Considering Eric Clapton's , Jack Bruce's and Ginger Baker's personalities, it's frankly a miracle that Cream lasted as long as it did. Also, White Room is one of the most atmospheric songs ever and it bothers me that it doesn't appear in more soundtracks
Like many, many bands of that era, drugs, alcohol and egos didn't help. Two more years would've been a blessing for sure. Thank goodness for the reunion shows in 2005! And the DVD. ☮
White Room. It’s the song they opened with when I saw them at the Oakland Coliseum. I was 14 years old and my mom kindly gave us a ride to the gig and picked us up when it was over
i think that's why ginger lived so long. that unhinged MF and his cane struck fear into the hearts of all other demons, including me - do you have any idea how hard it is for me to be scared of a MAN??
Felix Pappalardi, not just a great name and great producer. He was a great instrumentalist, bass player and vocalist. His on-stage chemistry with the late great Leslie West propelled Mountain into the position of worthy successor to Cream. Mountain’s “Climbing” would be a good choice for a V.M. episode.
@@daledavidson8242 badge, which i love, wasn't a typical cream track and theme for an imaginary western would have been a great inclusion. it found a home on songs for a tailor an album full of adventure and good titles, never tell your mother she's out of tune being another!
The performance which includes "Tales of Brave Ulysses" at the Grande Ballroom was just a few weeks after the 1967 riots which destroyed Detroit so badly that it is still recovering almost 60 years later.
Felix Pappalardi played bass in a band called Mountain (Mississippi Queen), whom I saw in 1972. Zappa and Johnny and Edgar Winter were on the bill. A calliope is a pipe organ, usually associated with circus music. I wore out Wheels of Fire in a year in 1968. I saw Cream on their farewell tour and recorded the concert on my miniature reel to reel, holding a mic on a stick to hold it above the crowd. A friend of my mom's stole the tape to make a bootleg. I was 15. I play As You Said, Crossroads and a few other nuggets regularly from Wheels (and Fresh Cream and Disraeli Gears). Cream and Jimi and B.B. taught me to play guitar.
@@ChromeDestiny - I was at a lot of concerts in the 60s-70s and I learned this: If you stand next to the P.A. or the Marshall stacks your hearing might get damaged. Maybe your dad was making a joke? Ask Pete Townshend, who has zero hearing in one of his ears. You could literally go deaf but you had to work at it. Sperm whales are the loudest (known) creature on Earth and are capable of turning a human's insides into jelly.
An excellent album just like the previous two, I love all their albums. Cream was one of the first 10 Rock bands I ever listened to as a child, thanks to my parents and their record collection. The first album I listened to was the double 1972's "Heavy Cream" on vinyl, then in 1995 I bought "The Very Best Of Cream" on CD (I still have both) and then the other studio albums. I learned a lot from Eric Clapton's interviews in guitar magazines where he talked non-stop about his influences. He was the first one I saw talking about great underrated guitarists like Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, Albert King, Bonnie Raitt, Mike Bloomfield, and Hound Dog Taylor. I am very grateful to Clapton for teaching us about guitar techniques, how to have a good tone on the guitar, Ginger Baker for teaching us new paths where the drums would be the protagonist, as well as Keith Moon (The Who) and Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience), and the great talent of Jack Bruce as a bassist and composer and also for introducing me to discovering the Blues from the 1920's to the 1970's.
I can barely focus on what she's saying I have to rewind the video multiple times 🤣🤣which okay gives me the bonus to see her for a few extra minutes 🤣🤣
I always thought the similarities between the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream were glaring. We know Eric was blown away by Buddy Guy's trio, pushing him in that direction. But in the studio both the Experience and Cream were so damn creative. They both had amazing recording engineers. Jack's and Jimi's material were breath taking. And from their live recorded history, having never seen either groups live, makes me feel like you left their shows... Drained! I remember buying Wheels in Dec. of 68. I Initially was grabbed by side 1 but over time side 2 was my ultimate favorite. Thanks Abbey, loved your research and review.
Another thoroughly fun and perceptive review. Am consistently amazed by the enthusiasm and detailed research from someone who wasn't even born when most of this music came out. I wish more young people were as well informed about the great music of the 60s and 70s.
Thank You for breaking down the musicianship on those albums. Three virtuosos in the same band. After camping out on the west coast that spring and summer none of the bands were the same. Clapton remarked that they were just listening to the wrong records. From then on extended jams and drum solos were almost expected. You Rock!!
Your presentation is excellent, but what I really appreciate is your level of research. Now I know the connection between WOF live and the Live Cream LPs. I learned to play guitar basically by copying Eric on LC vol 2.
Those Were the Days is a fantastic song; great pacing, great vocals. Your backstories are really interesting and fun. I love them -- well worth the time.
You’re my favorite creator on this platform. Even if it’s a video where I’m not particularly familiar with the album, I’ll still watch because you keep every video entertaining. Monday is now my favorite week day because of Vinyl Monday. The formula is great! It’s a crime your channel isn’t more well known, but I’m glad it’s growing gradually. Never stop being funny, entertaining, informative and making great content! Also! Next year you should do a Vinyl Monday on either Kaleidoscope 1967 (UK band) S/T, and/or Gandalf 1969 S/T
AXIS 😍😍😍😍 Another fantastic episode. Also, for anyone that hadn't seen the documentary"Beware of Mr.Baker", Jack and Gingers fights were so bad, it escalated to Ginger pulling a knife on Jack (or the other way around). Furthermore, when they reunited in '05, Jack and Ginger fought live on stage on the last show in NY because Ginger said Jack had his amp cranked far too loud and that was that.
@notsomagnificentpaul there's so much stuff thats not in the movie, such as him getting fucked over and having all but a few horses taken and him having to leave south Africa. There's footage on TH-cam if you can find it.
Really enjoyed this one, THANKS! I have been a massive Cream fan since, at 13 years old, I walked into a "Woolworth's" (We called these dime stores) and found "Wheels Of Fire" AND "Electric Ladyland" in the record bins. I had $12.00 or so burning a hole in my pocket from washing neighborhood cars. I knew some older kids had been talking about Cream and Hendrix, so OK. These were my first Cream and Hendrix albums. Wow. Life changer. Had to find their back catalogs over the next couple of months. Unfortunately, I was playing these on a portable Zenith all in one, but at least it was actual stereo. As a young guitar player, I discovered the concept of jamming...Voodoo Chile and Spoonful blew all of my fuses. Loved everything else, too. Hard to pick favorites ; ) Yes, there was some subjectively goofy stuff, but in those days, it was just part of the whole.....we didn't have "Playlists" until cassette recorders came out a few years later. And Jann Wenner just got this one SO wrong!
I really enjoyed this one. It was one of the records that gave me a ton of learning material for playing guitar, singing, even playing bass and drums for a kick, and for songwriting. Crossroads wins every time for favorite. The guitar solos are my bible of electric guitar playing.
Fantastic review and analysis.... Really, really well done. And certainly not an easy one to say the least. "As You Said" was apparently a tuning that Jack Bruce got from Ritchie Havens.
Oh hell yea Crossroads is my favorite of all Cream. It's always been a favorite to play (Or jam) with a band or just at a jam session. Me and my bro recorded our own instrumental version of this and for sure that second solo is quite the barnburner even though Eric stays parked in the 17th position in A minor pentatonic. It really takes some stamina to play it right. Funny story. My earliest memory of Cream is about when I was five y/o ('69) and I remember being sick in bed and my brothers playing Cream in the same room hearing White Room and then me suddenly getting up and puking up orange juice. lol! That's how I remember it. Actually I'd have to say it's a tossup (No pun intended) between Crossroads and Badge of my faves. On Badge Eric absolutely pours his heart out on that solo! Gives me goosebumps. Abbie I so love your breakdown of all these great classics! Keep them coming!
He had a good side. But yeah, his bad side was well documented. I'm glad Kofi and him made up before Ginger passed. Kofi still has a lot of love for him despite the bad times.
@@konowd He was capable of having compassion for friends who were in a bad way on occasion. Believe it or not, he cried when he heard that Jack passed away according to his family. He did look pretty upset at the funeral. He dedicated a lot of money to an animal ward in South Africa. Most people who new Ginger didn't hate him all the way around because they also had a lot of good times with him. That includes Jack, Eric, his children, his ex-wife whom he was also very upset when she passed away, the fellow musicians he's played with through the years, and even Jay who made the Documentary and has stated more than once that he was grateful for Ginger. And of course, all these people had disparaging things to say about him as well. He could be a real prick on a fairly regular basis but a lot of pricks have a good side to them as well. His children still have love for him and that's important.
In '69 ATCO released a "best of" album in the US that was a decent compilation. It had a white background with a bunch of vegetables on the front. It sounds like a horrible visual, but it sort of worked. I suspect it's a famous painting of some sort. My 13-year old virgin ears - and mind - were blown away by White Room. It was so different than anything else playing on the radio. Really mysterious. Sidenote, in college I was in a choir that performed a piece that ended slowly with a chord voicing that produced the same exact overtones you hear during the end of that trippy White Room 5/4 section. I always looked forward to rehearsing that because it was uncanny how similar the sound was. Your commentary is great.
The amazing Ms. Abby does it again, informs an old guy who lived through the birth of this music a whole lot that he never knew about it but thought he did, such as the infamous Haeco CSG process was used on WOF when he thought it had only been used on Neil Young's first solo album as well as other revelations. I swear this girl got here through a time warp. By the way, nice Patti Boyd hair today, Ms. Devoe.
Your videos just keep getting better. This might be a bit late, but congrats on 25K subs! Your content has helped me get through this roller coaster of a year, and I hope that you continue to provide the internet with your endless knowledge on the musical universe. Keep it up!
Cream was more my older brother's music, but I always liked "White Room" and "Tales of Brave Ulysses," and I remember having a cassette of "Disraeli Gears," which really undermined the awe of the album art. But the band will always be important to me because they were part of a milestone in my life. A friend owned a record store in Dallas in the late '80s, and he hired a teenager to work there. One day, he was stacking cassettes and he cracked up laughing. I asked him what was so funny. He said, "It's just this band name. It's so stupid." The name: "Cream." That was the very moment I realized I was getting older because it was the first time I got that inevitable feeling that the younger generation were ignoramuses. BTW, Abby, thank you for restoring my faith in them.
Omg…you said Australia! You’ve heard of us! Love your work. Your enthusiasm is infectious. I love Cream, I was a bit of an odd man out listening to them when I was a teenager in the 80’s.
I bought Wheels at Gray’s Drugstore in ‘69. I was going on 16 years old. I was also in my second year of drum lessons. I quickly became a lifelong Cream fan. I have several copies on vinyl of each of their albums. (The Polydor pressings sound much better than the ATCO ones.) I never thought Cream got good engineering. Their first two records are clearly meant to be monaural. Love to find a clean Reaction label mono of Fresh Cream. Couldn’t afford it, probably. Have you ever listened to any of Jack’s solo albums? I recommend his first two, with the second, Harmony Row, being best. Unless you love trad jazz, Things We Like might be a rough go. It was released between Songs for a Tailor and Harmony Row, but even I don’t put it there, as the recordings were done when Cream was still hanging on. I think you’ve done a good, fair review. Of course, I love this album! Thanks! ✌️
It continues to blow my mind how much you know and can intelligently talk about so many of the albums I bought when they came out. And like you (although with a far longer time span), I got a much greater appreciation for WOF years later. I played DCOTM and TWTD non-stop for a week upon rediscovery.
Yes my favourite Cream album the Jack Bruce/ Pete Brown combination was Creams main writing team! Always ignore old Rolling Stone magazine reviews they have all been changed anyway! Rolling Stone Magazine was the guy on the Internet you don't listen to!! Great review Abi saw a documentary about Ginger Baker a nasty piece of work but a wonderful talent as well!
Great video I always love cream all 4 albums are very good I'm jealous that you own an Atco pressing of the album I have the rso reissue but my favorite Clapton project will always be Layla but cream is my 2nd favorite white room is my favorite on the album great video Abby ❤❤❤ and congrats on the interview with Bebe Buell that's awesome Joe is awesome keep it up Abby ❤❤❤ have a good thanksgiving
You pretty much nailed the reason that I like this album. It contains more variety and stylings than most albums. Back in the day when the single of “White Room” was on the radio the last set of lyrics was cut out and the solo abridged. So that part still sounds strange to me even now. “Sitting on Top of the World” and “Born Under a Bad Sign” and “Crossroads” are also great. “Politician” is very much like “Crossroader” with Mountain. I always thought Mountain to be the little brother to Cream. But there was only one Cream !! I just listened to “Deserted Cities of the Heart” and I get what you were saying…this is an awesome track !! And I went to my boxes of old albums and found my copy of Wheels of Fire…it’s in perfect condition. I think I bought it back in the ‘80’s but I’m not sure. Thanks for a nice half hour about this amazing album !!😊
Good review of one of my favorite 60s albums. I agree with most of your comments. (However, I think I like "Those were the Days" better than you do, apparently.) Interesting personal story about Cream: On September 9, 1967, Cream played Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. I was there. I was 15 yrs old, already a huge Cream fan, and this was my first ever attendance at a rock concert. I arrived a bit early to the university gymnasium (where the band was scheduled to play), and witnessed some roadies pounding nails into the gymnasium floor to anchor down Ginger Baker's drums. The band didn't play on a stage, just right out there on the floor with the crowd. (This was the 60s. Things were different.) The crowd was light -- maybe a few hundred people, at most -- probably because 'Disraeli Gears' had not yet been released, and 'Fresh Cream' hadn't sold well. So, not many people even knew of Cream. The concert itself was terrific. The band opened with "Tales of Brave Ulysses", which was the only song that I recognized (from hearing on the radio). I stood to the side of the band (instead of in front) so that I could get a little closer to the band while remaining somewhat inconspicuous. Clapton's virtuoso guitar playing was something kinda new in rock music, so, as a budding guitar player, I wanted to see his guitar wizardry up close, if possible. Never again was I able to get so close to rock stars while they were playing.
Clapton did an interview in Gallery at the time in which he said he was shaken by a Rolling Stone reviewer who called him a purveyor of ",blues cliches". This was a fascinating review Abby. Wheels is my favorite Cream album and "Deserted Cities" is also my favorite track. Not clear on what you didn't like about "Those Were the Days" aside from the bells, bells, bells. I like the echoplex on the solo.
that reviewer was jon landau! amazing how one college kid's review completely changed the course of clapton's career. TWTD just never stuck out to me for any positive or negative reason. could be better but it suffers from the same clutter problem a lot of this album does
The UK original wheels of fire LP came with the silver foil cover(same as the u.s version you are showing).It was issued as a double LP set and also as two separate issues(live & in the studio-black & silver covers). The reason for this was the record company had complaints from some customers the the price of the double was too expensive so it was issued as two single albums for this reason.The Who's Tommy received the same treatment Bizarre but true ! Keep up the good work abby.
@@abigaildevoe Yes...............although I don't remember seeing any recording equipment. I saw them in both Venues.....Winterland Auditorium and the Carasol (sp?) ball room
The live 'Crossroads' typifies the band live and remains a top ten favourite. Heard first on the John Peel show where I always had reel to reel at the ready. Rushed across the road to ask a friend if he'd heard it! The double album was bought on import. We saw them at London's Saville theatre supported by the Bonzos. It was loud!
Love Cream as much as Derek and the Dominos. Disraeli Gears is my personal favourite, but this album does feature brilliant virtuosity and variety with some of their strongest songs. Great video once again! :)
White room is my all time favorite cream song and shows off every members powers and Jack bruce got even better after cream with his solo work, his collaborations with Leslie West and Corky Laing, robin trower and numerous session appearances one of classic rock's finest bass players and vocalists
Wonderful insightful review, Abby. Wheels of Fire was my introduction to Cream. I was 16 years old when I heard it. At that time, I was listening to The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Bob Dylan, and, well you get the picture. None of those bands ever did long songs or raging guitar solos. (Well Mr. Dylan did long songs, but there were vocals). So, hearing this guy, Eric Clapton play guitar the way he did was so amazing to my mind and ears. Mr. Clapton's improvising skills were formidable. Anyway, I really dug Wheels of Fire, and it still holds a special place in my heart. It's been 100 years since I've listened to it, but still. As far as the studio album went, there were some nice songs on it, but Cream in the studio just didn't really knock me out. Again, thanks for your incisive thoughts and opinions.
from August to June for the album to be released? I would never imagine such a long time... this channel helps learn new details to old stories, that's awesome 🤘
the close ups really do justice to the artwork here. i like lovely ginger's playing a lot on WOF and i really want to dislike him a lot (i can do both!) the drums kick seismically on Deserted and toad is complex and subtle. that's not fair ginger. as you said is a bruce showcase that points to his good solo album songs for a tailor. clapton's autobio didn't really endear him to me but at this time in his career when he's plugging in an sg or a 335 im in awe. as with green it's control over the strings that works. a shout out for pappalardi's own outfit mountain a big sounding classic rock unit.
I remember seeing an interview with Jack Bruce where he said Eric thought he was in a Blues band but really he was in a Jazz band with both Jack & Ginger. They just didn't tell Eric lol
saw the play that rock n' roll episode. women writing themselves into history rather than being written out of it. your contribution A was crucial in getting bebe in particular talking about the concept of the muse and the etiquette question, starting the conversation about people's behaviour within that culture. she's lovely.
hello- there exists a rolling stone magazine archive on dvd roms. i saw an inexpensive set on ebay. i don't know if they would still work, but it might be worth checking out. who knows? the Vanderbilt university library seems to have an archive too. good luck. Calliope (music)An American and Canadian large, steam-powered musical instrument
My favourite Cream album and one of my favourite albums from '68 - a banner year for blues rock and the emergence of hard rock. I was all of 13 at the time, so it's really interesting to hear your take. As ever, very entertaining Ms. Devoe...
I love what you said about Ulysses v. White Room wrt color. I've always heard them as nearly identical songs but never made that particular connection. One of my favorite tidbits about White Room is that the phrase "the lonely crowd" was cribbed from the title of a very influential sociological study from 1950 about the changing American character. I've never read the book and I'm told that it's widely misinterpreted, but the title became something of a post-modern catchphrase. It's certainly evocative it comes to mind often in my more pessimistic moods when thinking about modern society.
Different chord progression in the two songs; that Wenner couldn't hear that was an indication of his inferiority as a record critic. Also, White Room's intro was in 5/4 time. Hendrix complimented Jack Bruce on White Room. Finally, the descending scale chord progression in Ulysses was Clapton's tribute to Summer in the City and descending chord progressions were fairly common devices at the time (I Am the Walrus and the mellotron epics on King Crimson's first album are examples). Wenner had a vendetta against Cream because they blew away the San Francisco groups of the time and Wenner knew it. So did the SF groups.
What an incredible review!!! Such a great album I wanted to at least check out a bit of what was said about it. But I couldn’t tear myself away from it! Super interesting and informative. I’ll be back for more next Monday!
I have a Vietnamese bootleg copy of this, sold to GI's during the war. It has a mimeographed paper cover, but it still sounds great. Deserted Cities of the Heart is a favorite.
@@fallandbounce those albums are so cool!! i have GI youngbloods and nancy sinatra. passed up a jefferson airplane and have been kicking myself ever since!
@@abigaildevoe Olympic Records on Wickenden St. in Providence has a crate or two of them, over to the left, before the register. I know I saw a couple of Airplanes that weren't Surrealistic Pillow or Worst of, though they had them, too (as of two weeks ago). They go for $10.
Surprised Fresh Cream never entered the chat! Might quite possibly be my favorite Cream album. And if the Monkees's HEAD ever gets reviewed it'll be a contender for the shiniest silver cover with this one!
Thanks Abby, that was great. I remember getting the chunky double CD version in college and pouring over the liner notes. Well, squinting at them really, LP sized notes reduced for CD suffered a bit!
I attended one of the Winterland shows where three of the songs were recorded for "Wheels of Fire". "Crossroads" is still etched in my mind with Eric Clapton's blistering guitar solo. The entire concert was amazing.
A small correction - the Australian versions had a silver studio album and gold live album, not the other way around. I bought them both on release, and still play them regularly, although my preference is for the studio album. Currently teaching my grandson Jack's bass line from 'Sitting on top of the world ' - standard blues underneath it all, but in 12/8 time. Superb!
Just got out of the Disraeli Gears vinyl monday which was less chaotic and crash and burned album in the Summer of Love in '67 for a Cream album...that actually crashed and burned which is irony titled Wheels of Fire 😅☸🔥
You mentioned his guitar but I am certain it is the SG on nearly all of the tracks. He did not have his firebird till April 68 and potentially didn’t own a 335 of his own till November. He certainly used the SG at the winter land shows as he is only photographed as playing such. During that time he also had the Les paul (which he gave to kossoff) that may be producing that less shrill tone.
Me and a school mate went halves on this album when it came out in the UK. I'm sure I remember it being a double album, because we used to take home one disk each, then swap them now and then. I've honestly never seen that negative one! Maybe I'm having a Mandala Effect moment? But to me, Wheels of Fire was always a double album - ever since I first saw it in late 1968, in the UK, when I would have been 14.
edit: the RNRC was definitely in december, this timeline is very hard to keep straight. what’s your favorite cream song? comment below!
Those were the days
Easy tie between swalbr and desert cities of the heart
Tales of Brave Ulysses, Strange Brew, I Feel Free, Sunshine of Your Love and White Room
Oh pressed rat and warthog is just so English it's crazy
White Room
Considering Eric Clapton's , Jack Bruce's and Ginger Baker's personalities, it's frankly a miracle that Cream lasted as long as it did. Also, White Room is one of the most atmospheric songs ever and it bothers me that it doesn't appear in more soundtracks
Cream really was it. It doesn’t get much better
I saw Cream in 1968, Clapton and Baker in Blind Faith in 1969 and Bruce with Ringo Starr in 1996. Never was disappointed. Jim
@@bert0522 Cream in '68. Did Yes open the show?
Like many, many bands of that era, drugs, alcohol and egos didn't help. Two more years would've been a blessing for sure. Thank goodness for the reunion shows in 2005! And the DVD. ☮
As you said is the deep cut classic on this album
Cream was lightning in a bottle
I like "silver horses ran down moonbeams in your dark eyes."
Jack Bruce was a true genius.
White Room. It’s the song they opened with when I saw them at the Oakland Coliseum. I was 14 years old and my mom kindly gave us a ride to the gig and picked us up when it was over
They released a few shows on cd from the goodbye tour. The Oakland show was one of them
@@willowufgood261that versions one of my favorites on the album
My favorite Cream album mostly because i enjoy the experimentation with the studio disc and the complete chaos of the live disc
When Ginger Baker was near the end, I joked that Satan was terrified of spending eternity with him
i think that's why ginger lived so long. that unhinged MF and his cane struck fear into the hearts of all other demons, including me - do you have any idea how hard it is for me to be scared of a MAN??
Like one of his exes said in the Beware of Mr Baker documentary, the devil takes care of his own
“Big bad woman gonna carry me to my grave” 🎸
beautiful hair !!
"Wheels of Fire" is a classic masterpiece a great album of all time and a super trio of the 60's and a great influence for other bands today.
Felix Pappalardi, not just a great name and great producer. He was a great instrumentalist, bass player and vocalist. His on-stage chemistry with the late great Leslie West propelled Mountain into the position of worthy successor to Cream. Mountain’s “Climbing” would be a good choice for a V.M. episode.
I love nantucket sleighride, bit unexpected from a heavy rock band
Or “ Nantucket Sleighride “!
He also had the good sense to record Theme for an Imaginary Western, that Clapton refused allow on Goodbye Cream.
@@daledavidson8242 badge, which i love, wasn't a typical cream track and theme for an imaginary western would have been a great inclusion. it found a home on songs for a tailor an album full of adventure and good titles, never tell your mother she's out of tune being another!
Sadly, he was Phil Hartmaned.
The performance which includes "Tales of Brave Ulysses" at the Grande Ballroom was just a few weeks after the 1967 riots which destroyed Detroit so badly that it is still recovering almost 60 years later.
Hmmmm, wondering what a feral Abigail is like. Looking forward to Jimi . Dig your style, Aloha
Felix Pappalardi played bass in a band called Mountain (Mississippi Queen), whom I saw in 1972. Zappa and Johnny and Edgar Winter were on the bill. A calliope is a pipe organ, usually associated with circus music. I wore out Wheels of Fire in a year in 1968. I saw Cream on their farewell tour and recorded the concert on my miniature reel to reel, holding a mic on a stick to hold it above the crowd. A friend of my mom's stole the tape to make a bootleg. I was 15. I play As You Said, Crossroads and a few other nuggets regularly from Wheels (and Fresh Cream and Disraeli Gears). Cream and Jimi and B.B. taught me to play guitar.
My dad saw Mountain and The Who in a small venue in Toronto in the late 60's, he's says he lost a good chunk of his hearing at those shows.
@@ChromeDestiny - I was at a lot of concerts in the 60s-70s and I learned this: If you stand next to the P.A. or the Marshall stacks your hearing might get damaged. Maybe your dad was making a joke? Ask Pete Townshend, who has zero hearing in one of his ears. You could literally go deaf but you had to work at it. Sperm whales are the loudest (known) creature on Earth and are capable of turning a human's insides into jelly.
An excellent album just like the previous two, I love all their albums. Cream was one of the first 10 Rock bands I ever listened to as a child, thanks to my parents and their record collection. The first album I listened to was the double 1972's "Heavy Cream" on vinyl, then in 1995 I bought "The Very Best Of Cream" on CD (I still have both) and then the other studio albums.
I learned a lot from Eric Clapton's interviews in guitar magazines where he talked non-stop about his influences. He was the first one I saw talking about great underrated guitarists like Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, Albert King, Bonnie Raitt, Mike Bloomfield, and Hound Dog Taylor.
I am very grateful to Clapton for teaching us about guitar techniques, how to have a good tone on the guitar, Ginger Baker for teaching us new paths where the drums would be the protagonist, as well as Keith Moon (The Who) and Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience), and the great talent of Jack Bruce as a bassist and composer and also for introducing me to discovering the Blues from the 1920's to the 1970's.
I loved the way Eric would paint himself in a corner and always get out of it and start a new diversion. Cream were one of the best of the 60's
Aughhh! One of my favorite 60's hairstyles! Stop making me fall in love with you girl! (lol)
I can barely focus on what she's saying I have to rewind the video multiple times 🤣🤣which okay gives me the bonus to see her for a few extra minutes 🤣🤣
At the end of one of the live tracks in the audience cheering you can head a guy yell “YEAH!” That’s my dad.
I always thought the similarities between the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream were glaring. We know Eric was blown away by Buddy Guy's trio, pushing him in that direction. But in the studio both the Experience and Cream were so damn creative. They both had amazing recording engineers. Jack's and Jimi's material were breath taking. And from their live recorded history, having never seen either groups live, makes me feel like you left their shows... Drained! I remember buying Wheels in Dec. of 68. I Initially was grabbed by side 1 but over time side 2 was my ultimate favorite. Thanks Abbey, loved your research and review.
Another thoroughly fun and perceptive review. Am consistently amazed by the enthusiasm and detailed research from someone who wasn't even born when most of this music came out. I wish more young people were as well informed about the great music of the 60s and 70s.
Crossrads Blues, Robert Johnson, Eric blew our minds.
Thank You for breaking down the musicianship on those albums. Three virtuosos in the same band. After camping out on the west coast that spring and summer none of the bands were the same. Clapton remarked that they were just listening to the wrong records.
From then on extended jams and drum solos were almost expected. You Rock!!
Another home run with this episode Abby. You nailed the whole look and feel of that era (the hair especially). Really great info throughout.
the hairstyle is fab
Abby you are The Queen of Album reviews keep up the good work .
Your presentation is excellent, but what I really appreciate is your level of research. Now I know the connection between WOF live and the Live Cream LPs. I learned to play guitar basically by copying Eric on LC vol 2.
You're take on this album is fantastically awesome. Just started watching and I'm hooked. Deserted Cities of the Heart. ... My thoughts exactly
Your background research is really awesome.
The home to my 3 personal favorite Cream songs, Sitting On Top Of The World, Politician, and Born Under A Bad Sign
Good choices! Love the 'violin' duet on Politician!
Those Were the Days is a fantastic song; great pacing, great vocals. Your backstories are really interesting and fun. I love them -- well worth the time.
You’re my favorite creator on this platform. Even if it’s a video where I’m not particularly familiar with the album, I’ll still watch because you keep every video entertaining. Monday is now my favorite week day because of Vinyl Monday. The formula is great! It’s a crime your channel isn’t more well known, but I’m glad it’s growing gradually. Never stop being funny, entertaining, informative and making great content! Also! Next year you should do a Vinyl Monday on either Kaleidoscope 1967 (UK band) S/T, and/or Gandalf 1969 S/T
AXIS 😍😍😍😍 Another fantastic episode. Also, for anyone that hadn't seen the documentary"Beware of Mr.Baker", Jack and Gingers fights were so bad, it escalated to Ginger pulling a knife on Jack (or the other way around). Furthermore, when they reunited in '05, Jack and Ginger fought live on stage on the last show in NY because Ginger said Jack had his amp cranked far too loud and that was that.
😂.. “Beware of Mr Baker” is funny .. Ginger starts fighting with the camera crew in the first 30 seconds .. such a screwball 🎉
@notsomagnificentpaul there's so much stuff thats not in the movie, such as him getting fucked over and having all but a few horses taken and him having to leave south Africa. There's footage on TH-cam if you can find it.
I love your in-depth reviews & humour, it would be interesting to know how big your vinyl collection is.
Really enjoyed this one, THANKS! I have been a massive Cream fan since, at 13 years old, I walked into a "Woolworth's" (We called these dime stores) and found "Wheels Of Fire" AND "Electric Ladyland" in the record bins. I had $12.00 or so burning a hole in my pocket from washing neighborhood cars. I knew some older kids had been talking about Cream and Hendrix, so OK. These were my first Cream and Hendrix albums. Wow. Life changer. Had to find their back catalogs over the next couple of months. Unfortunately, I was playing these on a portable Zenith all in one, but at least it was actual stereo. As a young guitar player, I discovered the concept of jamming...Voodoo Chile and Spoonful blew all of my fuses. Loved everything else, too. Hard to pick favorites ; ) Yes, there was some subjectively goofy stuff, but in those days, it was just part of the whole.....we didn't have "Playlists" until cassette recorders came out a few years later.
And Jann Wenner just got this one SO wrong!
Aw crap. I really love Disraeli Gears, sorry to hear you've fallen out with it.
It's your daughter breaking up with the guy you wanted to be your son in law
I really enjoyed this one. It was one of the records that gave me a ton of learning material for playing guitar, singing, even playing bass and drums for a kick, and for songwriting. Crossroads wins every time for favorite. The guitar solos are my bible of electric guitar playing.
Fantastic review and analysis.... Really, really well done. And certainly not an easy one to say the least. "As You Said" was apparently a tuning that Jack Bruce got from Ritchie Havens.
Already a good video and it ain’t even start yet
Your favorites matched my favorites on this album your reviews were eye opening AND Entertaining and interesting Thanks
Oh hell yea Crossroads is my favorite of all Cream. It's always been a favorite to play (Or jam) with a band or just at a jam session. Me and my bro recorded our own instrumental version of this and for sure that second solo is quite the barnburner even though Eric stays parked in the 17th position in A minor pentatonic. It really takes some stamina to play it right. Funny story. My earliest memory of Cream is about when I was five y/o ('69) and I remember being sick in bed and my brothers playing Cream in the same room hearing White Room and then me suddenly getting up and puking up orange juice. lol! That's how I remember it. Actually I'd have to say it's a tossup (No pun intended) between Crossroads and Badge of my faves. On Badge Eric absolutely pours his heart out on that solo! Gives me goosebumps. Abbie I so love your breakdown of all these great classics! Keep them coming!
Are you old geezers who were teenagers in the '60s like me falling in love with this girl too?
As a human being, Ginger Baker was a great drummer
He had a good side. But yeah, his bad side was well documented. I'm glad Kofi and him made up before Ginger passed. Kofi still has a lot of love for him despite the bad times.
He had a good side? Haven’t seeen any evidence of one. Talent and character often don’t reside in the same place
@@konowd He was capable of having compassion for friends who were in a bad way on occasion. Believe it or not, he cried when he heard that Jack passed away according to his family. He did look pretty upset at the funeral. He dedicated a lot of money to an animal ward in South Africa.
Most people who new Ginger didn't hate him all the way around because they also had a lot of good times with him. That includes Jack, Eric, his children, his ex-wife whom he was also very upset when she passed away, the fellow musicians he's played with through the years, and even Jay who made the Documentary and has stated more than once that he was grateful for Ginger. And of course, all these people had disparaging things to say about him as well. He could be a real prick on a fairly regular basis but a lot of pricks have a good side to them as well. His children still have love for him and that's important.
If his kid did reconcile with him he’s very brave to do that.
A lot of talented people have the halo effect, the brilliance of their art makes a lot of people overlook their serious character defects
In '69 ATCO released a "best of" album in the US that was a decent compilation. It had a white background with a bunch of vegetables on the front. It sounds like a horrible visual, but it sort of worked. I suspect it's a famous painting of some sort. My 13-year old virgin ears - and mind - were blown away by White Room. It was so different than anything else playing on the radio. Really mysterious. Sidenote, in college I was in a choir that performed a piece that ended slowly with a chord voicing that produced the same exact overtones you hear during the end of that trippy White Room 5/4 section. I always looked forward to rehearsing that because it was uncanny how similar the sound was. Your commentary is great.
The amazing Ms. Abby does it again, informs an old guy who lived through the birth of this music a whole lot that he never knew about it but thought he did, such as the infamous Haeco CSG process was used on WOF when he thought it had only been used on Neil Young's first solo album as well as other revelations. I swear this girl got here through a time warp. By the way, nice Patti Boyd hair today, Ms. Devoe.
Your videos just keep getting better. This might be a bit late, but congrats on 25K subs! Your content has helped me get through this roller coaster of a year, and I hope that you continue to provide the internet with your endless knowledge on the musical universe. Keep it up!
Cream was more my older brother's music, but I always liked "White Room" and "Tales of Brave Ulysses," and I remember having a cassette of "Disraeli Gears," which really undermined the awe of the album art. But the band will always be important to me because they were part of a milestone in my life. A friend owned a record store in Dallas in the late '80s, and he hired a teenager to work there. One day, he was stacking cassettes and he cracked up laughing. I asked him what was so funny. He said, "It's just this band name. It's so stupid." The name: "Cream."
That was the very moment I realized I was getting older because it was the first time I got that inevitable feeling that the younger generation were ignoramuses.
BTW, Abby, thank you for restoring my faith in them.
Omg…you said Australia! You’ve heard of us! Love your work. Your enthusiasm is infectious. I love Cream, I was a bit of an odd man out listening to them when I was a teenager in the 80’s.
I bought Wheels at Gray’s Drugstore in ‘69.
I was going on 16 years old. I was also in my second year of drum lessons.
I quickly became a lifelong Cream fan. I have several copies on vinyl of each of their albums. (The Polydor pressings sound much better than the ATCO ones.)
I never thought Cream got good engineering. Their first two records are clearly meant to be monaural. Love to find a clean Reaction label mono of Fresh Cream. Couldn’t afford it, probably.
Have you ever listened to any of Jack’s solo albums?
I recommend his first two, with the second, Harmony Row, being best. Unless you love trad jazz, Things We Like might be a rough go. It was released between Songs for a Tailor and Harmony Row, but even I don’t put it there, as the recordings were done when Cream was still hanging on.
I think you’ve done a good, fair review. Of course, I love this album!
Thanks! ✌️
Thanks Abigail for your incredible presentations. I feel edified somehow each time I view one of your shows.
It continues to blow my mind how much you know and can intelligently talk about so many of the albums I bought when they came out. And like you (although with a far longer time span), I got a much greater appreciation for WOF years later. I played DCOTM and TWTD non-stop for a week upon rediscovery.
Two such icon albums from cream. Gears and wheels are the best.
Love "Deserted Cities of the Heart", Especially the version on "Live Cream Volume II", Ginger's drumming is amazing!
Yes my favourite Cream album the Jack Bruce/ Pete Brown combination was Creams main writing team! Always ignore old Rolling Stone magazine reviews they have all been changed anyway! Rolling Stone Magazine was the guy on the Internet you don't listen to!! Great review Abi saw a documentary about Ginger Baker a nasty piece of work but a wonderful talent as well!
Great video I always love cream all 4 albums are very good I'm jealous that you own an Atco pressing of the album I have the rso reissue but my favorite Clapton project will always be Layla but cream is my 2nd favorite white room is my favorite on the album great video Abby ❤❤❤ and congrats on the interview with Bebe Buell that's awesome Joe is awesome keep it up Abby ❤❤❤ have a good thanksgiving
Having grown up in the 60's and 70's I like your reviews, but I love your clothes and hair also. And you as presented.
You pretty much nailed the reason that I like this album. It contains more variety and stylings than most albums. Back in the day when the single of “White Room” was on the radio the last set of lyrics was cut out and the solo abridged. So that part still sounds strange to me even now. “Sitting on Top of the World” and “Born Under a Bad Sign” and “Crossroads” are also great.
“Politician” is very much like “Crossroader” with Mountain. I always thought Mountain to be the little brother to Cream. But there was only one Cream !! I just listened to “Deserted Cities of the Heart” and I get what you were saying…this is an awesome track !! And I went to my boxes of old albums and found my copy of Wheels of Fire…it’s in perfect condition. I think I bought it back in the ‘80’s but I’m not sure.
Thanks for a nice half hour about this amazing album !!😊
Good review of one of my favorite 60s albums. I agree with most of your comments. (However, I think I like "Those were the Days" better than you do, apparently.)
Interesting personal story about Cream: On September 9, 1967, Cream played Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. I was there. I was 15 yrs old, already a huge Cream fan, and this was my first ever attendance at a rock concert. I arrived a bit early to the university gymnasium (where the band was scheduled to play), and witnessed some roadies pounding nails into the gymnasium floor to anchor down Ginger Baker's drums. The band didn't play on a stage, just right out there on the floor with the crowd. (This was the 60s. Things were different.) The crowd was light -- maybe a few hundred people, at most -- probably because 'Disraeli Gears' had not yet been released, and 'Fresh Cream' hadn't sold well. So, not many people even knew of Cream. The concert itself was terrific. The band opened with "Tales of Brave Ulysses", which was the only song that I recognized (from hearing on the radio). I stood to the side of the band (instead of in front) so that I could get a little closer to the band while remaining somewhat inconspicuous. Clapton's virtuoso guitar playing was something kinda new in rock music, so, as a budding guitar player, I wanted to see his guitar wizardry up close, if possible. Never again was I able to get so close to rock stars while they were playing.
Richard Thompson's version of "White Room" is worth a listen too.
Great work Abi. 🤩 I learnt a lot from this one, so thank you.
Clapton did an interview in Gallery at the time in which he said he was shaken by a Rolling Stone reviewer who called him a purveyor of ",blues cliches". This was a fascinating review Abby. Wheels is my favorite Cream album and "Deserted Cities" is also my favorite track. Not clear on what you didn't like about "Those Were the Days" aside from the bells, bells, bells. I like the echoplex on the solo.
that reviewer was jon landau! amazing how one college kid's review completely changed the course of clapton's career. TWTD just never stuck out to me for any positive or negative reason. could be better but it suffers from the same clutter problem a lot of this album does
The UK original wheels of fire LP came with the silver foil cover(same as the u.s version you are showing).It was issued as a double LP set and also as two separate issues(live & in the studio-black & silver covers).
The reason for this was the record company had complaints from some customers the the price of the double was too expensive so it was issued as two single albums for this reason.The Who's Tommy received the same treatment
Bizarre but true !
Keep up the good work abby.
thanks for the context!
No problem.Keep up the good work !
I still listen to "Toad" full blast on vinyl and SACD to this day. Loved seeing the boys in SF during their 1968 tour.
wait did you go to THE SF show from THE 68 tour? the one that's on this album?
The Cream's 1968 San Diego concert can be streamed on TH-cam Music: music.th-cam.com/play/OLAK5uy_mRqeTg0PakOI4rOgnXsuqyi--7vJqSYYw.html
@@abigaildevoe Yes...............although I don't remember seeing any recording equipment. I saw them in both Venues.....Winterland Auditorium and the Carasol (sp?) ball room
Would love to see you do interviews on this channel, Wayne Kramer’s waiting for your call
The live 'Crossroads' typifies the band live and remains a top ten favourite. Heard first on the John Peel show where I always had reel to reel at the ready. Rushed across the road to ask a friend if he'd heard it! The double album was bought on import. We saw them at London's Saville theatre supported by the Bonzos. It was loud!
Love Cream as much as Derek and the Dominos. Disraeli Gears is my personal favourite, but this album does feature brilliant virtuosity and variety with some of their strongest songs. Great video once again! :)
White room is my all time favorite cream song and shows off every members powers and Jack bruce got even better after cream with his solo work, his collaborations with Leslie West and Corky Laing, robin trower and numerous session appearances one of classic rock's finest bass players and vocalists
Live Cream is a guitar masterpiece.
The intro to Passing the Time was badass
You have assembled a fine body of work with your reviews so far and still so many more to come....🦂
Wonderful insightful review, Abby. Wheels of Fire was my introduction to Cream. I was 16 years old when I heard it. At that time, I was listening to The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Bob Dylan, and, well you get the picture. None of those bands ever did long songs or raging guitar solos. (Well Mr. Dylan did long songs, but there were vocals). So, hearing this guy, Eric Clapton play guitar the way he did was so amazing to my mind and ears. Mr. Clapton's improvising skills were formidable. Anyway, I really dug Wheels of Fire, and it still holds a special place in my heart. It's been 100 years since I've listened to it, but still.
As far as the studio album went, there were some nice songs on it, but Cream in the studio just didn't really knock me out. Again, thanks for your incisive thoughts and opinions.
Yet another awesome review!!
from August to June for the album to be released? I would never imagine such a long time... this channel helps learn new details to old stories, that's awesome 🤘
the close ups really do justice to the artwork here.
i like lovely ginger's playing a lot on WOF and i really want to dislike him a lot (i can do both!) the drums kick seismically on Deserted and toad is complex and subtle. that's not fair ginger.
as you said is a bruce showcase that points to his good solo album songs for a tailor.
clapton's autobio didn't really endear him to me but at this time in his career when he's plugging in an sg or a 335 im in awe. as with green it's control over the strings that works.
a shout out for pappalardi's own outfit mountain a big sounding classic rock unit.
Yes there were two separate discs in the UK, but only after the initial release of the double LP, looking very similar to your US pressing.
it's really odd that last week i bought a used CD of this very album on Ebay and i saw your show and am listing to it as we speak
I remember seeing an interview with Jack Bruce where he said Eric thought he was in a Blues band but really he was in a Jazz band with both Jack & Ginger. They just didn't tell Eric lol
@@jubei7259 what year was that interview from?
@@birdzzzondayflu2489 I'm guessing some time in the 90's? It was in some documentary about the band
saw the play that rock n' roll episode. women writing themselves into history rather than being written out of it. your contribution A was crucial in getting bebe in particular talking about the concept of the muse and the etiquette question, starting the conversation about people's behaviour within that culture. she's lovely.
I was a kid but remember seeing Savage 7 two times at the drive-in back when they would have 2 or 3 shows a nite.
Abby, this is one of your best reviews! Very informative and entertaining! You should be podcasting this!
hello-
there exists a rolling stone magazine archive on dvd roms. i saw an inexpensive set on ebay. i don't know if they would still work, but it might be worth checking out. who knows?
the Vanderbilt university library seems to have an archive too. good luck.
Calliope (music)An American and Canadian large, steam-powered musical instrument
I always learn so much from you! Thanks, Abby! Love these Cream albums.
That album cover is beautiful on shiny silver. And the plum/orange label is the cake's cherry.
My favourite Cream album and one of my favourite albums from '68 - a banner year for blues rock and the emergence of hard rock. I was all of 13 at the time, so it's really interesting to hear your take. As ever, very entertaining Ms. Devoe...
YEEEEEESSSSS, CREAM
We need a Disraeli Gears vinyl monday now
Thank you 🙏🏻 for this video. Love ❤ Cream.
I love what you said about Ulysses v. White Room wrt color. I've always heard them as nearly identical songs but never made that particular connection.
One of my favorite tidbits about White Room is that the phrase "the lonely crowd" was cribbed from the title of a very influential sociological study from 1950 about the changing American character. I've never read the book and I'm told that it's widely misinterpreted, but the title became something of a post-modern catchphrase. It's certainly evocative it comes to mind often in my more pessimistic moods when thinking about modern society.
Different chord progression in the two songs; that Wenner couldn't hear that was an indication of his inferiority as a record critic. Also, White Room's intro was in 5/4 time. Hendrix complimented Jack Bruce on White Room. Finally, the descending scale chord progression in Ulysses was Clapton's tribute to Summer in the City and descending chord progressions were fairly common devices at the time (I Am the Walrus and the mellotron epics on King Crimson's first album are examples). Wenner had a vendetta against Cream because they blew away the San Francisco groups of the time and Wenner knew it. So did the SF groups.
What an incredible review!!! Such a great album I wanted to at least check out a bit of what was said about it. But I couldn’t tear myself away from it! Super interesting and informative. I’ll be back for more next Monday!
I have a Vietnamese bootleg copy of this, sold to GI's during the war. It has a mimeographed paper cover, but it still sounds great. Deserted Cities of the Heart is a favorite.
@@fallandbounce those albums are so cool!! i have GI youngbloods and nancy sinatra. passed up a jefferson airplane and have been kicking myself ever since!
@@abigaildevoe Olympic Records on Wickenden St. in Providence has a crate or two of them, over to the left, before the register. I know I saw a couple of Airplanes that weren't Surrealistic Pillow or Worst of, though they had them, too (as of two weeks ago). They go for $10.
I was literally just listening to this album on vinyl, wtf Abigail.
👀👀
Surprised Fresh Cream never entered the chat! Might quite possibly be my favorite Cream album. And if the Monkees's HEAD ever gets reviewed it'll be a contender for the shiniest silver cover with this one!
Thanks Abby, that was great. I remember getting the chunky double CD version in college and pouring over the liner notes. Well, squinting at them really, LP sized notes reduced for CD suffered a bit!
I attended one of the Winterland shows where three of the songs were recorded for "Wheels of Fire". "Crossroads" is still etched in my mind with Eric Clapton's blistering guitar solo. The entire concert was amazing.
A small correction - the Australian versions had a silver studio album and gold live album, not the other way around. I bought them both on release, and still play them regularly, although my preference is for the studio album. Currently teaching my grandson Jack's bass line from 'Sitting on top of the world ' - standard blues underneath it all, but in 12/8 time. Superb!
Just got out of the Disraeli Gears vinyl monday which was less chaotic and crash and burned album in the Summer of Love in '67 for a Cream album...that actually crashed and burned which is irony titled Wheels of Fire 😅☸🔥
Badge is my favourite. But I Feel Free was my fave when I was a kid.
I love the drums on: Dance the night away. That song must be about Shangrala.
You mentioned his guitar but I am certain it is the SG on nearly all of the tracks. He did not have his firebird till April 68 and potentially didn’t own a 335 of his own till November. He certainly used the SG at the winter land shows as he is only photographed as playing such. During that time he also had the Les paul (which he gave to kossoff) that may be producing that less shrill tone.
My favorite Cream record, White Room is a classic, Politician is early metal , and I love the live show LP (Yes, even the 17 minute Toad).
Hi Abigail , in a year or two I'm sure you'll start to appreciate Pressed Rat - a very sad tale of urban decay .
I actually like that song. Quintessentially British. Gives it a Wind And The Willows type feel that somehow matches the band's storytelling.
Me and a school mate went halves on this album when it came out in the UK.
I'm sure I remember it being a double album, because we used to take home one disk each, then swap them now and then. I've honestly never seen that negative one!
Maybe I'm having a Mandala Effect moment? But to me, Wheels of Fire was always a double album - ever since I first saw it in late 1968, in the UK, when I would have been 14.