{"id":897,"date":"2017-03-17T03:10:56","date_gmt":"2017-03-17T03:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mrzeros.com\/blog\/?p=897"},"modified":"2017-04-15T17:34:19","modified_gmt":"2017-04-15T17:34:19","slug":"897-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mrzeros.com\/blog\/897-2\/","title":{"rendered":"CREAM: of the Crop 1966-68"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mr.<\/a>

CREAM: 1967<\/p><\/div>\n

Cream: of the Crop<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

BUZZ Newspaper Article: (Mar 2017 #72-eC)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I am sure like everyone else my 1st expose to CREAM<\/u><\/em><\/strong> was “Sunshine Of Your Love”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> but the one that really captured my attention was “White Room”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> so when I lived in Az. I asked my Uncle Brad<\/u><\/em><\/strong> about CREAM, he looked at me puzzled & said “You mean the 1st super-group ever?”<\/em>\u00a0 He then handed me his copy of ‘Disraeli Gears’<\/u><\/em><\/strong> & I was hooked, I spent hours listening to that record & staring at the cover … so their tale goes like this.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

> Wrapping Paper: 1966<<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It starts with one, \u00a0“Ginger” Baker<\/u><\/em><\/strong> (Peter Edward Baker: 19 Aug 1939; Lewisham, S. London)<\/em> in the early ’60s Baker was the Drummer in the band ‘Blues Incorporated’<\/u><\/em><\/strong> where he would 1st meet Bassist Jack Bruce<\/u><\/em><\/strong> (John Symon Asher Bruce: 14 May 1943 Bishopbriggs, Lanarkshire, Scotland \u2013 25 Oct 2014)<\/em>, the 2 later worked together in the ‘Graham Bond Organization’ <\/u><\/em><\/strong>even back then the pair were known to quarrel often. Baker had the idea to form a new band & asked Guitarist Eric “Slowhand” Patrick Clapton<\/u><\/em><\/strong>: CBE (30 Mar 1945; Ripley, Surrey, England)<\/em> who had been with ‘The Yardbirds’<\/u><\/em><\/strong> \u00a0from Oct 1963 to Mar 1965<\/u><\/em><\/strong> & then in ‘John Mayall & Bluesbreakers’<\/u><\/em> from Apr – June ’65<\/u><\/em><\/strong>, a well known talent in the UK, to join this new musical project where all members would contribute equally. Clapton <\/em><\/strong>accepted under the condition that Jack Bruce<\/em><\/strong> be the Bassist in this new project, Baker<\/em><\/strong> was less than enthusiastic, about this idea, but for the sake of the new band “The Cream Of The Crop In The UK”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> Baker put aside his differences. When Bruce agreed to join he brought along the Un-offical member<\/em> of ‘CREAM’<\/u><\/em><\/strong> the Lyricist Pete Brown:<\/u><\/em><\/strong> (Peter Ronald Brown: 25 Dec 1940; Ashtead, Surrey, England).<\/em><\/p>\n

The interesting dynamic of the band was though; Clapton<\/em><\/strong> was the most well known musician at the time & was using a red 1964 Gibson ES-335, & a\u00a01960 Les Paul Standard in Tobacco Sunburst & a 1964 SG custom painted by: ‘The Fool’ & a 1959 Black Triple Pickup Custom Reverse Firebird, & Bruce<\/em><\/strong> who played Gibson EB-3 Fool Fender Bass VI \u00a0 wrote & sang most of the songs, it was Baker<\/em><\/strong> who got all of the attention for his unique drumming skills, he used Ludwig Drums & was\u00a0the 1st “Rock” drummer to use a “Double Kick Drum”
\nThe 1st release from the band was the Non-LP 45 Single<\/em> “Wrapping Paper b\/w Cat’s Squirrel”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> in Oct 1966<\/u><\/em><\/strong>, back in the 60s; it was very common place for a band to release a single well in advance of the album, & then not use one or both songs from the single on the following LP. Their 2nd Non-LP single “I Feel Free b\/w N.S.U.”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> is released in Dec ’66<\/u><\/em><\/strong>, to promote the new single the band appear on the TV show “Ready, Steady, Go”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> in Nov ’66.<\/u><\/em><\/strong> Their 1st LP (long player)<\/em> ‘Fresh Cream’<\/u><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 is released in Dec 1966<\/u><\/em><\/strong>, on this LP Bruce sings 8 songs & Clapton only 1, & as with most British Bands releases in the early to mid 60s, the UK pressing & the USA pressing differ by 2 songs<\/em>. In Europe there were so few places to play many bands appeared on TV to promote their new records, Cream made 2 appearances on “Beat Club”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> in Feb & May ’67.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

> Strange Sunshine Tales: 1967 <<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Summer of “Love”<\/em> is here & the band’s 2nd album is released ‘Disraeli Gears’<\/u><\/em><\/strong> is released in Nov 1967<\/u><\/em><\/strong>, with Clapton singing 3 songs & Baker singing 1 & Bruce sings 6 songs & a final song by all 3. The singles “Strange Brew b\/w Tales Of Brave Ulysses”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> is released in Jun ’67<\/u><\/em><\/strong>, to promote this single the band appears on the European TV Show “H\u00f6r hin, schau zu!”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> in Aug ’67,<\/u><\/em><\/strong> the single “Spoonful: Part 1 & 2”<\/u><\/em><\/strong>is released<\/p>\n

To cement how important Cream<\/u><\/em><\/strong> was to the mid 60s, a rabid fan spray-painted the now legendary slogan “Clapton is God”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> \u00a0in Autumn of ’67 on a wall in the Islington Underground rail station.<\/em> The band makes an unprecedented 4 appearances on the TV Series “Bouton Rouge”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> from 1967- 68,<\/u><\/em><\/strong> & is featured in the Danish <\/em>film: “Det var en l\u00f8rdag aften”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> in ’68 their 5th single “Sunshine Of Your Love b\/w SWLABR”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> hits #5<\/u><\/em><\/strong> on the Billboard Charts in Aug 1968. <\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

> Deserted Cities Of The Heart: 1968 <\u00a0\u00a0 <\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The 1st release for ’68<\/u><\/em><\/strong> is yet another Non-LP 45 Single<\/em> from the film “Savage Seven”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> the song\u00a0\u201dAnyone For Tennis b\/w Pressed Rat And\u00a0 A Warthog”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> hit #64<\/u><\/em><\/strong> on the charts in Jun ’68.<\/u><\/em><\/strong> The bands 3rd album ‘Wheels Of Fire’<\/u><\/em><\/strong> is released in Jul 1968<\/u><\/em><\/strong> & is the 1st ever double LP to go Platinum<\/em><\/strong> (1 million copies in sales certified by the RIAA)<\/em> the 1st LP is a studio recording with Baker singing just 1 song with Clapton singing 2 & Bruce singing 6 songs. The 2nd LP is a “Live”<\/em> recording from 3 different concerts in ’68.<\/em><\/strong> There were 2 singles released from this album “White Room b\/w Those Were The Days”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> which rose to\u00a0#6<\/u><\/em><\/strong> on the charts in Nov 1968<\/u><\/em><\/strong> & “Crossroads b\/w Passing The Time”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> which hit #28<\/u><\/em><\/strong> in Mar 1969, on “Crossroads”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> Bruce announces “Eric Clapton on vocals”<\/em> because Clapton sang so few songs compared to\u00a0Bruce himself. Pertaining to their Live Concerts, the band performed Concerts from; 6 Aug 1966: Torquay to 30 Nov 1968: London.<\/u><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Cream did in fact make a stop in Minneapolis <\/u><\/em><\/strong>& here is the Date & the Set-list:<\/p>\n

5 May 1968 at the New City Opera House<\/u><\/em><\/strong>
\nTales of Brave Ulysses
\nSunshine of Your Love
\nI’m So Glad
\nSitting on Top of the World
\nSteppin’ Out
\nTrain Time
\nToad
\n<\/em><\/strong>
\nI myself was able to see Jack Bruce<\/u><\/em><\/strong> in concert with the “Ringo All-Starr Band”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> on Fri 30 Jun 2000<\/u><\/em><\/strong> in St. Paul at the State Capitol<\/em><\/strong>, Bruce performed “Sunshine Of Your Love” “Theme For An Imaginary Western” “I Feel Free” “White Room”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

> Swans In The Park: 1969 <<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The band’s 4th & final album ‘Goodbye’<\/u><\/em><\/strong> is released in\u00a0 Feb 1969<\/u><\/em><\/strong> with Bruce singing 5 songs\u00a0 & Clapton singing only 1 song, of the 6 songs, 3 were studio & 3 were “live”<\/em> from Oct ’68,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 the 45 single released was “Badge b\/w What A Bringdown”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> which hit #60<\/u><\/em><\/strong> on the charts in May 1969.<\/u><\/em><\/strong> “Badge”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> was written with BEATLES: Harrison & Starr<\/u><\/em><\/strong> (though Starr remains un-credited).<\/em> It is said “The candle that burns twice as bright, burns twice as fast”<\/em> with this “Super-Group”<\/em> that much was certainly true. CREAM<\/u><\/em><\/strong> only lasted only from\u00a0Jun 1966 to Nov 1968<\/u><\/em><\/strong>, due to the constant bickering between Baker & Bruce<\/u><\/em><\/strong>, Clapton just could not cope & wanted out, unfortunately, since Clapton & Baker<\/u><\/em><\/strong> became ‘Blind Faith’<\/u><\/em><\/strong> in Winter ’69<\/em><\/strong>, it seems the blame must fall on Bruce.<\/p>\n

There were several other releases after the band dissolved, “The Hits”<\/em> packages containing “Non-LP Cuts”<\/em> & the “Live”<\/em> Packages representing this great “Live Band”<\/em><\/p>\n

‘Best Of Cream’ Jul ’69<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Live Cream’ Apr ’70<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Live Cream II’ Mar ’72<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Heavy Cream’ Oct ’72<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Farewell Concert (VHS) (26 Nov 1968 Royal Albert Hall) 1977<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Fresh Cream Live’ (DVD) 1993<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

‘BBC Sessions’ (CD) Mar 2003 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Legends never die, Gene Simmons of: KISS<\/u><\/em><\/strong>, said when they were trying to come up with a name for his band he suggested\u201dCOFFEE”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> & their 1st LP could be called “Instant”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> like his 2nd favorite band; CREAM<\/u><\/em><\/strong> & they were a big enough influence on Simmons, that one of the few cover songs KISS<\/u><\/em><\/strong> ever played in concert & the only one Gene ever sang lead on was; “Sunshine Of Your Love”<\/u><\/em><\/strong> in Oct 1984<\/u><\/em><\/strong> on the “Animalize” Tour<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Happy Bday “Slowhand”<\/p>\n

Until the next time …. MrZerr0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cream: of the Crop BUZZ Newspaper Article: (Mar 2017 #72-eC) By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0 I am sure like everyone else my 1st expose to CREAM was “Sunshine Of Your Love” but the one that really captured my attention was “White…<\/span><\/p>\n

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