Just 3 guys playing. No tricks, no edits, no added anything. Just the 3 greatest British blues rock artists ever! Jack, Eric and Ginger. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how it's done.
The video is an edited version of Crossroads from the Cream farewell performance at the Royal Albert Hall video mixed with the audio performance of live at Winterland from the Cream Wheels of Fire album.
I watched a video of Jack Bruce in his own words the music of cream was mostly Jaz music and some blues but being that Jack Bruce wrote most of the songs and sang them ,Eric only sang on a few songs and that is the way it was .
People who grew up in the pre-electric era said the same about electric guitars/basses, light shows, etc. S'all just personal opinion...imo, of course.
Imagine there are idiots who say Clapton is overrated. I'm not saying he's the best, but man, it doesn't get any better than this. His phrasing and timing is out of this world.
Eric and I have grown old together. The biggest difference is he's one of the Greatest guitar players of all time and I'm just and old dude who loves 60's and 70's music
I's only need three notes to name that tune! From the History Of or Best Of compilation ? Back when the business hacks were still thinking product and viability versus artistry and longevity. That bass performance just gets better with age don't it! I believe one of Eric's earliest singing or singing live... Mind Time Capsules. Gracias Antonio!
@@YYZed12 EC is such a brilliant blues rock lead guitar player, hes so pure never deviates from the ethos, and some of his timing and licks are just exceptional.
Totally agree with this and have been saying this for decades. True story: when the album had just come out, late 1968, I was listening to a mainstream (AM) radio broadcast of it. When the DJ came on after this song was over, he just sighed and said, "I can't believe what I just heard. I have to play that again". And he did. Never heard that happen before or since.
That's just unbelievable. Three guys producing a sound that's never been rivaled. They were all masters of their craft and their recordings will always live on.
Yeah I love that sound I'm a guitar player I remember one of my bass player brought that up to me she act Bruce is a monster that that sound right there like Grand Funk Railroad and Black Sabbath you know keys are Butler he was at monster too you know but these guys play with the store soon Jack Bruce is a monster I love this sound that's how that's how we played my bass player's past man and I ain't been right since I can't play no more and then Eddie Eddie Van Halen died I'm done I'm done
I saw Cream live in Toronto at Massey Hall in June 1968 then went to meet Eric Clapton at the Royal York Hotel, Id been a Clapton fan since John Mayal and the Bluesbreakers and the Yardbirds. We watched Bobby Kenned assassination on the news June 6 the day after the concert. Eric was amazing a total gentleman, he told me about his life as a kid and drew me a doodle and gave me his autograph. I treasure this. Still listening all these years later makes me happy.
While Clapton is outstanding on this tune, my hat is off to Jack Bruce on this song. Quite simply a killer bass effort by Bruce here. Absolute genius playing. Busy when it needs to be but never overplayed. RIP Jack
@@chipurBillWhite Applause gentlemen. Great comments. You can hear in this clip the way they all lifted each other up from a player's perspective. Fantastic.
in '68 I was 14: after getting that album, I convinced my parents to buy me a bass and a fender bassman amp(the big speaker cabinet) and tried to become Jack Bruce- of course I sucked, but I was so loud...shed a few tears of joy watching that-
I'm 70 now. All these years later, this music still makes my heart pound. Jack Bruce was my biggest influence playing and learning Bass. Man those were the raw days of music to be sure.
Cream was the perfect storm. Three of the most talented musicians of that day came together to create perfection. Their rendition of Crossroads was, in my humble opinion, the pinnacle of their work.
Eric's solos were so fresh and energetic back then. This live version is exploding with energy and tight as it could possibly be. What a song, what a group, what a time!
@@petertimpson9378 huh? are you seriously informing me that this isn't technically a live version because it was recorded at a live performance in 68. You left an apostrophe out of "it's" BTW. And by your logic you should have said "as great as it WAS live". By saying as great as it IS live you are making the same mistake you claim I am making.
@@Technaudio way cool Nik!! My brother graduated in '68, 7 years b4 me. Thank goodness I listened to all his good albums while he was out partying!! This jam is timeless!! May ur Dad RIP!!
@wayne pitty He was once in a band called Buttercup Jelly with a young, and loud, according to a notebook i have of his gig reviews, Dave Bartram on guitar - who went on to form Showaddywaddy. Then joined another band, Medusa with Bruce Woolley (who co wrote Video Killed The Radio Star) www.loughboroughecho.net/news/local-news/how-classic-hit-video-killed-12645382
I was at the Farewell To Cream concert at The Royal Albert Hall ( London ), one of the best nights of my life, and I'm 75 now, so I've had a few nights.
@@peteosinga8845 These were the years where he was a true "gunslinger" - fast fingers, raging emotions, his playing reflected the turbulent times of the 60's. Now, in his 70's, he knows how to play within himself, but doesn't have the testosterone to rip it like the old days. Hell, I'm 71 and I can appreciate that.
@@syourke3 ..lol..that was a great movie...so sorry he passed ..he was a great drummer i learned so much from him his rhythm was unsurpassed..Cheers 🍻🍻🍻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
right on compare my comments above. great minds like ours, think alike: "on the second break, the man lost contact with earth! He took off to realms hitherto unvisited, unknown. He blasts off and takes us with him, a glad and privileged bunch shaking their heads-- not in time but in wonder. It has lost NONE of its power, edge, force or fury. "
Brilliance...we were fortunate, to live in the era of incomparable original and truly gifted artists and musicians...a plethora of excellence, namaste'
The greatest set ever played. Two Jazzmen and a blues guitar player. The anti-band. 3 musical phenoms at the height of their powers. Each riffing and creating individually, yet in harmony. We will never see their like again.
This ranks up there as one of the greatest solos of all time. To be able to solo that long with that kind of articulation without repeating the exact same licks over and over but doing two and three variations of the same lick and phrasing, pulling it all together while being cognizant of building momentum throughout the solo to the very end is just phenomenal. Clapton was a true guitar pioneer.
It might surprise you to know that Clapton himself said he messed up during this solo by coming in on the wrong beat at some point. I'm not knowledgeable enough to hear when exactly he did it, because it sounds great to me
I am with you...bought it in '68 and I was 19 also! (Now 70)! I used to practice my drumming to the albums 'Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears & Wheels of Fire'.
Got to say me too! Great great song and untouchable guitar work. Nice sidebar: they gave credit to Robert Johnson, the writer of the song. Many groups from that era, didn't give credit to the old Bluesmen that wrote a lot of those songs.
@@georgemaynard7604 that's spot on, but unavoidably because blues genre was long before our time. i was also 18 in '68 and had the greatest time of all!
I've been listening to Eric Clapton since I was in Junior high. I've when my brother got me the first Cream Album well I was hooked. Still listening to him now in 2024. I'm 69 and he is 11 years older than me. I love you Eric Clapton I always will. 😘☺️💖💙🎸🎶🙏💕
The fact that Clapton was this good over 50 years ago is mind boggling. He was at a level even then that is unattainable to most people and he was only 23 when this album was released.
The thing about Clapton that makes him timeless is it just isn’t about shredding. It’s not just speed. It’s tasteful. It’s music. He hits his rhythms perfectly. He never screws up and never has to vamp or rescue himself.
I couldn't agree more. What seems straightforward [a blues solo], is fraught with musical difficulties in reality. Thousands do it quite well, or very well. There is only one Eric Clapton.
Precisely .Mpst shredding is mechanical noise to me. I easily listen to this over and over and am lifted up repeatedly at the same points in Eric s solo. I love how Gingers hi-hat accentuates Claptons bend of (the A string?) the main riff. Jack prob. helps out there too
The word which describes the type of playing is "melodic"... complimenting..variations of timing and different types of "Melody movement"...ascending .. descending..alternating..in varied mathematical patterns...=MELODIC"...Yes my good friend...Like you said "TASTEFUL"...VS..Predictable BORING FINGER TAPPING ARPPEGIOS...
Growing up with the best music ever recorded has certainly given my generation a musical edge never seen before, and never to be seen again. Thank you mi hermano Antonio Cuevas for sharing this timeless music.
@@RobertWCox-sj3qk actually play guitar. But when I listen to old cream songs. Its almost impossible to play it like them. It seems like Ginger and Clapton were playing a bit out time but on purpose. Kind of like what they do in Jazz
What.. only three guys? A guitar, a bass, and a drum set?? No autotune?? No crew behind stage working a synthesizer? No smoke, and/or fancy lights? Nope. Just plain, raw, in your face, real rock music.
I saw Cream so many times in the 60s mostly at local venues behind pubs such as The Cooks Ferry Inn - The Blues Rooms at The Angel Edmonton and Manor House. And at their farewell concert at The Royal Albert Hall. Totally Amazing
Absolutely killer rock drummer.....every time some teeny bopper starts in on how incredible Bonzo was, I wait patiently for them to finish and say "Be that as it may, he weren't no Ginger Baker..."
Tex, get you some good hash, a black light and posters, some good wine and a pretty woman and hopefully a good sound system, and then put on his "Beano" album my friend.
No Crap! These three gave birth to hordes of guitar and drum players. I learned everything Eric played...put the records on 16RPM and pulled out each note. To this day, I still play their songs. Bravo!
Thanks for doing the math for me. No calculators were needed back then but none were needed. A simpler time when musicians could relax and enjoy their groupies.
This is the Cream live masterpiece - the second solo part from 2:25 to 3:25 when all three of them take a solo at the same time while yet playing seamlessly together has amazed me since I first heard the Wheels of Fire album
YES. 3 solos simultaneously. I couldn't figure this out way back then but now I get it. I have always thought Cream to be the greatest band ever. Most talent ever.
Well put. I actually hadn't put that together but you're right. Only they could do that so seamlessly, powerfully and yet be so tight. They were so good together, musically.
@@scottpollack5453 Their complete inability to get along, especially Baker and Bruce, is pretty much a matter of record. It's what broke them up and kept them from doing any reunion tours for 45 years after the breakup.
@@brucetucker4847 Bruce, point well taken! Honestly, I was commenting on how Great they were as a band and you’re right, it’s a shame they didn’t get along or we would probably have many more albums to enjoy!
In my opinion this was the crowning moment for Clapton. Not John Mayhalls Blues Breakers, Not Blind Faith, not Derrick And The Dominos or any of his solo work. CREAM with the other members never got to equal that again...
people who usually say this are ignorant of some incredible shit out there right now. If you're judging "today's crap" by Top 40 hits...than you're just being lazy. Do some digging around, and you'll find something that speaks to you.
one technical and with feeling guitarist, one amazingly talented and fast bassist, and one volatile jazz inspired drummer... making a huge sound that would take 4 or five artists today to fill. Still unmatched today.
My favourite is "Hideaway" from the "Bluesbreakers" Album which was an instrumental - even so, "Crossroads" is my favourite song played by Cream - the guitar solo is great ! He doesn't sound like this anymore. . . . .
Bob Stonehill Best live solo of any guitar player in the world. Actually Ginger and Jack are absolutely epic and brilliant in support of this absolute master....!!! Thank you so much for this video and the magic to produce...!!!!
I've heard this cut dozens, if not hundreds, of times, and I think just now is the first time I really heard what was said about Ginger but never really got before. He's the one who really held Cream together, especially when Eric was soloing and Jack was flying around on the bass. At any given moment, Ginger's lines tied Eric and Jack together. He certainly never restricted himself to timekeeping - his lines changed moment by moment, and if hadn't done that the whole sound would have collapsed. Awesome, all of them individually and as a unit.
'Was' extremely talented, unfortunately. A true master of the bass, his vocal ability was of the same high level. Only Eric Clapton is still in the mix of earth's game.
In my humble opinion, this is the greatest live recorded performance by a band ever. Full stop. The three players are all at the top of their respective games, and at one point in time.
The people who knock Eric’s playing today need to hear what he was doing more than 50 years ago. The fact that he is still playing at all let alone to the standard he is performing is a tribute to his greatness.
The summer of 1968 was the apex of rock and roll singles . I was 16 then and would keep my radio on all night so I wouldn’t miss any songs, even asleep!
I was born 2 years later and i picked up the guitar at 11- Clapton and the amazing band Cream still sounds fresh. This version is beyond good. Cheers older man :)
@@anthonywilkins3947 Hendrix could only wish he had the ability and style to play like this Remember. He flew from the US to England in 1967 unannounced just to jam with Cream. Hendrix Ouote ; Best band I ever heard in my life . Class Act. The rest is history.
I was at the show at Winterland in march of 1968. The supporting acts were, James Cotton, the original Blood Sweat and Tears with Al Kopper, and The Saters. Cream made their entrance, walking through the crowd to the stage (Things were a lot loser in those days). And when they began to play "Crossroads", I was frozen in time, I was stunned. I had never before heard anything that sounded like this astounding music! And it was just three musicians! I was 18yrs old, and my mind had just been "Blowen". I never thought of music in the same way, after that night.
Had my mind 'blowen' on the floor at Winterland a few hundred times (and not just from the bands, ha-ha). That's some quality video work there moron, put the camera on Clapton's face when he solo's and then switch back and forth to Ginger & Jack's faces every 3 seconds. What a douche.
I got to see them two sets a night - two nights in a row at the Whiskey A Go Go. Before they had a hit record on their first tour to US......Second night I was on acid. So - they changed my life forever, but as a musician from the 60's - that happened a LOT!
I heard that from a guy who also saw Cream live..., he said it took him, "days to recover!" Imagine most of 'Frisco's Rock Royalty were there..., Mickey Hart said in Ginger Baker's movie(Beware Mr. Baker)that, "these guys were just taking heads!"
Eric Clapton at his very best! In my view, the best guitar solo I ever heard him do!! He made that guitar sound like a violin at times. And now.....he’s the only surviving member of Cream! RIP Jack and Ginger!!
I was so fortunate to see Cream twice in the late sixties. Small venues, great acoustics, wonderful shows. My ex-wife and I are still blown away by what we saw and heard. Our oldest kids(54 & 53) love Cream, Jimi and LZ. Pass it on to the next generation people.
I saw them do this tune in Chicago summer of '68, can not even imagine listening and seeing them in a small venue !!!! I saw Bruce Cockburn in a two different small venues 3 times in Chicago in '78 '80 and 84,but can not imagine Cream in those joints !!!
Loved them! 73 now and would not trade when I grew for anything! Saw their farewell tour and still have my ticket stub. I knew I was listening and seeing rock history. Love love love.
This is without doubt the greatest rock performance of a three man group that there ever was. Clapton, Bruce and Baker may individually be bested at their crafts, but together, this was was greatest three man band performance of all time.
Three guys and their instruments. No multi track , auto tune, synthesizer crap. They say there is still great music being made out there. Where? Nothing like this , this is raw talent
The Yard Birds, John Mayall, Cream, Blind Faith, Bonnie and Delaney and Derek and the Dominos and then fifty years of touring. What a ride Clapton has had!
This is not just the best version of a Cream track, it is the best rock track OF ALL TIME barring none and has been my absolute favourite for over 50 years. A sublime combination of drumming, bass, vocal and two soaring riffs that have never been repeated nor surpassed since - nor will they ever be. Perfection. I'm 72 now and it still gives me the shivers.
I may have to agree with you Jeff. Watching them play and hearing what they did - I am so excited to hear this song. As I listened I was thinking that maybe this is my favorite song of all time. Clapton shines of course, but Jack Bruce goes OFF on that bass! I love how they all seem to be doing their own thing, but doing it in sync with each other.
To me this is the definitive version of crossroads. Possibly the finest performance of a power trio that ever walked the face of the earth. wish I could say the same for the camera work.
Hi Doug and agree with everything you have written. If I'm not mistaken there is a lack of synchronization between audio and video here, caused by the fact that although the audio is from the Winterland concert, the video images are from the 1968 Albert Hall London concert. Both performances of the highest order.
without doubt, a terrific performance - but I agree, the camera work is pathetic. like so many wonderful performances in the 60's the camera operators used way too much zoom instead of letting the viewer see the band work together.