early-on when I tried, but having checked the RAH list for late cancellations/returned seat tickets just a few days prior, the stars then aligned for me. Certainly consider it money well spent, although like perhaps a number of others, I would have liked to have seen Eric play using a Gibson and Marshall which would have been the icing on the cake 'soundwise'. ... Nevertheless, in typing this I recall there was one of those mini Marshall battery home-practice amps sitting on Eric's gear!
Disraeli Gears...one of the most classic album covers of all time !
You can get lost in it…. Trippy
What's inside ain't bad either!!! ;-)
Here in Oakland, we had this un cluttered blues trio instrumental formula all through world war II , and in my mind i continue to imagine immortal heavy wieght pioneers formulating heavy power trios -line ups -the likes of Robert Nighthawk on guitar , with Joe Comfort on bass , and Jo Jones on drums.
Earl Hooker on guitar , with Dave Myers on bass , and Fred Bellows on drums.
God have mercy on us
Don't get me wrong
It's impossible to listen to Cream without marveling at the immortal resound that they have on us, it's a remarkable odessey , and a remarkable journey for them [and us] from their begining , and will resound forever
Forever and Forever
Hi, Your channel is one of my favourites on UA-cam - you really do your homework and I enjoy your comments that are insightful and intelligent. This had to be one of my favourites so far. Cream is one of my all time favourite groups and I loved the solo work of Jack Bruce especially his collaborations with Pete Brown. I had to watch this twice in a row - it was so interesting and will probably watch a few more times. Interesting that the tension between the three stars was what made Cream so great before the tension just imploded. They had so many timeless hits. Thanks so much !!
Wow, that was good! Have Ginger's book, saw the documentary and have been a fan of Cream since '68. Your very well done documentary includes a few things I didn't know. Thank you! My high school years were 68-71 and Cream never left my turntable. If I were forced to choose only one band to listen to during those magical times, Cream is it. Funny how turbulence creates absolute wonder and beauty. Just listen to Deserted Cities of the Heart. ❤
68-71 for me too, but I preferred Hendrix. Both made the music take off.
Don't overlook BBM - its great! Bruce's and Trower's SEVEN MOONS should not be missed! ( "Lives of clay" sounds like 68 all over again. )
All the Trower stuff is great.
Ginger was critical of everything! ….. and everyone - except for a lifelong devotion to Eric Clapton. He hated Bonham and Moon, and never spoke well of ANY Rock drummer, other than Charlie Watts. GB was supremely talented drummer - but a pretty unpleasant man.
Jack was spot on with the “bitter old man” comment.
I am fairly confident that Jack was probably no picnic either - being creatively obsessive and correspondingly grumpy at times when he felt things weren’t quite right. But his epic partnership with co-writer Pete Brown, and the lasting quality of his vocal power were huge factors in the Cream success - and his characteristic, busy bass virtuosity was the very heart of their sound.
Artistically, and directionally Cream were every bit as important and influential as either the Beatles or Zeppelin, albeit that effectively they crashed and burned after just over 2 meteoric years. The reason they split was the very same dynamic that created their stunning success - the combination of creative genius and inter-personal frailty. On stage, nearly all the personal antipathy SEEMED to fade away, and the music just took over - toweringly. It was the talking part they could never make work.
Throughout long and hugely distinguished playing careers, none of the three EVER achieved a lasting bond with any other performer (although Clapton’s frequent collaborations with Mark Knopfler came closest).
In a way, we were all incredibly lucky that Cream held together for 30 months - long enough to produce some of the most timeless and iconic music ever. And to set the benchmark for Live improvisational Blues/Rock which has IMHO never been bettered.
A great and insightful piece, with plenty of new material and fotos - thanks fella !!
Clapton also had an enduring relationship with George Harrison.
@@catherinewilson3880 He did indeed - soul mates in many ways - but not truly a performing collaboration.
Don’t misunderstand me - EC was a huge hero for me in my teens, and - based on his work then - has been ever since. I have seen him play live many, many times - and no-one could touch him for pure blues technique in 65-75 (even Hendrix) - but he, Jack and Ginger were essentially 3 loners who just happened to be able to hold a playing relationship together for long enough to create a musical moment which would last for 50+ years without showing any signs of age.
In my reflective old age, I consider it the greatest privilege to have lived through the era of Cream and Free, the Beatles and Zeppelin, Taste and the Nice, Tull and Dire Straits …….. and so many others. Truly magical times.
@@mikegray8776 Clapton has always come across as a bit of a knob imo, an egotistical selfish knob at that.
Very littly humility and empathy.
And? So what.
He’s wrong yeah, but its just one man’s opinion. Buddy Rich said shit about rock drummers and country music. Zeppelin has a legacy filled with scandal and Bonham was a drunk and labeled as a “Beast”. Still will never take away from the legacy and art they created with their instruments. Speaking of, check out the last book they made about Bonham.
GB was friends with Moon & Bonham. He loved them but thought they were subpar drummers.
Ginger always blamed Jack for everything . " He's getting more money than me ! " , but Jack wrote most of the songs . Ginger was a terrible business man . He wasted most of his Cream money building a recording studio in Africa that hardly anyone used and later had a failed olive plantation in Italy . Jack bailed him out many times with gigs on U.S. tours and the gig in the band with Gary Moore . According to Ginger . everything was Jack's fault . There are two excellent biographies on Jack Bruce :- Jack by Steven Myatt and Composing Himself by Harry Shapiro . Ginger realeased a memoir called Hellraiser . Read them and make up your own mind . One last thing , Whiteroom is not on Disreali Gears but on Wheels of Fire .
Ginger was a fucking insanely talented musician..but he always sabotaged himself with excuses and not take any accountability. Sad
I was wondering if anyone was gonna catch his fopa. That perked my ears up the second he said that.
jack provoked ginger every chance he got. he was crazier than ginger.
Excellent channel…one of my favorites.
Great material. Lots of detail. I have been a Cream fan and the fan of the individual players since they debuted. Glad you corrected the "White Room" thing, but "Disraeli Gears" contained other highly memorable Cream pieces such as "Tales of Brave Ulysses". One of the first intentionally psychedelic songs.
"And when your fingers find her
She drowns you in her body
Carving deep blue ripples
In the tissues of your mind
The tiny purple fishes
Run laughing through your fingers
And you want to take her with you
To the hard land of the winter"
This great, I'm a huge fan of both of these guys. Thanks. We'll done!
There are some fantastic comments here. All I can add is that I was a little surprised hearing the knife story for the first time a few years ago. How these guys survived in career together is beyond me!
Great video. I'm sure you know this and simply misspoke, but 'White Room' was not on Disraeli Grears; it was on Wheels of Fire.
White Room was not on Disraeli Gears, as stated in this video. It was the first song on their third album, Wheels Of Fire.
They were an incredible rhythm section.
Thank you for this. You are creating quite a compendium of music history, and it is great that you are covering so many British players.
Just a few things:
- Jack wasn't the first bassist with Alexis Korner, nor Graham Bond. He apparently got the Bond gig by approaching the band whilst they were on stage and telling them he was better than their bassist. They relented and said he could do a tune. Ginger recalled how little Bruce exited the club and returned with a big upright, forcing his way through the crowd to the stage. Intent on embarrassing him, the band played a difficult tune at an exceptionally fast tempo. Baker said they were all surprised when Jack not only followed the changes but played with great ease. So they fired their bass man and gave the gig to Jack. When Jack joined Manfred Mann (which he did after a short stint with John Mayall, who said Manfred, a neighbour of Mayall's, offered more money) the lads were surprised that he didn't need to rehearse. Whatever they played, he nailed it first time. BTW, Jack took over the bass spot when the band's guitarist left to do soundtrack work and bassist Tom McGuiness switched to guitar. When Bruce quit to form Cream, Klaus Voorman, best known at the time for playing an 8-string with Paddy, Klaus & Gibson and doing the artwork for the Beatles' 'Revolver' and the Bee Gees debut album, took over.
- For the Powerhouse project - just a one-off for the album - Ginger was apparently supposed to play drums but backed out thus the excellent Pete York of the Spencer Davis Group doing the session (along with SDG singer/keyboardist Stevie Winwood). The Roosters, Clapton's pre-Yardbirds band, included Tom McGuiness, later a founding member of Manfred Mann. McGuiness and Manfred Mann singer (and Powerhouse harmonica player) Paul Jones are still together in the Manfreds, which is Manfred Mann minus Manfred, who has Manfred Mann's Earth Band. McGuiness and Jones are also in the Blues Band.
- 'White Room' is on 'Wheels of Fire', not 'Disraeli Gears.
- 'Band On the Run' was NOT recorded at Baker's studio in Lagos. According the Ginger is was supposed to be done there but was recorded at EMI's studio in that city. Though that ENU studio was under-equipped and antiquated, record company politics - McCartney was signed to EMI - came into play.
- When Ginger quit BB&M, Gary Husband (Level 42, John McLaughlin...) took his place. There is video on UA-cam. I have a board CD of a gig and the band is ripping. Moore's aggressive approach was, IMO, more conducive to achieving the Cream-like sound that trio was chasing. With his Les Paul - the one previously owned by Peter Green and now with Metallica's Kirk Hammett - Moore was more the guitarist Clapton once was and had a much more relevant sound than EC had at the 2005 Cream reunion gigs.
- In the photo of Jack in the blue shirt, where you mention his illness, the chap to the right of the photo is drummer Ted McKenna. He was originally with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band (who were sensational), then the likes of Greg Lake, Rory Gallagher, and...Gary Moore. Sadly, Ted died a few years back during a routine hernia operation.
- And on a pedantic point, it's 'Neasden' where Ginger lived when he first summoned Clapton for a meeting, not 'Neesden'. Like I said, pedantic.
Thank you again. A fine job and plenty of insight for those unfamiliar with the history.
Hey would you have any early recordings of these bands or know how to access them? I have some Alexis Korner, and Graham Bond lps, but would love to go deeper into that era of music.
@@1blastman No, I have Graham Bond's 'Sound of '65', 'There's A Bond' and 'Solid Bond', but that is it. I was more into the Bluesbreakers than Bond. And though the history interests me, the Alexis Korner/Cyril Davies & Blues Inc. music from the Ealing Club and Marquee is not really my thing.
In addition to the aforemention albums, there is a 'Graham Bond Organisation Live at Klooks Kleek' CD and a comprehensive box set, 'Wade In the Water'. But I never dug deep in that area.
Still, thank you for asking. I love that there are folk like you interested in this sort of thing.
Wonderful vid. You should do one on Alexis Korner, by himself. I knew Alexis and spent a week with him recording an
album in Bermuda, 1970. I was only 23, the learning experience of my young life. He was a sweetheart of a man and
as complex as he was visionary. You hear so many people call John Mayall the father of British Blues, which he may
have been. But Alexis was The Godfather of it all and, in fact, encouraged Mayall to continue in the blues at a time
John was somewhat discouraged. Alexis was a beloved figure in The U.K. for not only his music, but his work in radio,
as a voice over person for advertisements, and a narrator of documentary films-“A Film About Jimi Hendrix,” being
one. At times he was his own worst enemy, certainly, but he and Cyril Davies were the engineers that started the
The British Blues craze. Not enough people really know much about Alexis Korner and what he meant to British music
history and pop culture. Alexis was … The Man.
Are Alexis and Cyril in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? If any two deserve it, they do. The British Blues movement that spawned so many great bands - the Stones, Chris Youlden and Savoy Brown, Dave and Jo Ann Kelly, Long John Baldry, T.S. McPhee, Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac, 10 Years After, Cream and so many more were given a boost and a start from Korner and Davies.
@@1blastman Neither are in the RRHOF. As much as I surely agree with you, it’s not surprising. And, I’m not sure they should be. They pioneered the British Blues Explosion and that led to fame and fortune for the second wave of the British Invasion. Alexis, et al., were the jump-off point for all the artists you mentioned and more. But I think that generation of Brits were uniquely British. For the same reason, The Shadows are not in the RRHOF. The RRHOF is uniquely American. The Stones, Zep, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Cream and Hendrix made their names once they made it in America. We could make a grand case for Alexis, Cyril, and others to be in the Blues Hall Of Fame, but that’s even more about the roots of it all. For better or worse, The Blues was spawned by the Black Experience, which took place in the American South. You may disagree, and that’s ok. Nothing will ever diminish my respect and love for Alexis Korner. He was beloved in The UK and will always be remembered as Godfather Of The British Blues.
@@larrypower8659 I've mentioned this in other posts about other British Blues musicians like Jo Ann Kelly and Chris Youlden, but some bankrolling powers that be in England should create a British Blues\Rock HOF which would include not only the white British Blues musicians that spawned the British Blues movement, but also honor those Black musicians like Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Allen Toussaint and a host of others into this true Blues HOF.
The Brits need to do a HOF that is uniquely British.
I would much rather go to London and go to revived editions of the clubs from back then and a real rockers museum than go to Cleveland which is like Secaucus, New Jersey, but doesn't have as much culture.
I learned from this video. I love Cream and the players. Thanks for posting🎸🎸🎸
Cool. White Room, Tales Of Brave Ulysses, Spoonful,etc. Great stuff in another great video.
I think their intense touring schedule and how loud they played was a significant factor in their demise. They really needed some time away from each other, but I think Stigwood said we gotta get it while we can.
Thank you. The love shined through.
Very cool! I never knew this part of their history, thank you!!
Another marvelously executed drop. Thank you sir!
Really, Great job on this, I watched it twice since you provided so much information that I never knew before. 😀
Great piece. Thank you.
Thanks!!!! Good Comments and many important facts!!!! I Think, Cream was the best time for Jack. So he tried to make something like CREAM with the MOUNTAIN-musicians to found the Formation WEST, BRUCE AND LAING.They made music like Cream AND from CREAM. And Ginger could play in his own way. And Eric was at his BEST!!! They pushed him to Play like the devil. Eric was never better .Thank You!!! A.🤩😇
Yes, they didn't always get along on the personal level...but they certainly respected each other as musicians.
Thanks man. Your videos are appointment viewing.
It could not have been that bad.....Ginger toured with Jack in 1989.....recorded with BBM in the late 90's and of course the 2005 Cream reunion..
Not sure you watched whole video
Jacks last phone call to ginger, and I qoute "I am dying Ginger, fuck you."
I have seen Cream live twice and always thought that their studio recordings never quite captured their sound, except for Goodbye Cream, which was recorded live.
Duh!!!..Half of Wheels of Fire was live!!!!!....Have you never heard Crossroads or Spoonful??
The first rock super group and the first jam band. Hard to deny the massive impact and influence made by Cream in just 30 months.
Great job on this - TY.
It took the combination of those firey Egos to make such great, high-energy "Wheels of Fire" music.
No, we didn't.
Great Video, little correction though - 10:33 White Room was featured on the next Cream Album "Wheels Of Fire" one Year later and not on Disraeli Gears
Bruce is one of the most underrated rock icons
We know! Great bass an super voice!
As far as I was concerned, the only bassist "better" than Bruce was Jon Entwistle of the Who. Underrated? How so?
Jack and Ginger are beating the crap out of each other in rock and roll heaven in between jams with Hendrix and Gary Moore. I always thought Jack Bruce was the main instigator and troublemaker in Cream until I saw Beware Mr. Baker. Easy to understand how Ginger had a hard time finding people to play with.
St. Peter acts as a talent scout at the Pearly Gates. Only the finest musicians get in, no matter how cruel, abusive and depraved they were in Life. But if you never made the hit charts, couldn't sing or play an instrument.... you were consigned to the "other" place.
Thank you for another great video! It’s a shame those guys couldn’t resolve their differences, and yet, despite or perhaps because of their differences they were awesome.
Enjoyed The Stories & the pics... They both were very strong willed individuals BUT certainly made a great team 👍
This is great contemporal musical history told in an evenly great and ripping way; I thank you very much for that, sir! Been' enjoying mysel greatly over here with it and of course I subscribed right away after stumbling over your channel, keep up the good work please.
Thank you sir! Take a look around. I have tons of content
Sounds like we have another fan of astronomy out there. Love it. Another great story, too. Thanks
OH, yeah. Can’t wait for the Webb telescope to start doing its thing!!
I just found this channel after seeing the great video on Paul Kossof. Liked and subbed.
The end comment made me realize that I need to watch these vids to the end. Thanks for this one mang!!!!🤩😎
I think the BBM album is up there with Disraeli Gears as a “complete” album. But Wheels of Fire has to be the best. For nostalgia the Albert Hall performance which I attended on the Thursday…….brilliant. What a band……..
The live lp on Wheels of Fire was a life changer for so many that I knew. So many stories around that lp.
THANK YOU!
Well done. Thank you.
Your wall of albums is awesome those are my favorite albums too .
man, you put up great stuff. 1 of my favorite channels.
"Speak" is what guitars do best. In their right hands
This is wonderful!
Good job Bro. I really enjoyed this. Absolutely, These Three Magnificent Musicians produced some of the great music of the 20th century
Try to imagine Cream with the addition of Steve Winwood on keyboards vocals and second guitar. Or, imagine Blind Faith with multi-instumentalist Jack Bruce on bass & vocals instead of Ric G. Is it too hard to imagine that Eric Clapton was overwhelmed by Jack's talent, training and experience? Listen to Jack Bruce on "As You Said" from Wheels of Fire. Probably the only Cream song ever recorded without Clapton on guitar. Eric's inferiority complex was on full display. I'm tired of people blaming the end of Cream on Bruce-Baker hijinx.
There's acoustic guitar on As You Said, isn't that Eric?
But yeah his weak personality definitely had negative impact.
@@torchmusic27 Not Clapton. Jack played all instruments, unless you count Ginger on the high-hat
@@jimparker7778 Interesting, TIL
Loved Cream, Blind Fath, Traffic, Peter Green, John Mayall and etc....
This was really good!
Jack Bruce is one of my most favorite bass players of all time his voice is so good too back then I'd love how he's able to hit those high notes with basically just a higher range baritone voice but still he would be able to push it way up to those high notes but sometimes it was always a crap shoot if you would actually hit him especially live I think that's why when they recorded him they forced him to sing falsetto and certain parts
Wow.. BLT, that brings back memories of being in a band in the early 80s n playing life on earth and into money... good times
There may be 3 or 4 Cream fans who haven't seen the documentary "Beware of Mr. Baker". Before forming a final impression of the Cream/Baker/Bruce furball, one should see the film. The film makes it clear that, regardless of any other factors, the elephant in the room was Baker's mental illness - Borderline Personality Disorder. If you're unfamiliar with the condition, read Wikipedia's entry on it, then watch the film.
Hope you know that "White Room " was on the album "Wheels Of Fire".
White Room is from Wheels of Fire, NOT Disraeli Gears.
A few errors in the video. One is where Guitar Historian mentions that Graham Bond formed the Graham Bond Organisation (they used the British spelling of that word) with Jack, Ginger, Dick Heckstall-Smith and John McLaughlin. That's wrong -- Heckstall-Smith and McLaughlin were never in that band at the same time, Heckstall-Smith replaced McLaughlin.
Also, when BBM got together, Jack and Ginger had played together relatively recently before that, because Jack had Ginger play on his A Question Of Time album and convinced Ginger to play the tour promoting the album. Although here again, Ginger was difficult, because despite agreeing to do the tour, Ginger refused to learn or play any of Jack's non-Cream material. So Jack had to hire a second drummer to play material from Jack's solo albums, then Ginger would play the final set of material which was all Cream songs.
Furthermore, it's interesting that when Ginger Baker was in Hawkwind, Ginger hated the bassist they had. Ginger tried to fire the bassist so that Hawkwind could bring in Jack Bruce. Hawkwind leader Dave Brock didn't like that idea one bit. Who knows if Jack would have been willing to join Hawkwind anyway. Ginger's troublemaking ways meant that his days as a member of Hawkwind were cut short.
Wasn't Lemmy that Hawkwind bassist?
I saw in the August 1980 edition of Rolling Stone magazine, -eric mentioned that while touring America, he [ with Cream ] he and the other members would separate and stay with friends they had met in the cities they did shows in [ .]
In light of many of their phonograph records were recorded here in Oakland California, the curiosity I have is ; did Eric hang out back in those years with any of the Oakland Blues musicians , [for instance] Bob Geddins , Lowell Fulson, Tiny Powell, Bev Stovall , Nicky Baxter , Louis Madison, Jimmy Mc Cracklin, Johnny Fuller , Roscoe Gordon [ ? ]
I can't resist mentioning Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac had the miracle of being able to record with Otis Spann, Walter Shakey Horton, Willie Dixon and several unusually good Blues musicians.......
I saw in Guitar Player Magazine [October 1989 issue] a mention of the planned "get together" of members Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker with Albert King, possibly joining them with Booker T. Jones, and William Bell for a remake of "Born under a bad sign", i often wonder what happened to the plans for that get together [ . ]. In that article , Albert King was quoted as merely wanting a paltry ten thousand dollars advance money [ ! ]
Bizarre
Hey guys, quick error correction:
I said that “White Room” was on Disraeli Gears when it appeared on Wheels of Fire instead.
Oops. Muh bad.
Sea Cream in 68 at the coliseums in Chicago…..Changed the way I saw music…. They were the best ever IMHO 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
White Room was not on Disraeli Gears. It was rather prominently featured on the studio disc of Wheels of Fire.
Great work Man!!
THANK YOU--MOST INFORMATIVE.
Disraeli Gears does not contain White Room. It is featured on the Wheels of Fire album
Very interesting, Thanks.
Hay mate White Room was on the Wheels of Fire LP and not on Disraeli Gears.
Somehow I always thought Eric would be gone first, here he is, still today, fighting on, you may agree or disagree on EC's bent on vaccination, Eric will always be Eric!!! Saw him in the 70s, amazed he could play after giving up heroin!!! 😊🎸 I listen to all of Jack Bruce's solo albums, Ginger both in Baker Gurvitz Army and his many collaborations including Hawkwind, the best song he wrote outside of Cream was Master Of Reality - Sunrise On The Sufferbus simply titled T.U.S.A and you guys in America still can't make tea!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍🥁🎸
Ginger's drumming in Masters of Reality was brilliant also his work with PIL. Loved Jack's solo work.... will have to give BBM and BLT a good listen. One regret is never seeing Cream in 67 or 68. Still have my original Disraeli Gears vinyl copy
Great thread this very informative and interesting👍👍