Cream - SWLABR (takes 1, 2, 3, & 4) 1967 studio session (3 of 7 - audio track)

[@mikeroberts9501]

Cream was perfect - it just doesn't get any better - technique, soul, tone, emotion, song writing - the most imaginative reinterpretation and modernization of the blues we'll ever hear.

[@arminiushermann09]

Mike Roberts Yep, that's what's great about them. You can just listen to one song only from them because every time they play it, it's going to be different. That's why I try to get all the versions I can of all their songs so I can just listen to that one song an hear how different it is each time. The interplay between them is just astounding an how they leave room for the others to come in an Jam. And also how they play to each others strengths an weaknesses is just amazing. I don't understand how people can argue that any band is better then them, speaking in terms of the rock world. I like a lot of those bands an respect them but they just don't have the skill these three guys had, especially at that age.

[@davidzimmerli489]

Mike Roberts - You speak the unadulterated truth....

[@sunfactory1957]

Totally agree, the most perfect blues rock group ever assembled. The perfect storm of 3 of the best players at their respective instruments. All 3 feeding off each other’s energy. I doubt their will be another group like it . RIP Jack and long live Eric and Ginger .

[@scotthazlewood9123]

@@sunfactory1957 Agree also. Yet, Humble Pie (Frampton, Ridley, Shirley and Marriott) was right up there around this time.

[@sunfactory1957]

Scott Hazlewood Humble Pie never got the recognition they deserved. I enjoyed their high energy rock n blues but enjoyed Cream and Rory more. Good stuff . Music is so tame now it’s depressing .

[@johncole015]

A Jazz rhythm section and a blues guitarist will always create something amazing together.

[@TheCream14]

Cream was/is my favorite band and I've been playing for over 50 years.

[@Cream1968]

Me too…..😊🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@mickymantle3233]

Crossroads recorded Live in 1967 is possibly one of the heaviest tracks ever recorded (turn it up !). Bands just didn't play like that in those days. Cream were really 'heavy' live - when everyone else were still blowin flutes & tapping tambourines. I saw them live & you could feel the 'air' from their amps right at the back ! Turned the whole music scene right around.

[@riffdigger2133]

Did Jack’s bass tone have note clarity that far back or was is it muddy boom-boom as others have said. Certainly Felix, Dowd and Halverson EQ’d and compressed a note-clear bass sound for the live album cuts. Thanks.

[@mickymantle3233]

@@riffdigger2133 Hi. Well, I would call Jack's Bass 'sticky/rude'. Out of wacked double Marshall stacks. Certainly the Boom-Boom was emphasised by the thunder out of Baker's double Bass Drums. That whole band were like a Freight train live. Made my hair stand on end ! lol.

[@RichardBaubau]

Disraeli gears....say no more. The sound of Strange Brew does not exist in today's sterile music garbage singing sweet nothings to the money machine

[@robertschaeffer1076]

Simply amazing , the raw basic tracks. I could listen to just these takes forever and a half a day. The intensity without all the overdubs , Bakers skins not onlyhold such a deep tone but my lord you actually witness the way any one skin completely fills every space in the room. Hearing the three stripped down and clear, Jacks bass is in no way crowding or loudly muteing him this time. Honestly I don't recall for once any interest in what Eric is playing. Thats how exciting Gingers drumming & Jacks embellishments captivatingI was & I'm the bigest Cream nut that exist.Astounding! I'm in the 11th row 1968 all over again.better than owsley 4way acid or his clear 25.thanks from 65years to 12/13yrs old again.bless you& bless CREAM(RIP Ginger)...Robert Schaeffer SoCal

[@martinkent333]

Your grammar will thrill future Cream fans who read the comments of illiterate fans of today. HAHAHA! Miss Petunia, Grade Four Class!!! Cream Cooked!!

[@anthonygerace332]

Yeah. To my ears they sound even better without the studio multi-tracking.

[@mns8732]

So sorry Mr Schaeffer, but I'm the biggest Cream nut.

[@whatevershebrings]

That's the sound of zero muffling on a double bass drum set-up.

[@mickymantle3233]

In 67 Cream live were a really heavy bad ass band. Monster Stacks.

[@claudioconsolandi2480]

My preferite band !!! ❤❤❤

[@guglielmo64]

Can never get enough of this band! RIP Jack!

[@NormanZavlandid1066]

This one, along with 6 other tracks (also on my channel), were done at Ryemuse Studios in London a couple of months before the main recording sessions in NYC.

[@brucereed4145]

Yes, these were pretty much demos for the upcoming NYC sessions.

[@andythomas706]

Wow! Haven't heard this before. Thanks for the upload! Its a really interesting 15minutes! Clapton was on fire in '67.

[@NormanZavlandid1066]

Andy Thomas If you're interested, I've got the rest of the tape from this session on my channel (6 more tracks) as well as some 1966 demos and a couple of radio sessions that didn't make the BBC CD.

[@MrEDCROUSE]

wow! incredibly clean

[@123davhau]

HAIL MR. BRUCE.

[@feltongailey8987]

The rarest jewel in this world. Thank you x 1000!! Indescribably beautiful sir!

[@timcharles5476]

Take 4 definitely has more energy than the version released on 'Disraeli Gears'.

[@gregorycampbell6393]

A deep cut gem! Cream were a fantastic group and there was much more to them than the heavy blues thing. I think this track was influenced by the whole Haight Ashbury California psychedelic thing that was going on. Then there's odd stuff like Wrapping Paper and I feel Free which has the accapella intro groove going on. Got to love it! Classic.

[@user-qm7nw7vd5s]

Nice to see how the sausage is made!

[@paulhinson8030]

This is fantastic learning material! I'm in "Cream School". I first learned Sunshine of your Love in 1968 at age 8 while Cream was still active! Now I'm going back to really learn everything I can from their work back in the day!

[@taylor12elementvb]

EC was 22 yo, Jack was 24 yo and Ginger was 28 when Disraeli Gears was produced. Simply amazing!!!

[@DoreenBellDotan]

Does anyone remember them singing: Makes me feel so grand. The makes me feel so good sounds weird to me. I remember them singing grand, which rhymes with wonderland.

[@charlesmcdermott8181]

makes sense

[@plantagenant]

Nice to hear Clapton struggle with tuning his guitar as much as I do.

[@robertnagy2163]

The first POWER rock band. All it took was three of them. Always at the top of my list.

[@TCKiddd]

Thanks for posting - what a treat to hear Cream working out the bugs. Practice practice, practice - even if you are Eric Freakin' Clapton and compsny

[@TCKiddd]

Zatoichi444 There are so many great guitarists, let's not get into who's better and who's best. But I doubt if there is a guitar hero alive today (including Steve Vai) who doesn't recognize 3 names that laid the foundation and pioneered the trail to what the Stratocaster has become today. The Yardbirds gave us Beck, Clapton, and Page (and of course there were a handful of others) who took the Strat from rhythm to lead instruments. Everything since has been built on their original innovation. Certainly there was B.B. King and some others before, but it was the pioneers of sixties R&B that really brought the guitar to the forefront.

[@genericgeorge]

Cord LaFond You forgot a name when talking Strat : JIMI HENDRIX. A name synonymous with the instrument and taking it to another level

[@MrEDCROUSE]

+Glenn Wheatcroft yes sir! 68 montroix

[@andythomas706]

+Patrick Michalek Kath was a great guitarist........pretty poor shot though!

[@bpivr]

I'm pretty sure EC is still playing Gibson at this point.

[@socrates1818]

the signature sound for Cream is when Bruce dives into the upper register groove @12'12" - it sets off Eric and esp Ginger to another level

[@timhancock6626]

People talk about "Rock" but given Jack Bruce's musical background this was as much a Jazz/Blues fusion as anything. People chuck the term "Rock" around like confetti and it becomes meaningless. We hadn't heard a bassist like Jack Bruce before, playing the instrument like it was a lead guitar instead of the up down plink plonk of too many bass lines. It was just what Eric Clapton needed to underpin his guitar. Ginger was also a Jazz man lets not forget.

[@dumbdickler670]

Ginger Baker thought they were a jazz group apparently

[@jaimedrum]

@@dumbdickler670 they were a jazz group they just didn’t tell eric

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

Psychedelic lyrics are by the trippy poet Pete Brown, Jack's writing partner. Thanks for this upload, really wild.

[@brianwarner308]

It’s so interesting hearing them discuss whether or not the picture has a mustache

[@abronxdude]

What a riot! The actual finished recording that came out of this is amazing when you think about it.

[@Mynamesalexa]

She Was Like A Bearded Rainbow.

[@Steelers72]

This sounds better than the album. Great analog sound... no need to clean up sound with these guys.

[@brookiestorer5231]

Thanks to share this...the process of making a killer song.

[@paulp4243]

She Walks Like A Bearded Rainbow

[@KaptSonic22]

Excellent pictures. Great jams! note: I heard someone say "take 5" at 9:31

[@NormanZavlandid1066]

+KaptSonic22 Well spotted. Sounds like he says "3" at 5:46 for the one before. Probably forgot which take they were on, or maybe this isn't a complete tape and there was a "take 4" that has been edited out.

[@GaZonk100]

song has been an earworm of mine for fifty years...one of the first chord prog's I ever got down

[@ernestodelaserna9494]

Jack on harmonica at 13:51? While still playing bass. Musical prodigy.

[@ericparker1346]

EC has such a great tone..like no one else,,even the copiers can't match it with all of the pedals available in the world. Ginger's double bass drum reverie ruins 2 takes, it's unmusical for that moment in the song and Jack is more soulful sounding then I remember back when I bought this record new!

[@cookmoore3736]

My goodness, I didn't realize Jacks funkiness could sound so Motown even his soulful voice :)

[@healthygourmetschool]

so many fantastic colours.....!

[@claudiovalenzi1745]

..GOOD....PENETRATION..IN...ESSENCIAL...JACK..BRUCE...______THANKS.._________@@@@

[@johnvoorhees7881]

Just listened again. I think think the album version is my favorite number 2 behind "Born on the Bayou" by CCR. Cheers 🍻

[@CHlEFFIN]

The riff is absolutely amazing... I know for a fact that must have inspired a ‘few’ guitarists...😉

[@barackmycat9448]

How did I ever miss this masterpiece?

[@robjontay5052]

Ringo Told me to play the Drums. Master Ginger Baker taught me how to put holes in the drum heads....

[@gurnblanston5000]

​@kapalin846And he didnt need to be hyper fast as all 4 limbs were always in motion.

[@alfiehenshall688]

So different to the finished track on Disraeli Grears. Must have been Felix Pappalardi who suggested final production - sound, changes, where to put solo and how it should sound. 🎸👍

[@jaysylvester1710]

Flights of lightning speeding and economical in direction

[@runreilly]

They're so meticulous about tuning. That really says a lot. Intonation is often a nightmare for guitarists and checking all over the neck and making little compensations is often a necessary evil. Maybe not EC's high end guitars so much as they would be high quality, but regardless it's still easy to hear he's obsessed with getting in the best tune possible.

[@paul92107]

Pre-electronic tuners👍

[@andrehof7876]

Clapton got the very best backing rhythm section in the world with Ginger and Jack.

[@andrehof7876]

@@MidwestFarmToys nah... Still not even close

[@JeffK.]

Agreed. And Clapton was the weakest link in that band.

[@martshankleman]

Eric cutting loose @7.19. Turns Gibson upto 11!

[@jeffreymalack3723]

Where did you get this. Were these from Felix or Tom Dowd's estates?? I heard that the original masters were lost in a big New Jersey warehouse fire in the 70s. Thanks so much for posting. Historic gems. The mighty Cream.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Before tuners were developed we had to tune by ear, not always perfect but the music came out O.K

[@ntesslafan]

Thank you for posting! This is fun to hear!

[@chriscampbell9191]

Clapton does some searing leads on a couple of these takes.

[@catmechanic1261]

yeah baby,.......raw.......

DAMN the audio compressors couldn't handle Bakers drums at 120 DECIBELS

[@502baking9]

Couldn't keep an SG in tune back then either

[@jeffreymalack3723]

Incredible!

[@jameskennedy721]

interesting to hear for sure .

[@miked7295]

I want that shirt that Jack is wearing at 6:25!

[@jonathanrstanton3779]

Mike D ok..

[@cianleonizoabad]

It’s a good shirt

[@iadorenewyork1]

Unique shirt. Psychedelic.

[@ernestodelaserna9494]

@@iadorenewyork1 It was your regulation late 60s paisley/psychedelic shirt. Everyone had one.

[@erniewebster9144]

These guys wrote the book on being a rock power trio,than Hendrix blew the book up!

[@LOKJazz]

What I saw back in '65 was that Blue Cheer was the very first power trio to break through, check them out

[@mns8732]

@@LOKJazz yupper, summertime blues. Good power band but not the ambition of the Cream.

[@RaysDad]

They are still working out an arrangement while this is recording. Sometimes Ginger Baker overwhelms everyone else with the bass drums. Jack Bruce is playing a lot of melody with his bass and Eric Clapton is just playing rhythm.

[@filthypappy3568]

I don't think any drummer would've been better with the band, do you?

[@RaysDad]

@@filthypappy3568 Ginger is my favorite rock drummer ever! All of the Cream players were unique and essential.

[@filthypappy3568]

@@RaysDad oh yeah, could not agree more! Bruce is my fav bassist, GB my fav drummer, and EC a top 2-5 guitarist for me. Add in great singing from Bruce and EC, even GB sang a bit, whatta band

[@toulminbrown9166]

C.R.E.A.M. is #1

[@brotherthor8699]

I can now sing I feel free at karaoke bars.

[@dumbdickler670]

@@brotherthor8699 why couldn't you before?

[@dumbdickler670]

I was about to reply to my own comment agreeing with what I'd said over a year ago until I read the name! Weird that I don't even remember seeing this video, not to mention leaving this comment

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

The solo in the fourth take was absolutely fire, that’s the way

[@dumbdickler670]

It started just as I read your comment and yeah, I have to agree

[@kamerasam]

merci

[@alangolias8628]

I guess it took them a while to get it together. Drums sound very hollow but this is around 66

[@WorldRockumentaryChannel]

excellent

[@dixiefallas7799]

Ace!

[@MrEDCROUSE]

my god where did you come up with this?? amazing!!

[@jonathanrstanton3779]

ED CROUSE OUT OF MAH BASEMENT!!!

[@dinpala]

now, that's an exvavation. nice, nice

[@mrJimCharles]

Interesting that at this stage there was an extended improvised solo.

[@andythomas706]

+mrJimCharles Of course there was an extended improvised solo. How do you think the solo on the album got there. It didn't just happen you know!

[@mrJimCharles]

+Andy Thomas The solo on the album is a brief, pre-written one

[@andythomas706]

+mrJimCharles You mean rehearsed and constructed I presume. I don't think EC ever played a 'pre-written' solo in his life!. Another great 'well rehearsed and constructed' solo is the one he plays on 'Outside Woman Blues'. His ear for a well constructed solo goes back to 'I'm so Glad'. The modal aspect to it is interesting and at the time, was quite unusual. For me, one of his most beautifully crafted and constructed solos is on 'I'm Your Witchdoctor'!

[@andythomas706]

+Andy Thomas By the way.....another 'demon' is his solo on 'Singin' The Blues' Phew!

[@danielclergeau5504]

jack: rip!

[@flagemdown66]

"And now ladies and gents, an old traditional Chinese song called Tune-Ning"😂

[@4windstfj]

WHY WASN'T TAKE 4 ON THE ALBUM?

[@Raw420Films]

epic,

[@rednoise0]

I wonder who's playing harmonica in the last take. Might be Jack overdubbed or...?

[@yankeelawdog]

No electric tuners

[@fredfuller2281]

no digital electronic anything ...pure analog soul!!

[@drichard123]

Wow!

[@gaynorjenkins3150]

There is a very good melody tribute by clear beaches 1 on here

[@MIKECNW]

Are you sure this was London? I understand Disraeli Gears was recorded at Atantic studios in NYC.

[@OroborusFMA]

Always preferred their live sound to the studio. It's like they were holding back there.

[@SluffAdlin]

Ahmet Ertegun (Owner of Atlantic Records) is there, and he envisioned Cream with Eric being the front man. Ertegun also put Felix Pappalardi (future bassist of 'Mountain') in the producers chair to which Pappalardi had his own agenda. See Lawdy Mama = Strange Brew.... I'm sure there was a lot of 'TAKE 20, false starts and OOPS sorry, we ran out of tape, gonna have to start again' moments in order to get whatever Ertegun wanted from them, which was really Eric Clapton.....check out Classic Albums "Disraeli Gears" for the full story.

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

They wrote songs as jumping off points or say, ‘diving boards’ for live improvisation like a heavy, bluesy jazz combo. They were a live band at the core, they released more live songs on their studio albums than actual studio numbers.

[@the1streich339]

Not sure how I'm just finding this now.

[@jp0blues04]

STACKS...... way plural.....I heard maybe 6 full stacks powered by 6 heads. jumped.

[@jimmybrooks1059]

Vive la CREAM!!!!!👈😎

[@fredfuller2281]

Cream was a UK Power R&R Trio,amirite??

[@MrDino1953]

Ur knot rong.

[@johnackerman438]

I like track of 7 at 7:37.

[@gaynorjenkins3150]

Have a listen to Jack’s playing on apostrophe by Zappa best ever

[@liten48]

wow nothn like how it finished up

[@johnr8820]

Wonder if they really used dimed Marshall’s in the studio

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

There's a slim chance he used half stacks, but i really don't think so.

[@marcletourneau7001]

Was that with the fool guitar ?

[@gibsoneb3]

Fender six string bass -

[@richardtoy1600]

Funky bassline. Almost James Brown. Why is EC's guitar so hard to tune, I wonder?

[@ulricclayton3428]

Richard Toy He probably had new strings on it

[@intuneorange]

Bad bridge placement for very light strings

[@alangolias8628]

Seems like most of the talent was the producer

[@dashriprock9014]

Seems to me-between the takes-that Eric is doing most of the talking. He seems to be the dominant figure in this trio.

[@dontworryaboutit60]

2:03

[@joshuahymer15]

Doesn’t sound like a cranked Marshall at all to me

[@ivandel7788]

Yes!!!! some times it sounds a click like an stomp box, maybe Eric was using a fuzz

[@jimk518]

Which guitar was Clapton using? He's having a lot of trouble getting it in tune....

[@san5a89]

man it's not the guitar. although Gibson tuners tent to be unstable it's more probable he had recently put on new strings that had to be stretched properly to find the right stability

[@san5a89]

I really don't understand what he says about the machine heads at tge minute 9:55 though... it's something about turning it 3 times and reaching 4 semitones high

[@jonathanlyerly8501]

The nut needs to be lubricated. You can hear that the string gets stuck. And then “ping!” It let’s loose throwing it out of tune again.

[@alfiehenshall688]

Prob the 'fool' S.G guitar he had painted psychedelic 🎸

[@JamesPCroad]

Several minutes of Eric tuning his guitar should not be this enjoyable.

[@BigSky1]

She walked like a bearded rainbow.

[@DumpedClutch]

She WAS Like A Bearded Rainbow

[@BigSky1]

+DumpedClutch Yes, you may be right. I remember hearing what the acronym stood for years ago. Was is probably correct.

[@davidgarza3259]

She was like a bearded rainbow

[@uprightdoublebass]

Ginger Baker is the greatest

[@armando6565]

What the fuck does ........SWLABR.......mean?

[@track1219]

She walked like a bearded rainbow. At least that’s what someone else said on a different KZbin version of this song.

[@catecraig7881]

She was like a bearded rainbow

[@alfiehenshall688]

Even Eric is human - can't get the damn thing in tune! No electric tuners back then so they prob used a tuning fork or pitch pipes or piano.

[@brucereed4145]

Yes!! He's human after all!

[@KennanHerbert-v4u]

Thomas Barbara Lewis Thomas Young Angela

[@rr8195]

Eric is struggling to tune a Gibson guitar that is out of intonation and will never tune up at different places on the neck. Hilarious!

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

he had just put new strings on is more likely