CREAM Badge Music Reaction - I can't believe George Harrison wrote this! First time hearing

[@gs8191]

It was co-written by Harrison and Clapton. That classic Beatles guitar coming out of the break is George.

[@JamesElliott-ne9rg]

No it is NOT. It is Clapton using a newly acquired Leslie Rotating Speaker Cabinet. Harrison’s part is the very muted rhythm guitar.

[@godot-whatyouvebeenwaitingfor]

God, I'm so pleased I'm old.. I lived through this as it happened.. wouldn't swap for anything😊

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Same here. We were blessed.

[@bruceabbott4435]

Always loved the line: “I told you ‘bout the swans that they live in the park.” Years ago, my girlfriend suggested that we go to London. One day, we walked through Hyde Park along a winding stream called “The Serpentine.” Rounding a corner, we suddenly came upon a whole bunch of freakin’ swans. To this day, I know those were the swans in the park that the lyrics refer to. Great memory to this day!

[@immortalserito774]

That's funny!!!! Nice.

[@marybaillie8907]

From the final Cream album of 1969, " Goodbye", this is a great tune written by Eric and George Harrison. It was titled Badge after Eric misread George's writing of Bridge on the song. George played guitar on the song under the name of L'Angelo Misteriosi. The lyrics were drunken conversations between George and Ringo. Absolutely a staple on the turntables in 1969, I was 17, lol, this song with great guitars,drums and vocals was a groovy winner from a great album. Definitely can hear George's influence. A great time to be a teen. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Cosmo. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada. 🇨🇦

[@bigb6046]

Yeah , the story I heard was Ringo came in drunk and came up with the line about Swans In The Park.

[@bradlymiller4936]

You can definitely hear the part where George comes in. A classic Harrison riff.

[@pncombies]

My favorite Cream tune, Cosmo! Love Clapton's voice in this classic selection. How good was this, Harri?

[@ptrlxc]

Cosmo is an oldie like me too. Back in the day when I had a huge record collection and Cream was a band that was a must in the collection

[@dsgp7835]

I graduated high school in 72. It's bittersweet to see these photos. Like myself these young people are in their late sixties early seventies. It was a time of wild innocence with an unmatched soundtrack. Thanks for this.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

You're quite welcome. I'm glad it took you down memory lane.

[@betseyr.9081]

1972 HS Grad myself… we certainly experienced the best bands of rock ever!

[@marymargaretmoore9034]

With George's unmistakable classic guitar lick.

[@JamesElliott-ne9rg]

Wrong. Clapton played his new Leslie which Harrison later borrowed.

[@marymargaretmoore9034]

@@JamesElliott-ne9rg Sure sounds like George.

[@JamesElliott-ne9rg]

That is because he later used Clapton’s Leslie. The Leslie is very distinctive. Love Harrison, but it is urban myth that he played the arpeggio figure in Badge.

[@bobbydollar388]

Thanks Cosmo, the pictures with this song took me back to my teen years hanging out and having fun. Cars, girls, music.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

My pleasure, Bobby. Those were the days.

[@clannad99germany70]

Yes, it was George. Great song, he was a real good song composer, very special.

[@betseyr.9081]

George was a phenomenal talent! Don’t stop your trip down that mans rabbit hole yet, there are still many more George compositions deserving s listen! George actually had written the bridge to the song and shared it with Eric and they collaborated on the final composition together. You’ll find out more on Wiki. George did play rhythm guitar on the recording.

[@caroleathenacosta-songwrit9193]

He used those same chords from the bridge of "Badge" on the bridge of "Here Comes the Sun."

[@garyneilson3075]

We are old now but that was the sound of our youth a sound that was fresh and new and different then. Young people today have what came from it, but to hear it then.... That was something!

[@peggylovato8720]

One of my top 10 favorite songs!

[@gioconda43]

I love Cream ! Their sound was great! Didn't know George wrote it with Eric.... To me it sounds " George Harrison " .😊😊

[@bertramfien1095]

George was always under rated.

[@izzonj]

When one of George's songs made it into a Beatles album, you know it had to be so good L&M couldn't keep it back.

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

Absolutely my favourite Cream song! Thank you for a great reaction!

[@John_Locke_108]

Back in late 80's, when I was in Jr High, I was obsessed with Cream. I found one of their tapes in my step-dad's garage and was instantly hooked.

[@janepiper-lunt7655]

Oh lord, this took me back. You all, who are not over 65, just can not know how all this music, nothing had ever been heard like it EVER. Everyday something new came out and it was like living in another world. So much wonder and joy. Creme was the best of the best. Btw, there are some hot guys in those photos. Sad to think we are old or dead.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Sad, yes, Jane. But oh so grateful we got to grow up in those idyllic times. I'm glad you liked the montage, I had so much fun putting it together. :)

[@richdiddens4059]

I've heard this song many times over the years. What struck me most about this video was the pictures. Imagine sitting on the hood of your car without it caving in!

[@kraig7777]

What's funny is back then (early 70s) everyone talked about how cars were built stronger in the 40s and 50s lol.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Lol, they don't make 'em like they used to. Glad you liked my montage, those photos are awesome.

[@johnathanstruble1064]

😂😂😂

[@louisb5563]

Normally I don't go for "extended" versions like this; however, this song is so fab it can go on a little longer still as Harri just attested!!!👍🏻😁🤘🏻😃

[@johnsilva9139]

Not too hard to think this was written by George Harrison. There are parts in it that remind me of his song " Savoy Truffle " from The Beatles White Album.

[@1after909]

Fantastic song and brings back memories of when I was in high school. Not only because I was in HS ( graduated in ‘70 ) when the song came out but also because I grew up and cruised “ LA’s most famous strip “ which was Van Nuys Blvd In the San Fernando Valley.. The cars, the clothing, the girls… all from my youth..

[@John_Chu]

Some people theorized that the title comes from a sequence of chords from B to E. However, Eric says that he couldn’t make out George’s handwriting on the song sheet - he misread bridge as badge. LOL. Thanks Cosmo and Harri.

[@heydayma10513]

Life !

[@mysterymac38]

Some people think that George Harrison also played rhythm guitar on this though Eric could have overdubbed the track.

[@jaquestraw1]

These photos are from "cruise night" on Van Nuys Blvd in the San Fernando Valley, CA early to mid 70's. Every Weds night (?) for many years. I was there, really brings back memories

[@Sixwheelin]

Beautiful! I loved the ride in the time machine to this golden classic. Thanks for taking me back to my roots. Cheers

[@coocoocachooglin]

What a Time Machine this is. As often is the case, I hear these sounds and I feel like my mind is sucked back in a vortex into the past and I’m experiencing wonderful senses from times long past. Thanks for reminding me of those memories once again. Truly a different time now long gone.

[@beverlybrown2673]

Classic Clapton.

[@budmcnew7763]

Which part?

[@andrewtongue7084]

Well, Harri, you picked an absolute classic...I bought this 7" single with, 'Layla' on the A side...'Badge' sat on the B-side back in the day, many pieces of vinyl then were dubbed as 'Double A sided' - this should have been marked as such, for both tracks are phenomenal, & whilst I still delight in Layla, Badge has always been my favourite of the two. This song fits together like a well organised puzzle - & I get your remark concerning the bass & drums (I play both myself, amongst other instruments)...great reaction !! 😀

[@billrussell7197]

Excellent tune....oh yeah

[@roygoad2870]

This track was on Goodbye Cream, an album I got in 1969 which I still have 😊 The lyrics are a collaboration written by Clapton and Harrison, lead guitar was Clapton and Harrison plays rhythm guitar. One of the few Cream songs that Clapton sings lead!

[@spawn4582]

Cool video of the song, showing late 60s early 70s, beautiful cars, girls, city at night, the beginning of Eric Clapton's brilliant career

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Thanks, I thought it was quite fitting the song, and had a blast editing it together.

[@2sanctuarylab]

George played the descending line in between verse and hook where the drums drop out....😎👍

[@davebzen795]

Cosmo -This was extremely well presented, and this studio version of Cream's Badge is second to none. Great review, Harri.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Much obliged, DaveB, thanks for the comment.

[@Imadrummin]

What a great song and nice video. Well chosen Cosmo Kramer. Agreed Harri and thanks for the reaction as always. 👍👍👍

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

You bet, Ima, this one was a blast to put together. Thanks for commenting.

[@urbangardener66]

I think if you listen to songs on All Thing Must Pass, then listen to this song, you'll see and hear the connection to George Harrison, it's unmistakable.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Thanks, Guvnor, I appreciate yet another stellar reaction from you. I think I may know who you thought resembled Britney, but there's another girl in here at 2:52 who I think looks just like Jennifer Lawrence. It's one of my favorite photos in the entire montage. Great song, great cars, great natural girls (no ink, botox or cell phones glued to their hands), and a great time to have grown up in. I feel bad for kids today.

[@Cynthia...]

One of my favourite bands and this is one of their best. Thanks Cosmo and Harri.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

You bet, Cynthia. :D

[@knightamongknaves]

getting "American Graffiti" and "Dazed and Confused" scenes with the cars and just hanging out

[@DanielVolk-jm4nt]

A classic Cosmo. We used to listen to this Cream song so much plus you got George Harrison and Eric Clapton working together. Great selection. Fantastic reaction Harri. 👍🙃🤴🇬🇧🇺🇸🇨🇦.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Thanks for commenting, Daniel, you da man! Agreed. A bona fide classic. It sits at TEN on my All-Time Rock Song list!

[@John_Chu]

The unique sound that Clapton got on guitar in this song is through using a Leslie speaker (normally part of a a Hammond organ). Harrison liked patching thru a Leslie. He first did it on 1965’s “It’s Only Love.” He also used the effect on “Tomorrow Never Knows” and “Blue Jay Way.”

[@richarddefortuna2252]

That is Harrison on the guitar run through the Leslie.

[@JamesElliott-ne9rg]

Wrong. Harrison admitted it was Clapton in a Guitar World interview.

[@mattparks2153]

You have such a great appreciation 4 Good Music.

[@ChrisKrolak]

I was 12 when this album was released and 15 at the time of those photos. I feel fortunate to have grown up at a time of great music. At this time all I knew is what I heard on the radio. When I started to buy the albums and read the liner notes, that's when I learned more about the talent playing the music.

[@jjflash1645]

One of their better songs, then again all of their songs were better than most other groups. Never heard a Cream song that I didn’t like.

[@laruencegiessman5593]

Cream at their finest!

[@tonythegoodman]

I saw a poll the other day that ask...if u could time travel would u choose the past or the future...most said in the future..not me..I had a great childhood and teen age years..so simple it was...im 65 now..the past for me ..lol...my years are numbered anyway...

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

The past, in a heartbeat. No contest.

[@keithwilson1554]

The psychedelic sounding descending three chords can be found in a few Harrison/Beatles Songs.

[@johnathanstruble1064]

Big-time Hari. Big Time! ❤

[@MrAL2491]

The Guitar line leading into and played beneath Clapton's solo has Harrison written all over it. What a fantastic song! Sounds like two great friends having a lot of fun.

[@robertsullivan6246]

Harrison plays the arpeggio during the bridge with the noticeable reverb and a chorus effect.

[@JamesElliott-ne9rg]

Wrong. It is Clapton. Harrison admitted this in a Guitar World interview.

[@dougieyou]

Harri, great video to go along with this song,yes they were simpler times but the best of times as well. So many memories just watching that. Excellent job by Kramer's friend. This song has a lot of great memories for me as well.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Thanks, glad you dug it, doug.

[@dougieyou]

@@Cosmo-Kramer Cosmo, thanks. I noticed that Harri does a lot of your suggestions and with good reason,you know your stuff. I have a favor to ask of you , could you see if he would react to Springsteen's "Light of Day -live in NYC". Don't know if he can or not but would love to see his reaction to it. Thanks

[@mariaportengen2959]

A great song from a great band and two friends, Eric and George. A real Masterpiece! 🎶🎶❤️❤️👍

[@davidm7237]

The guitar phrase behind the ''told you that the love goes on' phrase is very much in the ballpark of the guitar behind 'sun,sun,sun here it comes' in Here comes the sun.

[@Able-Man]

Wow... I haven't heard this since Highschool, or very shortly thereafter!!! ¡Thanks Harri! ¡Thanks Kosmo!

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

With pleasure, glad to have brought it back to you.

[@VarikM]

Did not know that was a Harrison composition. Does sound like him though to my ear. Thanks Harri for the new appreciation!

[@MollieC-uc1fk]

Those cars sure bring back some good memories. Guys back then would fix up cars so I was around a lot of late 50s and 60s cars all decked out with wings and the whole thing. And yes, we played this music on our 8-track tapes while cruising main. Good times and gas was cheap, less than 25 cents a gallon! Lots of Chevy's and Fords out there, maybe a Dodge or two as well. Would love to have a 65 Mustang. Great job on the photos, American Hot Wax II.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Thanks, I had fun piecing the pics together.

[@KennyY-bh3zl]

A little info about why the song is titled "Badge". The song was a collaboration between George and Eric. When George wrote his part of the song, he wrote on the lyric sheet the word "Bridge", meaning the place where the musical bridge would be inserted. George's handwriting was not the best, and when Eric read it, he laughingly asked "What's Badge?" So from that time on, the song was known as "Badge."

[@BritIronRebel]

In my opinion, this doesn't sound like typical Cream and I can certainly hear the Beatles/Harrison in it. Especially in the chorus. Great song!

[@UncleQue]

Always thought it had a similar sound to Ringo’s It Don’t Come Easy which was also written by George of course.

[@AliasMark69]

94.7 - KMET - "The Mighty Met"... in Southern Calif radio station at end of video.

[@AliasMark69]

@@Cosmo-Kramer I saw that.... Yep, I lived in O.C. Newport Beach SO CAL for 26 years. Great video.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

@@AliasMark69 Thanks, I had a blast putting it together.

[@immortalserito774]

The guitar break in the middle man, not only is it G. Harrison, he uses the same riff on Abbey Road side2 and Ringo's It Don't Come Essy. BTW, Ringo adds the line about swans in the park.

[@marenehanson5526]

My time in life. My favorite of all time ❤

[@Siletzia]

As so many people have commented, this was a collaboration between Eric Clapton and George Harrison, but Ringo Starr had an important contribution in the lyrics including the part referencing the swans living in the park and not to wonder after dark. It was and remains one of my favorite rock songs. It's a Cream song with input from the two Beatles.

[@Chargerfanclub]

Great job Harri!

[@michaelbeckwith6177]

I can very easily see George writing this song with Eric and I'm perplexed that you can't see George along with Eric composing this gem!! This music is right up George's style maybe you need to listen to a lot more of George who wrote songs as good as John and Paul but not as many when he was a Beatle a good example is "It's All Too Much" !!

[@ziggy107]

#1 fave rock song. But I don't think of 70's California - this one got late 60's UK written all over it. (have to differ about not sounding like Harrison ... that break arpeggio has his name all over it :) in my view )

[@bigb6046]

Clapton's riff from 1:55-2:05 , probably my favorite 10 seconds in all of rock music , iconic!

[@daveman_50]

That's George.

[@bumperu]

That hits me between the eyes every time!!!!

[@DavidGigg]

As someone else commented, that part is George. Eric does the solo at the end.

[@NathanVeenstra]

@@DavidGiggyeah, classic George Harrison riff.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

@@DavidGigg It's the same solo at the end. I looped it, because the song is so short.

[@dilandilanjoao4310]

Hi there. Actually this is a typical George Harrison song from that early 70s period. From "My sweet Lord " to "living in the material world "

[@j.jennings1722]

Great song by a great group, and the video was very good. The intro was short and sweet, and the photo montage was well done. Funny enough, Clapton thought the name of the song was titled Badge, because he misread Harrison's scribbles when he wrote "bridge," in the margin of the lyrics, and oddly enough the name stuck. ❤✌

[@MaddyN999]

They both wrote the song. George played rhythm guitar as the thank you. He is credited under a different name on the song /album.

[@nedludd7622]

Personal anecdotes, in the late sixties my friends and I listened to Cream a lot, usually in an altered state of consciousness. One day in 1969, a friend of mine and I were going to make some sandwiches and later go surfing. But first we took some purple haze. Then things changed, we put on "Goodbye Cream" and got focused on "Badge" and played it over-and-over. It took us hours to make the sandwiches because we forgot what we were doing. We never did get out surfing. Ah, those were the days as the song sung by Mary Hopkin says.

[@steveyaworsky6170]

I was about 11 years old when this came out, and to this day I prefer Eric Clopton's vocals to those of Jack Bruce. Cream was the beginning of a lifelong appreciation of Clapton's music for me. Throughout the years, any time Cream has come up in conversation almost everyone has immediately cited Badge as their favorite. Just what it is... 😁

[@joelliebler5690]

Definitely a great one!

[@thomassblaquelourde4389]

Harrison and Clapton wrote it together with a bit with Ringo, the wrote the bridge first Harrison wrote that down Eric said oh you have a name (it was upside down ( thus Badge)

[@Dan-dk7sw]

The guitar breakdown is positively George! He used it in a couple of Beatles songs too.. ;)

[@JamesElliott-ne9rg]

Wrong. It is Clapton. Harrison borrowed the Leslie later.

[@chitownlee]

Nice job Cosmo!

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Appreciate it, I had a great time putting it together.

[@thomassblaquelourde4389]

The middle break is Harrison and sings "Eric Clapton" , Ringo wrote "our kid now he's married to Mable, The duplicated solo does not belong, that last haunting fade out chord makes it. That bass is Jack Bruce, the greatest bass player that ever lived, graduate of the Royal Academy of Music played 13 instruments and you Hari should checkj him out. Clapton said "You dont argue with Jack he knows everything about music"

[@tomcartwright7134]

Where the guitar comes in after the verse now she’s married to Mable, that is a rotating speaker, called a Lesly. It is shaped like a horn and it turns on a horizontal plane . Sounds amazing. The Beatles used it on the Abby Road album. Badge is one of my favorite songs from Cream and one of my favorites period. Edit: more than a few musicians then played on the recordings of their close friends. They took no credit or made up silly names on the credits. They rarely got recognition or even royalties because their contracts with their record companies forbade them to play with artists of another record label.

[@steve-qe1sv]

Ah, those were the days

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Indeed they were. Miss them dearly.

[@lcassamas]

It seems that Clapton wrote the tune and George wrote the lyrics (with help from a drunken Ringo who came in while they were working and said something that became the lyric about swans). George also played rhythm guitar on the track and had to be billed as L’Angelo Misterioso for legal reasons.

[@stephenulmer3781]

Good song!

[@carlos_herrera]

Funny, when I first heard it, I said 'this sounds more like a Beatles tune than Cream.'

[@markwilliams5606]

So much to get into. Don't forget to Boogie children 🪴🌄✌️

[@wilfbentley6738]

This sounds pretty funky to me.

[@boikot8586]

Very thoughful. I like your style🎵

[@jillw4983]

Love

[@garyarnett1220]

Written by best friends George and Eric.

[@fishhookism]

Clapton and Harrison wrote this song together.

[@philsigman9088]

You can literally hear George Harrison in the guitar work.

[@stephanieo2509]

Ringo wrote the line "I told you 'bout the swans, that they live in the park."

[@karnsfan]

It was written by George Harrison and Eric Clapton. According to George, Ringo added the line about swans living in the park.

[@jiminut]

I listen to this song and I do feel the Harrison vibes. I understood he wrote the changes and brought Eric over to his house to finish writing the song together. Ringo was hanging out and looked at the page where Eric had started the middle transition, labeled "Bridge:" and Ringo asked "what the &$@( do you mean "Badge?" The title stuck. I don't know how much of this is true but I love the story.

[@christopherhuot2826]

My only criticism is that the song is too short 😅

[@albertsmith9315]

The title which seems like it doesn't make sense came from when Clapton and Harrison were writing the song long hand on paper. Ringo was in the room and while reading the writing upside down from the other side of the table, asked 'Badge?" He was actually reading the word "Bridge", for the middle part of the song. Clapton and Harrison laughed and named the song "Badge" as an inside joke.

[@leeread6757]

"I told you bout the swans that they live in the park"....this line was contributed by an inebriated Ringo Starr.

[@GivnoFyux444]

L' Angelo Misterioso on rhythm. 🤔

[@betseyr.9081]

Translates to George

[@daviddragavon7555]

Whose on piano? I wonder? Beautiful song! Hard for me to believe I was a fan, when this was brand new!

[@greg6L6GC]

Harrison played on it. And in turn Clapton played the lead on the Beatles While My Guitar Gently Weeps which was a Harrison song. Neither had credits for playing on each others records.

[@sharonsnail2954]

Good choice Cosmo although the pictures didn't remind me of that period. No #30 bus to Great Portland Street or The Saville in Shaftsbury Avenue or Hyde Park 😉😉

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Okay, so no bus, but what about the clothes and hairdos?

[@sharonsnail2954]

@@Cosmo-Kramer The hairdos, yeah OK. The clothes, somewhat. My comment about the bus was based on the year Badge as released, 1969, when I was living in London. My teenage years had just passed and I was mostly in a suit and tie in my first real job. By summer 1972, when these pictures appear to be taken, I'd moved to Manchester which was a different environment. I was still in suit and tie and had my first car which I used to visit customer sites. Burnley and Huddersfield did not have large numbers of youngsters I could recognise from your pix 😃😃

[@johnathanstruble1064]

All Hail Cosmo!!

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Lol...thanks!!

[@johnathanstruble1064]

@@Cosmo-Kramer back attcha Brother! Lol.

[@markhaus2830]

Actually, Eric Clapton and George Harrison wrote it together.

[@KL-mt9yk]

Even Ringo contributed to this ... .. "swans" :-)