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Cream - Royal Albert Hall: London May 2-3-5-6 2005 Audio CD

A fair review of the Cream "Royal Albert Hall: London May 2-3-5-6 2005" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Cream reviews here, or go back to the Cream tabs.

Cream Band: Cream
Title: Royal Albert Hall: London May 2-3-5-6 2005
Rating:
Release Date: 2005-10-04
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: I'm So Glad 2: Spoonful 3: Outside Woman Blues 4: Pressed Rat & Warthog 5: Sleepy Time Time 6: N.S.U. 7: Badge 8: Politician 9: Sweet Wine 10: Rollin' & Tumblin' 11: Stormy Monday 12: Deserted Cities of the Heart 13: Born Under A Bad Sign 14: We're Going Wrong 15: Crossroads 16: Sitting On Top of the World 17: White Room 18: Toad 19: Sunshine of Your Love

BBC=Cream
The performance went well, but there were no further moves to appear together, until Clapton initiated the process by sounding out the others in 2004. The unexpected Cream reunion in 2005 was only the second time that the trio had performed together in 37 years, the previous occasion had been in 1993 when Cream were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Expectations were high, almost impossibly high, given the legendary reputation of the group. However, as they explained in the interview on the DVD edition of the concert, it was not simply a replica of the music they had created four decades ago. Sensibly, they didn't try to recreate the music, no longer were they a power trio, using stacks of amps and playing at a blistering pace, whose virtuosity meant that they were improvising almost continuously. (The first example this had happened in rock/blues, although there are precedents in jazz-The Bill Evans Trio with Scott La Faro and Paul Motion. )

Instead of the power trio whose members appeared to be competing with each other, a more mellow group appeared; one that was more cohesive and unified because they weren't in competition. In these concerts, you can hear them listening and responding to each other,playing in a more mature and refined style. The highlights are the slow blues: 'Sleepy Time Time', Willie Dixon's 'Spoonful', and T. Bone Walker's 'Stormy Monday'. 'We're Going Wrong' is superior to the original on 'Disraeli Gears' and Capton's playing in particular is more incisive. The only song missing is 'Tales of Brave Ulysses', which did appear then they played in New York.

Clapton's playing has developed and Bruce's vocals are still evocative, although some of the soaring heights he once reached are no longer within reach. His fluid, dynamic bass runs are still to the fore, while Baker's propulsive style has been paired down to its essentials, hampered possibly by arthritis, but still mightily effective.

Bruce has said he would like the three to reform to work on a studio album, and if touring is out of the question, this may be the best opportunity for the another reform. There's no reason why three improvising musicians of this caliber can't produce memorable music. A few originals, some blues standards, the potential is enormous. They should produce more music together, more often, and not confine themselves to revisiting the past is a mouthwatering prospect.



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CREAM LIVE IN LONDON-EXCELLANT SELLER
ONE TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION FOR SURE!
THIS SELLER WAS A MOST EXCELLANT TOO!!. THIS CD WAS EXCELLANT AS EXPECTED.


Clapton forget his Waw-waw Pedal?
It's not easy being objective about the reunion of a long-gone band you have loved for 40 years, who've not done a concert in almost as long. This one is tough to review.

So first of all, thank God all 3 guys are still alive to even make this possible. Clapton or Baker could have had a heroin overdose 30 years ago and this never would have happpened. And considering their ages, they each sound great here. I don't care why they did this. . . for money, for fun, whatever. We're all glad they did.


Now for the sad part. . . Clapton's guitar work. Excellent as usual, but not in the Cream style. Take 2 classic Cream songs as evidence. "White Room" and "Crossroads". First time I watched "White Room" I'm waiting and waiting, and it hits that critical lead guitar section, and no waw-waw pedal. Just typical butter-smooth late vintage Clapton fingering away blues licks on a Strat through a bank of Fender amps. Great. But not Cream. That song demands the waw-waw leads and filler parts, played on a Gibson SG amped through a bank of Marshals. Wait and wait, and no waw.

And "Crossroads"? The novelty of seeing the original 3 playing it is cool, very cool. But a couple of hundred bar bands could have played that song with more passion and fire than we have here. Slowed-down and void of any of the Winterland recording's classic leads, it's not even the same song. Both sound like they're played by any version of Clapton's touring bands of the last 25 years. Half expected to see Phil Collins sitting in.

Even "Sunshine of Your Love" is mangled. A great 4-minute version of their only real single-hit would have been perfect. But to stretch it out to 8 minutes of jamming ruins it. And once again, the leads are just way, way too smooth.

Clapton sort of forgot how to be Clapton. Like he did on his "Mr. Johnson" record, where he takes those great old raw blues songs and polishes the hell out of them with a 12-piece band. Give me the outtakes where its just him and Doyle Bramhall playing it acoustic. That's real. Not the slick, smooth stuff we have here.

So watching this is like meeting an old girlfriend who is still hot after a few decades, but instead of showing up in tight jeans, a halter top and heels, she's wearing St. John knits and Dolce flats. Nice, but not what she's capable of.


Better with age....
One of the best CDs of the year for me. I truly believe they have gotten better with age.


Warning! - HD-DVD wont play on most players
WARNING - this HD-DVD version will not paly on regular DVD players . . not even.


You can see a complete list of all Cream discography, or go back to the Cream tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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