I remember seeing a Cream documentary, and Clapton talked about this clip. He was not happy about having to go through it. He knew it was silly. And he was generally unhappy with Cream at this point, of course. You can see all of that in his eyes, for sure. Especially at the beginning. It's like, "WTF am doing......"
I know, right? And I would've thought virtuosos like these blokes would've been insulted at the very suggestion that they mime to their own music, but then again as Ginger Baker would say, "Dose fuckin' drugs weren't gonna pay for demselves, were dey?"
@@thetruthfornow6045 I grew up really liking this song, not knowing anything about any videos of it, nor that any band member was unhappy. I just like the song!
Non commercial and not hip for the time and I dig their effort! I actually like it. Cream was an unusual group of super talented musicians that were doomed not to get along with each other. I love their music.
@@mechanicrainbow2709 It's a sarcastic song written about a man called Thích Quảng Đức and the west's high societal ignorance towards the plight of millions of people across the globe and our western ways. They used Quảng Đức as an example more than likely because of the impact the image of his final moments alive had on the world and the story that was reported with it. Thích Quảng Đức was a Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk who burned himself to death at a busy Saigon road intersection on 11 June 1963 (He never flinched or uttered a word throughout). Quảng Đức was protesting the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government led by Ngô Đình Diệm, a staunch Roman Catholic. There's way more to this story but that's the basics of what happened and what these guy's were talking about in this song
@@russellhobbs7245 I see, clapton has been a true rebel musician since his starts. That's why I read around there that this song is a statement. I'm happy to know the meaning of it, it used to be a fun song for me(because of the video) but now I know that it's got a deep meaning. Thank you
This was recorded in the period of time where the three members were literally coming to blows with each other under the strains of stardom, drugs, non stop touring and creative differences with each other. They broke up a few months later. The looks in their eyes says it all.
I'd just returned from a year spent working at Naval Station Hospital in DaNang ; at home on leave when I caught this subdued but brilliant performance on TV... It was on the Summers Brothers Smothers Show [ Smothers Brothers ] ... Then I listened to ' Goodbye Cream ' later on that same year... " I'm So Glad " blew me away .
@@caryheuchertThe lyrics of this tune were written by Martin Sharp, who wrote the lyrics to "Tales of Brave Ulysses" with Eric as composer of both tunes.
I didn't realize Jack Bruce was so much shorter than Ginger Baker & Eric Clapton. He must have been a foot shorter than Baker. But he had a big, big voice.
~ What a joy to see Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton in 1968. Roger Federer, Wimbledon, and the movie "Savage Seven" bring me back here. See also the B-side, Pressed Rat & Warthog. Brilliant. Still fresh in 2018, omg 50 years later. Cheers, DAVEDJ ~
nah man ... harrison had that "i'm a really nice and king gentlemen" look, clapton with his long hair/mustache had that "piss off or i'll break this guitar in your head" hahah
Flash back city !! Smothers Brothers !!! I recall working with a guy a few years older than me (63 now) in the mid '80sand he had just bought the Crossroad box set. Asked me about this tune..."Flipside of "Pressed Rat and Warthog".
Twice upon a time in the valley of tear The auctioneer is bidding for a box of fading years And the elephants are dancing on the graves of squealing mice. Anyone for tennis, wouldn't that be nice? And the ice creams are all melting on the streets of bloody beer While beggars stain the pavement with fluorescent Christmas cheer And the Bentley driving guru is putting up his price. Anyone for tennis, wouldn't that be nice? And the prophets in the boutiques give out messages of hope With jingle bells and fairy tales and blind colliding scopes And you can tell they're all the same underneath the pretty lies. Anyone for tennis, wouldn't that be nice? The yellow Buddhist monk is burning brightly at the zoo You can bring a bowl of rice and a glass of water too And fate is setting up the chessboard while death rolls out the dice. Anyone for tennis, wouldn't that be nice?
Used to play this song… Couldn’t quite make out certain lyrics like “prophets in the boutiques” and “blind colliding scopes”-so I made up my own - I forget what. Something that rhymes I guess. Thanks for the transcription!
This was taken from the Smothers Brothers show, I remember watching it (and being disappointed because I’d never heard of this song, and at how silly it was)
I just watched an old (1968) biker movie called "The Savage Seven." This song was used in the film, as performed by a band called "The American Revolution." A must-see forgotten exploitation biker flick. Cast includes 60's rocker Duane Eddy, and famed actress Penny Marshall in her first movie.
I used to buy those late 60s cut-outs as well. Picked up Love's "My Little Red Book" and many other classics. I bet I saw this one and mistakenly passed on it. But I was only 8 years old so I couldn't buy them all.
How amazing! I don't know why but Cream always rubbed me the right way. So much so I purchased the boxset, which had a lot of their studio works. GO CREAM!
Clarification: Clapton never shot heroin, he inhaled it. He fell in love with Pattie while she was married, but she left George before she and Eric were involved. His autobiography is brilliantly written, very open and honest, refreshing even. He got clean from drugs and alcohol in mid 80's and staying clean is his #1 priority, over family even. As for business, in the past 10 years or so has he had any day to day involvement. He had to borrow money a few years ago to buy a boat, then he toured.
I robbed a Cream CD off my older sister in 1990 when I was 12. It blew me away. All my mates where into Acid House and all that other unlistenable shit. I still have this CD in the changer in my car now.
Imagine how confounding this would have looked on TV in 1968. Teenage kids would have been mesmerized. Their parents would have been totally bamboozled - the very long hair coupled with 19th century beards and moustaches, playing bizzare pop music...
Cream was the biggest live band in the world in 1968. They outdrew Jimi and everyone else and Eric was as highly regarded by critics and serious musicians as Hendrix. Yet they were so poorly managed they played just one live song on American TV. That was on the Glen Campbell summer show in May 1968, and the producer made Eric play below the sustain level. Their manager, Robt. Stigwood, said no to them appearing at Monterey. An amazing band. Eric and Jimi were mutual admirers. Saw Cream Nov. 3 1968 in Baltimore and Jimi and the Exp. May 16/17 1969 at the same venue with my only front-row center seats--when the last notes rang out just after midnight it was my 19th birthday. So I can honestly say Jimi played my birthday (he just didn't know it). Those two concerts had the greatest impact on me. Anyone for Tennis is a fine pop tune, but sad to see a great live band like Cream forced to lip-sync.
1972,I have pleasant memories of Cream playing in the background ,music coming from my older boy cousins, they let me flip through their albums,and taught me about music, and different rock bands,they also help me with my homework from school.I,flew to Pittsburgh from Texas to see my Hero Eric Clapton, I sat there in the presence of greatness,breathing the same air,wishing my boy cousins were with me,,they are all gone now,but I did have the pleasure of taking them to see dozens of Rock bands,Deep purple, bad company, Peter Frampton, Kiss, many,many more,,I, would stand and watch my cousins face as he jam to the music ,just like when I was a child,it brought me joy.In memory of Ruben Mata,you are not forgotten
Maybe a reference to the song 'Toad'? Eric loved French food; they ARE on a silver tray- anyone for frogs' legs with fresh cream? Perhaps 'Mother's Lament'?
45rpm B side of ‘Pressed Rat & WartHog’ my moms favorite Cream song. She 1st heard it while high on & selling Laguna Blue in 1969 down in Carmel Beach.
Love the imagery in the words in this song! Man,find the words and read them. Goes through what was and is bad in the world."ANY ONE FOR TENNIS" is pointing out how many don't care and was a phrase used by the "RICH" in many people's minds,you know the "COUNTRY CLUB"types WHO USUALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD CAUSE THEY GOT IT MADE AND ARE INSULATED FROM THEM! HEY ANY ONE FOR TENNIS? WOULD'T THAT BE NICE? FOR ALL OF US!!!!
Yes, 47 years from the band's formation and before.. and it's true that the frog was nailed down.. it wouldn't stand still for the opening shot. The Smothers Brothers show producer ordered it, nothing to do with the band. I sat in the empty auditorium while they shot this and a very young Ryan O'Neal came in from the studio next door where Peyton Place was being filmed. He was excited to see Cream, I was excited to see him! Those of a certain age may remember the TV show...
Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce would fight and Clapton would get upset by it. Baker and Bruce fought when they were in The Graham Bond Organization, which was pre-Cream.
