Clapton wrote this with George Harrison and Ringo was in the room. They had handwritten lyrics on table, and in the breakdown of the song was the word, Bridge... indicating the song's bridge. Ringo looked at the paper and maybe because of the penmanship misread it and said, "This song is called Badge?" Then it was an inside joke. The word Badge or any reference to it does not occur in the original version. FWIW... even though it is a Cream song, George Harrison plays all of the introduction guitar until Eric plays lead on the break. Very tight short song, but really great.
This was my favorite song from when Clapton was a young 20-year-old with his first Band "Cream," along with Bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. I think it was from 1967. Such a great song.
1969, off the "Goodbye" album - in this live version you do not get the full spine-chilling effect of the guitar bridge through the Leslie speakers unfortunately.
Love this song. Eric's guitar work is sensational. His guitar should have caught fire. 🔥 A trip back in time. Clapton misread George's note and saw Bridge as Badge and thought it was the title. Anyways Badge stuck. The lyrics were not meant to make sense. A lot of them were based on George's drunken conversations with Ringo. Glad you loved it Harri. Thanks Harri and David BZen. Excellent choice. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
I had seen Billy Preston at some college. He did a show with his own band. I met him after the show when it was over, and we talked for a while. He was so down to earth & nice.
Of his many songs, Badge is up there in the top 10. Clapton always has the best musicians with him on stage, and they're given opportunities to shine. Steve Gadd's face isn't probably very recognizable, but Harri will identify his mastery of the drums on many of Steely Dan's songs. My fav of his drum work is on Aja.
Saw Clapton in '74 or '75 on a couple hits of white clinical acid. It took off when he launched into that descending riff, the bridge preceding the solos. Stunning.
@@bobcorbin3294 Nope, that was Eric who thought George had titled it, "Badge", when in fact George had written the word, "Bridge", in his lyrical notes. They laughed and decided to call it that anyway, since George hadn't given it a title yet. George wrote practically the whole song. Ringo contributed one line.
@@Cosmo-Kramer yep you're right had to pull out my copy of I Me Mine to confirm that, all Ringo did was Supply the lyric about the swans that live in the park
The other keyboards player is long-time collaborator Greg Phillanganes, and also features the brilliant Andy Fairweather Low on guitar, Nathan East on bass and one of the top session drummers in the industry Steve Gadd. Badge was co-written with his best mate George Harrison and was first performed by Eric's supergroup Cream. An absolute banger
I saw this lineup (Nathan East on bass), Billy Preston... live in Atlanta on the Reptile Tour. Clapton played everything from "Cocaine" to "My Father's Eyes," and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." One of the best live shows I ever saw.
Harri, I am not trying to pile on but this version and the original are 2 distinct songs. While both are nice, you'd probably not recognize that original version. I still love your channel.
The original version of Badge was on a Cream album and was only 2:44 whereas this live version is over six minutes. This in my opinion is a much better version. The first guitar riff at the beginning of the song on the original version was performed by George Harrison. It sounds exactly like a guitar riff on a Beatles song.
@@guidosarducci you...and me...and lots of others. The original version does something to me every time. A beautiful ache. This zippy version is ok but a completely different animal.
I can also recommend his number : Terrin us apart, the live version, with Phil Collins on drums and Nathan East on the bass guitar. You'll like it. 💕🖐️🎶🎶
Studio version first, always. Why not react to both, one after the other, when your patreon wants the live version? This version is pepped up, the studio version is much darker.
Harri, another excellent reaction from you and thank you for playing this gem. I chose this particular live version of Badge as it is one of my personal favorites among many, many others both live and studio versions over the years. This was performance was from Eric Clapton's Live On Tour 2001 which is available on DVD. The keyboardist featured on this performance is none other than David Sancious, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Sancious, was the original keyboard player in Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band along with many other notables such as Jeff Beck, Sting and Peter Gabriel to name just a few. It is nice to see how many Clapton devotees there are here in this community.
While I love Eric's early work with Cream, Derek and the Dominos, Blind Faith, Yardbirds, Delaney and Bonnie, etc, I think his best work was the 1989 album Journeyman. Not a bad song on it, and several great ones - Pretending, Old Love, Bad Love, Anything For Your Love, Before You Accuse Me...
Harri, when are you going to check out Buddy Miles. He drummed and sang with Hendrix for a stint in the group Band of Gypsys. Buddy miles has the same passion and presents as Billy Preston. Them Changes would be a good place to start.
This is nice, but the studio version by Cream is soooo much better, with rhythm guitar by a fellow named George Harrison. This was a classic and this live version just doesn't do it justice. Ginger Baker's drumming and Jack Bruce's bass are sadly lacking here as well. Billy Preston is a nice touch here but the feel is just nowhere close to the original.
@@Sarvasaha I've always been underwhelmed by Clapton, but Badge is superb. I believe with George's songwriting, Pappalardi's keyboards and Bruce/Baker bringing the usual fire, Clapton was impelled to up his game.
Have a listen to Eric's "Just One Night" Album recorded live in Japan. This is a double album set and is MUST LISTEN! If you do "Cocaine" do it from this set. There are a lot of great songs here. Thanks
I couldn't agree more. Just One Night was the very first CD I ever bought and, it would be a few more months until I could actually afford a CD player.
I have to say this arrangement bears little resemblance to the original. I really prefer that. The guitar break is what everyone waits for it’s so spectacular. Here it got pretty much drowned out.
Harri, *don't* listen to the *studio cut* as I'll be submitting it to you soon! (You may've already noticed the title on my list, but just in case I thought I'd let you know, so your curiosity didn't take you to the studio cut for a listen on your own, after hearing this live version.)
You need to check out the version on the Rainbow Concert album with Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood, Pete Townshend. All of the songs were much heavier than the orignals
