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List Price: $29.98 | | Label: Warner Strat. Mkt.
Salesrank: 6257
Released: October 4, 2005 |
| Our Price: $7.98 |
| Used Price: $7.24 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
In May of 2005 Cream returned to London's Royal Albert Hall-to the same stage where they had completed what was thought to be their final performance in 1968. It was one of the most eagerly anticipated, hard-to-get tickets in rock history. With the exception of a brief reunion set at their 1993 induction into the Rock and roll Hall of Fame, Cream had not played together in nearly four decades. This DVD documents Cream's momentous London shows. Performances from each of the four nights are featured and much more. Also included are alternate performances and interviews with Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton. Cream formed in 1966 and disbanded in 1968. The band were a prolific and thrilling live act and toured incessantly in their short but remarkable history.Track Listings: I'm So Glad, Spoonful, Outside Woman Blues, Pressed Rat & Warthog, Sleepy Time Time, N.S.U., Badge, Politician, Sweet Wine, Rollin' & Tumblin', Stormy Monday, Deserted Cities of the Heart, Born Under a Bad Sign, We're Going Wrong, Crossroads, Sitting on Top of the World, White Room, Toad, Sunshine of Your Love, Spoonful (Alternate Takes), Sleepy Time Time (Alternate Takes), Badge (Alternate Takes), Sweet Wine (Alternate Takes), Rollin' & Tumblin', We're Going Wrong, White Room, Sunshine of Your Love
Description of Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005:
They step onto the stage of London's Royal Albert Hall: Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, and Eric Clapton. The capacity crowd, which includes Sean Penn and Jude Law, stands to greet them. Thirty-seven years after their farewell concert, the famously fiery Cream did the unthinkable--they reunited. This double-disc collection (and accompanying CD set) captures highlights from the historic four-day engagement, beginning with a buoyant "I'm So Glad" and ending with a triumphant "Sunshine of Your Love." It would be churlish to suggest that Cream appears exactly as they did in the 1960s (Bruce looks a little frail), but the legendary power trio still has the goods. Bruce is still the essence of soul (a particularly rich vocal on "Politician"), while Baker is as irrepressible as ever (a rare vocal on "Pressed Rat and Warthog," percussive tour-de-force "Toad"). Then there's Clapton, who remains as much a master of the guitar as of understatement. "Thanks for waiting all these years," he quips after a slow-burning "Outside Woman Blues," then adds, "We're going to do every song we know." The track listing is, indeed, generous, despite the absence of such Cream classics as "I Feel Free," "Strange Brew," and "Tales of Brave Ulysses." All told, there are 22 songs plus three alternate takes--and not a bad one in the bunch. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005 Reviews:
Soul food for baby-boomers. 
2009-07-15 - There are two discs, featuring material from four concerts in May 2005. The camera work is excellent, as there are many close-ups of Eric Clapton's fingers as they whiz about the fretboard, close-ups of Jack Bruce, as he sings or puffs into his harmonica, and many images of Jack Bruce, as his sticks navigate their way through his collection of drums and cymbals. We learn that Eric Clapton is the one with the high voice, and Jack Bruce is the one with the low voice. Most of the singing is done by Jack Bruce. From set to set, Mr.Clapton sticks with the same black Fender Strat, while Mr. Bruce changes his bass guitars. There is no attempt at joking, no attempts at spoofing their own songs, no videos cutting to fashionable events from the 1960s, no funny haircuts, no dancing on stage, and no bun-shaking. What we find is straight music -- electric blues.
These men keep going and going and going, and never get tired. Just like the proverbial ENERGIZER BATTERY. All music-lovers should be grateful that the members of Cream don't suffer from arthritis.
The two compact discs can serve as a teaching aid for budding blues guitarists. Most or perhaps all of the material played by Mr. Clapton can be copied by a skilled and intelligent high school student, perhaps with the aid of a music teacher. On the other hand, most people cannot approach the inventiveness of Mr. Clapton's improvised arpeggios. The sound quality, at least for the lead guitar, is superb. Every note of Mr.Clapton's guitar is crystal-clear. (How about an amazon.com review from a drummer?)
I was especially glad for the inclusion of PRESSED RAT AND WARTHOG, a recitative by Mr. Baker, where the bass guitar plays tunes from old English folk songs. The same tunes can be found on certain compositions by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE is distinguished in that, what is tacked on to the end, is a 2-minute jam session where the tempo is double-timed. We also find TOAD. Mr.Bruce and Mr.Clapton set down their guitars and leave the stage, when it is Mr.Baker's turn for his lengthy solo in TOAD.
From time to time, the camera discloses groups of people in the crowd. What was surprising to me is that most of the audience consists of youngsters in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. It is not clear to me why most of the audience was not in their 60s and 70s. Perhaps all of these persons were put in the wheelchair-only section, and were not visible to the camera.
At the very end of the second disc, we hear excerpts from an interview, where various members of Cream express gladness at the fact that they were able to overcome any differences, and to collaborate for a harmonious concert at Royal Albert Hall. These "differences" are not disclosed to us. However, as with the life-stories of many "celebrities," the consumer is usually better off (or happier) not knowing what has taken place behind the scenes.
In 1968, I saw Cream, during their first American Tour, perform at a little known street-corner cafe in San Francisco called, "Filmore Auditoreum." The two other groups on the bill were Gary Burton Quartet (jazz vibraphone) and the Flaming Groovies. A year later, I saw Cream again at Oakland Auditoreum, where the warm-up act was It's a Beautiful Day (most known for the song, WHITE BIRD). FIVE STARS.
Fabulous reunion
2009-06-20 - I throughly enjoyed listening to the Cream perform once again. Amazing production quality, and they still have it. Brought back a lot of memories.
Hard to Find This DVD
2009-06-08 - Lost this DVD. Ordered another only to find it was in Hi-Def. Very difficult to find a DVD so was thrilled to get it. Excellant concert. Can't watch it enough.
A great performance
2009-04-05 - Cream sounds better than ever. This is a great DVD. If the camera work was better (why look at the inside of an elevator at Royal Albert or some rather unattractive women when the camera should be on the stars). Despite the less than stellar cinematography this seems to show these 3 guys at their best. I wish the DVD contained more songs and longer interviews.
RIP Cream 
2009-03-15 - I didn't have much hope for this from the start, yet probably like so many other fans I was wishing for some kind of resemblance to the groundbreaking band and sound I've enjoyed. There's truly nothing here folks. Ginger is flat alright, but I feel it's got to be said that Eric is really the no-show. With all due respect to him and his achievements, he seems to have made no effort to recapture any of the magic. Completely gone is the fire, ferocity, imagination, style, improvisation, spaciness, intensity, and so on that marked his playing back then. Not to mention the more tangible technical effects like any feedback, vibrato, etc, - all screaming for a Gibson SG like that lovely "Fool" he once played. Now I wasn't expecting the brilliance of shows like the Whisky A Go-Go club or Detroit Grand Ballroom, as heard on the boots available from their fall '67 tour, but those players were absent completely. Gone was what made his playing so incredible then - the fusion of blending the Mayall period licks with the psychedelia, and even a little country for good measure. It could well be true what Eric has said in interviews - that there was a brief peak, and '68 was a long fall. By the time of the pro live recordings of early '68, you can tell the enthusiasm is fading. He may have indeed blacked out much of the time, which is unfortunate. Eric has never seemed to be one to look back. Ironically it's Jack, who is showing his age the most, that comes through with some degree of style and imagination. To me, this reunion certainly did not merit filling London or New York's most prestigious halls or arenas. Or making this DVD. RIP Cream.
