The History of CREAM |

Cream's importance in the development of rock music cannot be underestimated. Their blues and jazz backgrounds formed the basis for the rock virtuoso and soon the rock industry followed. This history traces the early beginnings of the band through their 2.5 years together and slightly beyond.
Support Pop Goes the 60s with PATREON: rb.gy/nhcy3

[@J0EYbagaDONUTS]

As a kid I remember going into a " head shop " and hearing White Room being played through the speakers . Stoned on pot , black lights and psychedelic posters all around , it was a altering experience for me . The music was just better back then . Everything from Motown , to some great blues and Rock n Roll . Man do I ever wish we could turn back time to the 1960's .

[@briangonigal3974]

Sure, everyone would love to go to Woodstock, no one ever thinks about getting that telegram (or however it was they informed you) telling you to report to your local Draft office to be shipped out to Vietnam. (although I admit, it would almost be worth it just to hear “Strawberry Fields Forever” (or “White Room”) coming out of a radio for the very first time).

[@kittykaleidoscope434]

Oh I loved the head shops the incense burning the black light posters. I had the one of Nixon on the toilet. I ain't going to work on dizzy's farm no more.Wizard rat. The one with the couple up on the mountain . I just remembered I had Disraeli gears Eric Clapton and Delaney & Bonnie . Great stream. Thanks for bringing back memories ! I always wanted to go back to the 60s. Then I woke up and I was in my 60s! Be careful what you wish for 🤣🤣🤣

[@timothygibbs8037]

​@briangonigal3974 thanks Captain Buzzkill

[@tompease8810]

Favorite group 3 fantastic talents who really made the term power trio reality

[@acable0351]

I can smell the incense 🙃

[@carolwolf9614]

Besides all his other awesome skills, Jack Bruce was the most incredible singer, His exquisite voice, clear pronunciation and ability to sing poetry, throwing mad sentences into cramped spaces of musical notation was mind blowing. I don't have the language skills or musical technical terms to describe what I mean. Jack Bruce's voice has always given me goose bumps. I love Cream

[@hewitc]

And he wrote most of the songs! He got the writer's royalties for White Room etc. Enough for retirement

[@terrenceolivido741]

the insane energy of traintime on the harmonica.

[@amandagerrish5892]

In Sept., 1967, Cream played at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. I was there. (I was a 15-yr-old budding guitarist at the time, and already a fan of Cream.) The band had released 'Fresh Cream' earlier in the year, which only reached #39 in the charts in the U.S., and so the band wasn't that well-known in the U.S. This was reflected by the attendance at the Brandeis concert: I remembering looking out over the small crowd, which I estimated to be, at most, a few hundred people. Also, rock concerts in the 60s tended to be slapdash events. I arrived slightly early at the venue -- the university gymnasium -- where I witnessed a roadie pounding nails into the gymnasium floor to anchor down Ginger Baker's drums! The band wasn't even going to play on a stage, just on the open gymnasium floor. The concert itself was terrific, if a little short, and I didn't know most of the songs which were from the yet-to-be-released 'Disraeli Gears' album. (The exception being the opener, "Tales of Brave Ulysses", which I'd heard on the radio.) Yes, they were loud, but because they were not playing on a stage, I was able to stand next the band (rather than in front), which saved my eardrums, and enabled me to get a closer look at Clapton's playing. (At the time, that kind of virtuoso guitar playing was something new in rock music.) This was my first rock concert and, I think, my favorite. Never again was I able to get up so close-and-personal to rock stars while they were playing!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

What a show! Such a great experience to see with such an "intimate' crowd.

[@harolddburke4726]

Cool story Brother. I was13 and loved Cream. Not blues so much but the Rock. They broke up before I had a chance to see them live.

[@triplejudy]

Wow, I envy you … I loved Cream but never saw them live. I was a just a bit young. They broke up once I was old enough to see them. 😢

[@stevenholton438]

They never shoulda played America!

[@robertplummer1043]

😂 ap❤v😂

[@dannoyes4493]

Cream was monster. Onstage chemistry, particular when they wound up, was amazing. The BEST live shows I ever attended. Everybody copied Clapton Everybody copied Bruce Everybody copied Baker.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Yes, that is what made them the ultimate virtuoso band. Everybody copied them! Thanks Danno!

[@vayabroder729]

I remember an interview with Ginger Baker and loved his facial expressions and smile while he recounted the moment Slowhand asked him: “What about Jack?” not knowing their past history. So funny.

[@alanthomson1227]

Think from the same documentary there was an interview with Jack who said Cream was a jazz band we just didn’t tell Eric .

[@acable0351]

Ginger was a drum teacher in Denver. Beware Mr. Baker!

[@vayabroder729]

@@alanthomson1227 Oh; I definitely believe that. And Slowhand would agree that the rhythm section was the strength of the group.

[@robertcartwright563]

I saw Jack Bruce he has a big voice live, great Bassist!

[@lilajagears8317]

To bad Ginger could be such a HORSES ASS.

[@rickcamp8487]

John Mayall's Blues Breakers is what got me hooked on blues as a kid.

[@allanbriggs807]

Me too.

[@theflash1425]

Ditto for me, along with Michael Bloomfield!

[@ronanderson7598]

What a treat! No bs, no hype, no filler. Informative and sincere. Well done!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Ron!

[@michaelschneider-]

+1.. Agreed to the power of ten!

[@markhunter8554]

What do you mean no bs? What do you think Bruce played? 😁

[@smc3188]

My older sister took me to see Cream at Fillmore East in the fall of '67, before college. I had not experienced the San Francisco psychedelic scene until then and Ginger Baker amazed me. When I got to Stanford, "Sunshine of Your Love" was blasting out of multiple speakers in dorm windows.

[@gerrykulpa7228]

CREAM,never played Fillmore East,I,saw them at CafeAuGoGo in Oct.67

[@smc3188]

@@gerrykulpa7228 This was SAN FRANCISCO, aka The Fillmore Auditorium. There was also a Fillmore West in SF. Check the Fillmore wiki.

[@leematthews6812]

I became a teenager early in 1976, and got into Cream about the same time. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see them perform together...but in 2005, I did, four times in total. Some of the most memorable gigs of my life!

[@williammorgan5320]

My favorite band, while growing up listening and playing music. Wheels of Fire live album was among the greatest ever. How anyone could say they didn't really prefer it or that it was a trend where Cream was going didn't appreciate it for the absolute brilliant performances. What these guys did was incredible and still blows my mind today. They owned the name Cream.

[@mikelastpass689]

I was 14 yrs old when Wheels of Fire was released in the US & my Aunt purchased it for my birthday costing $9.88 which was a lot back then. I was a drum student at the time & Ginger Baker had such an influence.... What a unique drummer he was. That was my 1st heavy rock album & remains to this day #1 on my list of truly great works.

[@joebikeguy6669]

Well here I go again! I saw Cream's last USA performance in Providence, R. I. in 1969 or 1970. Jack Bruce and EC each had four, count em, double stack Marshall amps. They were so loud they overpowered the PA. They finally gave up trying to sing and just jammed out on Crossroads and Spoonful. Ginger Baker was a fantastic drummer and btw was the thinnest person I ever saw outside of a war zone. I think he may have had a amphetamine problem at that time. Anyway it was a great show. Nice work as usual Matt.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Hey Joe - thank you for the compliment. Yeah, Ginger was a rail in those days!

[@michaelrochester48]

Couldn’t be 1970. By 1970 the ginger wasn’t even in blind faith anymore. He had moved onto Ginger Baker’s Air Force

[@joebikeguy6669]

@@michaelrochester48 Hey! Maybe it was 1968? Things are a bit blurry from those days. Regards.

[@joebikeguy6669]

@@michaelrochester48 I did some research on the interwebs. The show I saw was Nov. 4 1968. They did play Spoonful but not Crossroads as I remembered, but Toad apparently according to the setlist. Well, it was a long time ago and I may have been under the influence. Regards.

[@Timinator62]

Baker was a Heroin addict even before he was in the Graham Bond Organization and didn't get clean until the 80's, I'm sure he tried other stuff too, Coke was getting big in the late 60's as were amphetamines, I remember my Mom freaking out when she saw him for the first time on TV, "so that's what Heroin looks like".

[@artisaprimus6306]

The Cream song" Tales of brave Ulysses" painted such a vivid picture in my mind. It was really unforgettable for a teenage boy. I've come to appreciate Creams music even more over the years.

[@joey_bonin]

I thoroughly enjoyed Jack Bruce's solo work, and still do today. I saw Cream live in 1970, Vancouver Canada, and was impressed with Jack's vocals and stage presence. BB King "warmed up" for the Cream that night.

[@casedismissed8581]

hear,hear! jack's contributions to music in general are grotesquely under rated!

[@rob858585]

Couldn't have been 1970. They broke up in late '68.

[@Sp33gan]

I never got to see Cream, but I did see BB King at the Cave several times. Being from the North Shore, Vancouver Rocks! ♥

[@MrBsbotto]

​​@@Sp33ganNice one. I also saw BB at the Cave, which was a great venue for music. BB was a terrific, classy performer - he had a powerful voice that really came across in a live setting - and the crowd loved him. I agree that Jack Bruce never got his due as a vocalist.Good luck trying to stand out from those other two performers! To this day, I'm astounded by the richness of sound these guys achieved as just a trio. Mean and lean!

[@gingerbaker_toad696]

First band to give me goosebumps, i was shook when i first listened to NSU live, after the intro when that insane energy is building up, it literally made me freeze and gave me goosebumps like no music ever did The funny thing is that my father was similarly shook when he first listened to it when it came out, it shook his understanding of music and opened his mind to progressive rock much like me, about 30 years later 😅 I got to take my father to the last gig Baker ever did, some years ago in Berlin and it was beautiful. He was already weakened by his heart condition and because he played the night before in Hamburg After not even half an hour he had to leave the stage and it was already announced that it would be over..but then he came back, on his own and just had to bless us and himself with one last number, he played a beautiful version of Passing the Time and i was in tears. This unique maniac has a very special place in my heart and his energy remains unmatched to this day. (Not even by his fanboy Bonzo;)) Clapton is God, Baker the Devil. 🤟👹❤

[@todd3205]

Jack Bruce. One of the absolute best voices of the real classic rock era.

[@allanbriggs807]

Liked him but wouldn't call his singing in any way exceptional.

[@bunnybgood411]

Hear hear!

[@lincolnanderson8130]

Tales of Brave Ulysses, Badge, White Room, such great songs. Cool lyrics, great riffs, awesome solos by Clapton. Bruce's bass was excellent and the same for Ginger's drumming. Too bad they couldn't hold it together for a little longer.

[@craigsheppard1065]

What did cream in was Robert Stigwood 's greed

[@RoadkillPinata]

It can be argued that greed was a secondary factor in Cream's dissolution. Many bands had dealt with the greed of managers, record companies and even their own members but were somehow able to remain woking together in some form. The primary reason for the breakup was the personality clashes which had grown from passing annoyances to all encompassing strife. Some say that the strong personalities and volatility of the members, particularly those of Bruce and Baker, were responsible for the creation of such great and enduring music, and there's a lot of truth to that, but it was also the thing that doomed them as a band. That was evident even during the reunion. The first run through they all were on their best behavior but the old problems emerged during the second go around and they were done. @@craigsheppard1065

[@williammorgan5320]

Goodbye was fabulous. Their studio songs were great but the three live songs were simply outstanding, in the same flavor as Wheels of Fire. Awesome. Another treasure.

[@benmeltzer]

Agreed. And "I'm So Glad" is substantively different from its studio counterpart not just in terms of length, but also because Clapton sings what is arguably a co-lead vocal on it.

[@benpoverelli5450]

The entire goodbye was excellent... The three live songs were incredibly outstanding and historic!

[@martygould5114]

I loved Cream's live recordings. It was hearing Spoonful from Live At The Fillmore that made me want to learn how to play guitar, which I did. It was a big influence on me.

[@justicegusting2476]

Yeah, that live disc on WoF was excellent….all 4 cuts. I liked them all equally well. Even the intro and outro to Toad, not to mention the solo itself, makes the hair on my arms stand-up to this day.

[@paullevine1813]

The two Live Cream Albums just called Live Cream volume 1 & 2 were a few of the best Live LPs to come out in the 60s. I'm not sure why this guy said he wasn't fond of any of the live recording is a bit of a mystery but i take it that PBR he's swilling is one reason LOL.. All the Live tracks they did were awesome though bakers Toad was way to long & repetitive but that was the way he played when he soloed . Great band & pure Rock history.

[@markhunter8554]

I've just listened to Fresh Cream. One thing that gets overlooked when talking about Bruce's talent is what a great harpist he was.

[@MrBsbotto]

So, so right, Mark!! In an era where quite a few bands had harp players, Jake Bruce really stood out. IMO, it's kind of easy to fake it on the harp with a lot of in-and-out noise. Jack could bend individual notes and play actual solos like a lead guitar player, or nicely flesh out the backgrounds. Man, I gotta go dig out Fresh Cream and play it loud!

[@bunnybgood411]

Jack Bruce was brilliant all around.

[@idahomike4254]

Funny story about Badge which has been well documented: While George Harrison was co-writing the song, Eric saw what he thought was "badge" which was actually "bridge", but Clapton read it upside down. They decided to keep it as Badge. Great video and lots of very insightful information. Can't wait for the next one! Cheers to Pabst Blue Ribbon!

[@alanthomson1227]

And of course the conversation about racing bike French gears and Eric call end them Disraeli gears .

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you idahomike!

[@alanthomson1227]

@@helmutsecke3529 it’s well documented , twat .

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Cream have been among my favorite bands since I was a young lad, Beatles, Jethro Tull and Cream were my music education, I still love their music at the age of 65, it is creative, gutsy and filled with imagery and imagination, this is a decent biography of the band, well done sir. George Harrison co-wrote 'Badge' with Clapton, in fact I suspect he wrote most of it, with Eric adding some tasty guitar parts.

[@lauskanaal4260]

And on 'Badge', Ringo Starr was responsible for the line "I told you 'bout the swans that they live in the park".

[@robertplatte5700]

same here brother I am 62 and still rock all the 60's and 70's British bands,

[@DavidMFChapman]

I was in high school when Cream hit the big time and they were my first “band crush.” Thanks for this history!

[@Chiroman527]

Me Too, David. In 1967, at 16 yo, I encountered Cream (don't recall if it was in the local Music Shop in Flushing Queens NY or on WNEW 102.7 FM (Scott Muny and many other DJs of that Era). I had just started taking Drum lessons (at that music Shop) and within the next coming months joined with 2 other HS Buddies to play (and Learn our instruments) rock music. I bought a Drum set from that Music Store and I had it in one of the Buddy's basement where we practiced a few times a week. One guy and I were really into Cream and other Blues Rock bands , he other guy not so much, more poppy type music. After June 1969, HS graduation and that was the beginning of the end of this "garage Band". As a Drummer, Other than be amazed by Buddy Rich, Ginger Baker was my Guy. Moon too. And Dino Danelli as well. FWIW, I stopped playing in late 1969 with nowhere to keep a drum set, I stopped playing (the desire was always there - played a lot of Air Drums and banging on Dashboards to my favorite tunes). Then ar Xmas 2018, my wife of 44 years (HS Sweethearts) gifted me a cheapo Drum Kit. So, after 50 Years, I have resurrected playing drums again as a retirement pleasure.

[@AlwaysBastos]

Wheels of fire... my favourite LP ever. I wore out my copy in the '60s and drove my parents crazy!

[@danielfuentes3226]

Cream is a great classic band with historical roots,a great band of all time,they have influence to other bands,even today.

[@michaelmccollister7482]

Don't know where or how you dug up those old videos, but they were great as were all the images. All connected by great, well-researched content...as always. Best thirty minutes of my day...

[@popgoesthe60s52]

That is a high compliment, Michael! Thank you!

[@GonzoDuke]

Cream was basically the third or fourth band I was really into once I started my foray into 60's music. It all started with The Beatles then The Stones, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. When I heard Cream It all just kind of fit perfectly like a crisp newly wrapped package with a shiny bow. Only the lack of material made me move on from them quickly. Over the years and as I matured I would always go back and appreciate the musicianship. The 16 year old me just thought this was a heavy stoner band that I could introduce to my friends who loved Metallica and Snoop Dogg 😆 Great video Matt!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you Gonzo!

[@MarkK-hs1xc]

The Fool seemed to be everywhere in 1967. Of course, they designed the Apple Boutique, along with clothes for the Hollies, Procol Harem, and Cream as you mentioned. I always felt Steve Winwood was underrated. Never crazy about his later "Pop" rebirth, but Spencer David and Blind Faith had wonderful potential it seemed. On more note, the documentary on Clapton that played more than once, did present a rather troubling childhood, and made it seem impossible for him to stick with anyone or group for a decent length of time.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Yes, his childhood was not normal and probably figures into his constant moving around in the 60s.

[@andrewblackard3369]

Some artist in The Fool collective also painted EC's famous Gibson SG guitar (seen at 19:31 in Matt's video) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fool_(guitar). That guitar became strongly identified with EC during the Cream era even though he played multiple Gibson guitars. I heard that Todd Rundgren has it hanging in his livingroom currently. That's the guitar that EC was playing during the famous interview where he describes "the woman tone" of that guitar which was a trademark of The Cream sound. PS The SG was Gibson's replacement for the Les Paul during the years that model was discontinued.

[@MarkK-hs1xc]

@@popgoesthe60s52 For sure. Maybe a toss up between Lennon and Clapton for worst home life, but to have your mother tell you (Clapton) not to call her Mother after coming back to live with you after an abandonment and with a new family, seems a bit worse in my opinion.

[@andrewblackard3369]

@@MarkK-hs1xc His biography is heart-breaking. He admits to being a functional alcoholic for 35 years and barely remembering anything that happened during those years.

[@eudymaverickmentor]

Who in their right mind would ever think Steve Winwood was underrated. How can anyone who is one of the most sought after musicians in the history of Rock & Roll be underrated. He played in the Spencer Davis group with hits "Keep on Running", "Gimme Some Lovin'" "I'm a Man". Then he formed and played in Traffic (Huge Band). And then in Blindfaith. Clapton wanted him to join Cream. Hendrix wanted him to join the Experience. Stephen Stills and David Crosby wanted him to join CSN. (He said no so they got Neil Young). And then he had a HUGE solo career with all his great songs in the 80's. UNDERATED! I don't think so. He is the poster child of NOT being underrated. IMHO.

[@robgronotte1]

I've always found it funny that Clapton supposedly left the Yardbirds because he didn't like the pop sound of For Your Love, but Cream's first song was an even sillier, poppier song.

[@dancingtrout6719]

it was a lie he just wanted too move on .he split

[@eudymaverickmentor]

@@melvynobrien6193 That is pretty stupid.

[@michaelschneider-]

@@melvynobrien6193 .... Sure, yeah right. 3 virtuosos: Beck, Clapton, and Page. . Pick your order. ..

[@clu4u]

@@michaelschneider-Guys can be IMMATURE

[@dukeford8893]

Clapton left mainly because he didn't get on with Paul Samwell-Smith.

[@LSU01]

Excellent take on Cream ! Matt ,the dynamics of Baker and Bruce were complicated as they played together off and on throughout their lives. Clapton was a man in the middle but survived and thrived , he became a great singer and of course a virtuoso player. Cream was a shooting star of talent that couldn't do anything but burn out. They were in that respect kinda of like the Beatles,talent wise!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Good analogy of the "shooting star." Burn out was inevitable.

[@villaacevedo]

Intersting, thanks a lot Pop Goes the 60s!

[@leesnider4363]

One of my all-time favorite groups. Thanks for the background.

[@tomki6asp]

The live tracks on Wheels of Fire are definitive Cream for me. Crossroads has the best blues guitar ever played.

[@MrBsbotto]

You're so right, Tom!! I had almost forgotten all about that live stuff. That driving, insane beat on Crossroads is just outstanding, it's so frenetic!

[@Tom-Yum-Gai]

it's ok, I prefer Spoonful. But yes, if you could only have one Cream lp, it would probably be Wheels

[@rockingbirdey]

I remember I got into 60s rock/pop around 2019 and Cream was one of the bands I really got into. Disraeli Gears was one of the first vinyl albums I got when I started collecting vinyl. Great band. All three outstanding musicians, and I have to say, Jack Bruce has one of the best vocal tones in rock music. It's a shame their output was so limited - it would've been interesting to see what they would've done in the 70s once the psychedelic era ended. Or maybe it's better they broke up and ensured their legacy was untarnished by middling material.

[@ClarenceHW]

Great job on this... thank you!

[@navie36]

These guys are, hands down, the best! Thanks for posting!👍

[@theflash1425]

I worked on the live sound for Cream when they played in Miami. During soundcheck, I had to go up and pay homage to my favorite group. I vividly recall Clapton being very gracious, as was Baker, who looked much older than his actual years. I assume this was from significant drug use/abuse. None-the-less, he was very nice to his teenaged assistant sound engineer. Bruce, on the other hand, was very dismissive, totally lacking in graciousness and came across fairly arrogant, like I would experience with Neil Young a few years later. No wonder Baker didn't like him!

[@Home-cy2ww]

@theflash1425 As brilliant , groundbreaking musician / composer as he was , Jack COULD be a prick. He snobbed Jimmy Page when Jimmy tried to draft him for Zep's formation. Saying later,in a late 80's Guitar player, or RS interview. "they were just session musicians". Yes ,Jack , but as we saw, much better at marketing themselves.

[@36karpatoruski]

Baker hated virtually everyone, ESPECIALLY other talented drummers .

[@SuperAmin1950]

I really enjoyed myself at that Miami show; as I recall, it was held at the Miami Baseball Stadium, and the Cream were staged somewhere around the pitcher's mound?¡ 🤔 Our major music store in Miami, Ace Music, had a sensational poster made from a huge blow-up of a picture taken of the Cream at the show, which was hung above the store's front reception area!☆¡ 🙄

[@theflash1425]

@@SuperAmin1950 As a native-born Miamian, I well-remember Ace Music, though I don't remember that poster, but then, I probably wasn't paying attention! Yes, the concert was in the stadium, making our job in sound reinforcement somewhat difficult, as we would experience a year or so later doing the sound for Jimi Hendrix in the Miami Jai Alai fronton - all those hard surfaces! Do you remember Cream's opening act, Terry Reid? They were amazing! They should have been more highly promoted in America because they were excellent!

[@weirdie54]

@@36karpatoruski you have no idea what you're talking about, Baker sure could've been a prick (and often for no good reason), but he also could've been very respectful towards others, ESPECIALLY other talented drummers, including those who had influenced him, such as Phil Seamen or Art Blakey. There seems to be this misconception that Ginger was just a lunatic, while in reality his character was much more complicated.

[@maxcuthbert100]

Very good ! Next up ? Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac !

[@edwardmathews9041]

I just found your show and I have to thank for these wonderful stories. I was a kid and knew of these bands, but you bring so much knowledge and insight. Thank you!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Welcome, Edward! This music is important to me and my goal is to share what I know with anyone interested. Thanks for the support!

[@jeffthewhiff]

Matt, another fantastic retrospective on the band, Cream!

[@freefallin6871]

Great work Matt! Cream was brilliant and while their sound takes you immediately to '67 London, it never ages. Baker was a huge influence on me taking up the drums and "Badge" is my absolute fav and I constantly watch their version in '05 at the Royal Albert. Good stuff.

[@dennisangeloni2990]

Great compilation on one of the best, if not the best, rock bands of all time. They don't make them like this anymore - Baker, Bruce and Clapton were all icons.

[@dekafer123]

I love these series of videos!

[@georgemarquardt4435]

Sincere thanks for this man love the cream thank u

[@richardgrant418]

A truly wonderful band - and their story very well told - Thank you!! I also * really liked the great collection of pictures you sourced and shared … they were a very photogenic bunch of musicians 😊

[@peggysmyth6110]

Cream moved me through my youth. Love their sound

[@musicisajourney]

I really enjoyed this video! I'm a big fan of sixties hard and heavy rock, and Cream figure in big time!

[@MrBsbotto]

What a great post, gb! That is so wonderful you got to share that moment with your dad. Music is such a bonding experience and those memories will be hard-wired into your brain forever. Bravo. Your phrase "unique maniac" is a superb summation of Ginger Baker. A supremely skilled musician, Ginger was also a bit of a nut bar, a real personality. Today, so many hit musical acts are just that: acts. Ginger was the real deal.

[@paavoviuhko7250]

Great video. I especially remember from my high school days Disraeli Gears. I had a friend who loved Tales Of Brave Ulysses. I used to live with these memories of the great old days before other influences corrupted the purity. They were the best times.

[@thomasschiller404]

Very well done. One of my earliest favorite groups. Should mention the TV documentary "Cream's Farewell Concert," which intersperses idiotic, portentous narration and hilarious interviews with blazing footage of them playing. Favorite line, when the interviewer asks Baker to demonstrate some drum techniques, Baker says: "Wot, at this time of day?"

[@Sp33gan]

Another great band history, Matt. I knew their hits but never knew much more until a friend of my older brother went on a long trip and left me his stereo and album collection. He had everything you could want and the homemade speakers were so big they were pieces of furniture - two 3' x 3' bass speakers and a pair of 2' x 3' midrange. He had all the Cream albums, and a host of other 60s albums that still make me jealous, including solo albums from the likes of Jim Capaldi and many others. Making this short story long, I quickly grew to love Cream's output, even down to the fun British Music Hall throwaway, Mother's Lament. Like you, I found the live stuff to be fine, but often left me wanting more studio tracks.

[@the-vinyl-dreamscape5084]

Very interesting overview; as always, you do a great job bring the music alive. Not too many 60s band interest me but your videos are always amazing and help us understand the importance of the bands. My favorites are the Byrd videos and this one. Thank you.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you for the gracious compliment! I have several more band videos in progress so stay tuned!

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

Great video which really highlights how important and great this band were. Certainly no Zeppelin without them. I would have liked to see you go a bit more in depth as you have in some of your other videos, but still quite excellent. Thanks for all you do!

[@mikahattunen4502]

Exellent. Really enjoyed the pictures and history. White Room is quite an advanced tune. Nice orchestra and falsetto harmonies and all guitars. That might be my favorite. I don't really like all the other stuff really. Of course there is power in all those legendary riffs and they paved the way. Thank you Matt! Nice video Edit: Actually there is no orchestra at all except Cream ! What an amazement. Just guitars and is there singing voices there..

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I appreciate you watching, Mike! Plenty more to come this summer!

[@teresathomley3703]

Thanks a hell of a lot, dude. Phenomenal history with interesting storytelling- this channel is a must.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Teresa! More to come.

[@davehegstrom2369]

Great job on my favorite group ever! Thanks and cheers!

[@stevecharman8420]

Eric Clapton fitted more into the 5 years between 1965 and 1970 than most achieve in their entire lives.

[@clu4u]

I think he got inducted into the HOF 3 times, j Mayall Blues Band, Yardbirds, and Cream between 65-70.

[@dregsfan1402]

And more than he's done as a guitarist since.

[@EckensThrilla]

​@@dregsfan1402It's so trendy to diss Clapton. You're such a good little follower.

[@drummer78]

@@EckensThrillaThere may have been snark but overall, I think a lot of people rate quinnestenial Clapton from The Yardbirds, Beano album, Cream, Blind Faith into D&D.

[@WhizzRichardThompson]

​@@drummer78You got it dead right, Clapton peaked in the 1960s

[@georgeprice4212]

I kept telling people that the clean cover of Blind Faith was simply the back cover moved to the front, everyone was going “No, it’s an alternate shot.” Thanks for confirming that. (But, the US also - albeit briefly in the late 60’s - also got the child cover….most stores refused to stock it.)

[@BigSky1]

In the UK the back cover of Blind Faith’s album was not the group shot. That was in the gatefold. The original UK back cover is just a continuation of the front with a picture of the hill going down.

[@georgeprice4212]

@@BigSky1 true, but America never got a gatefold cover for the Blind Faith album.

[@dancingtrout6719]

lol.. you needed that

[@BegToDiffer99]

Man, did I ever enjoy this! Thanks for this, will share.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Much appreciated - Thank you for sharing!

[@MrMike-fm8bp]

Excellent video !! Love Cream. Best 3 piece band there ever was.

[@canadianstudmuffin]

Not a huge fan of Cream but learning the detailed history is always interesting on this channel. I think my favorite Cream album is Live Cream. I LOVE the later Blind Faith album, one of my all time favorite albums.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Hey Larry, I did see you feature the Blind Faith album recently. I appreciate you stopping by.

[@docsavage8640]

The pregrinations of Eric Clapton (and Steve Winwood) are fascinating to me. So many bands in such a short time. And so many great recordings.

[@shashimenon1000]

Really good. Learnt a lot about one of my favourite groups of my youth. They are still great to me and I listen to them often (at 72!).

[@waynesmith537]

Hi Matt very interesting video on history of cream your knowledge of the group is exceptional I was listening to goodbye cream recently and really enjoyed it different variations of songs at venues across the u.s.a. Crossroads and sitting on top of the world solos still blows me away.

[@andrewblackard3369]

Thanks for another incredible episode! In the early 1960s the sound of the twangy/jangly Fender electric guitar (into American Fender ampifiers) was king. For example Clapton, Beck and Page all played Fender Telecasters in the Yardbirds. Gibson discontinued the unpopular Les Paul single-cutaway electric guitar in 1962. However, Clapton began playing a 1959 Les Paul in Mayall's Bluesbreakers popularizing a new sound. Then he played a 1961 LP in The Cream and was one of several guitarist that made the Les Paul sound (into English Marshall amplifiers) a core ingredient in rock music as it remains today. This caused Gibson to re-release the single-cutaway LP guitar in 1968 and it remains one of the most popular guitars today.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you for that guitar background, Andrew! It really adds to the story.

[@andrewblackard3369]

@@popgoesthe60s52 Thank you, Matt. It's also interesting to me that Clapton changed again to Fender Stratocaster guitars in Blind Faith owing to the influence of Steve Winwood, and he has played that guitar ever since This sort of explains the difference in Clapton's modern guitar tone vs his tone in The Cream when he almost always played Gibsons. I am still astounded that he abandoned that sound after making it so popular. Pretty bold to say the least. :)

[@andrewblackard3369]

@@popgoesthe60s52 I think you'll find this interesting kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmXZqYKliLhoiLs

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

@@andrewblackard3369I rather lose interest in EC as a guitarist when he switches to the Strat. Nuked his tone.

[@Gardosunron]

Thanks Matt. The best music channel on youtube! Jack Bruce was sure courageous or crazy to join a band with a guy who pulled a knife on him. Others have mentioned it but "Beware Mr. Baker " is the name of the doc on the life of Ginger Baker. Fascinating and horrifying in equal measure.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Gardosunron!

[@mikeshaw4951]

The name is actually 'Beware of Mr Baker'. The 'Beware Mr Baker' was a message to Ginger painted on a sign and posted on his property as a warning.

[@michaelharrington75]

That's just what friends do to one another.

[@robinstevenson6690]

What a treat! I love Cream and related bands, such as Blind Faith. These portraits of great bands of the 60's are my favorites, and happily, there are many more of them to look forward to!

[@Random-kq4pz]

Great information and still pictures!

[@mattmaury1803]

The Cream is the GOAT!

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Legendary solo careers of each member Jack Bruce Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker.

[@jaykay6387]

Great recap and perspective on this truly seminal hard rock band. They really were the "bridge" from pop to harder edged rock & psychedelia.

[@jatco84]

Love them...from Cream and onward. Used to play a lot of them in our 'Battle of the Bands' in our gymnasium.... Played them at the school dances.. it was always a gas..!! Thanks for the journey. !

[@fredschmidt100]

I never understood how the 'Goodbye version of 'I'm so glad' did not get any serious recognition as one of if not ' thre greatest guitar solos

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I love the dual vocals in that one.

[@ranmanfl5597]

the excitement of rock performance that Cream brought live to the stage was groundbreaking. listen to the soundtrack for the Woodstock movie and you'll get a sense that from that day on great players wanted to unleash the spontaneous sonic nIrvanna that was Cream. listen to Crossroads on the greatest hits album and you'll hear the band explode with British blues which becomes solidly rock and then back again. it was a godly sound that mesmorized everyone. Eric Clapton reinvented rock and blues simultaneously with his two sidemen Jack and Ginger. Cream is the cornerstone of everything we love about live rock performance on a scale that is at the zenith of musical creation. this is what happens when 3 master musicians share a vision that perfectly matches where the audience wants to go sonically. long live Cream

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Well stated ranman! Thank you for the comments.

[@nancybrownlee6518]

Aah god... the best, the most, the traces linger in my heart and belly and will never go away. Pure joy. NB

[@lelandkelley2199]

Very good presentation! I was just a child during there live years and remember hearing Cream on AM radio .

[@ytprodata]

You cannot complete a history of Cream without mentioning the reunion concerts, especially the 2005 ones in the Albert Hall in London which were videoed and are available on KZbin. White Room and We're Going Wrong are the standout tracks for me. Amazing how good they still sounded.

[@joephillips4082]

I'm old enough, but I never saw them in the 60s. I did catch the reunion show at Madison Square Garden in 2005(?). I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was as if no time had passed at all. They were amazing. In Badge, about a minute in, when George would have come in, the entire band laid out for 2 bars or so, and the audience went nuts. Grown men (me) were in tears. I'll never forget that concert. They were my band.

[@leematthews6812]

I caught three of the RAH gigs, and their final performance at MSG. Sure glad EC made the decision to get back together with his old bandmates for a few shows, it gave me an opportunity to see them that I never thought would happen.

[@terrenceolivido741]

no, they did not just sound good. they never sounded better. Clapton led the way and played with all the mastery of his years. i know they never sounded better.

[@kafkastrial8650]

I know that 'The greatest group ever ' is subjective but I don't think that any other three musicians have ever produced such musical magic !

[@dynasticlight1073]

Very True, saw them "Live" no one touched them -Even Now.

[@drats1279]

Cream was a fantastic band and had a good stage presence. I had the pleasure of seeing them many times in live concerts. Your history presentation was excellent and your choice of beer was perfect.

[@stingfan16ify]

Excellent job on this video my friend. It was quite comprehensive and informative!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, stingfan!

[@1rwjwith]

One of the absolute best bands of all time without a doubt. The apex of the trio in my opinion…In the short time they were together the music the created is immortal in Rock history, still their songs are “standards” of Rock! Thanks. Ps: Jon Landau from Rolling Fraud is full of shit…He went on to ruin Bruce Springsteen ….

[@Gardosunron]

Hard to believe a critic at Rolling Stone had so much influence then. We know better now and in retrospect most of what they had to say was pseudo intellectual crap. The article mentioned here , and also slamming Zeppelin for example.

[@anthonyc1883]

@@Gardosunron Clapton himself would disagree with you. In a 1985 edition of Rolling Stone, here's what he had to say about that 1968 Rolling Stone review: “All during Cream I was riding high on the ‘Clapton Is God’ myth that had been started up. I was flying high on an ego trip; I was pretty sure I was the best thing happening that was popular. Then we got our first kind of bad review, which, funnily enough, was in Rolling Stone. The magazine ran an interview with us in which we were really praising ourselves, and it was followed by a review that said how boring and repetitious our performance had been. And it was true! The ring of truth just knocked me backward; I was in a restaurant and I fainted. After I woke up, I immediately decided that it was the end of the band.”

[@pigalleycatemanresu7321]

@@anthonyc1883 Clapton also said that his guitar ego took a hit when he heard Hendrix for the first time. But Cream was a better band than the Experience, mostly because Jack Bruce was a better bassist and musicien than the mediocre Noel Redding.

[@sheilamacdougal4874]

​@@pigalleycatemanresu7321Well I disagree. The Experience produced a considerably greater quantity of memorable music in roughly the same time span, and unlike Cream, never recorded unlistenable shit. Redding might have been an inferior musician to Bruce but it hardly mattered. Hendrix was so original, inventive, and able to fill space with feedback and so on, that a more prominent bass sound might have just gotten in the way. As for the young Mitch Mitchell, he was nothing short of spectacular; Baker had nothing on him in ability to drive a great "power trio".

[@andyallan2909]

Surprised to see that 'Clapton' is credited as the writer of, 'Badge,' on the US single you showed us. I bought the UK single, at the time of release, and it credits both Eric Clapton and George Harrison as the writers.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

yeah, I noticed that too... not sure when that was updated.

[@johnnyhmash]

Surely Harrison,L'Angelo Mysterioso or whatever, wrote the 'our kid and Mabel 'stuff.? Also,Disraeli Gears is a pun on derailleur gears and was ,along with Elephants Gerald considered for the title.

[@the_gitman5978]

If you're a musician, the live recordings were what really stood out on their albums. Jack Bruce was pure creative fire, and everyone at the time wanted to play like him, bass player or not. Clapton was, well, Clapton. Everything he played was a guitar lesson in timing and expression. Every drummer I ever knew (and I've been playing for over 50 years) was in awe of Baker's use of double bass drums during the period when no one was doing that. He was a mad genius, and everyone knew it. Without the live recordings, those who didn't get a chance to see them live would have missed out on what made these incredible players tick. I'm still grateful they exist, and you should be too.

[@terrenceolivido741]

Clapton has praised Baker as a musician ! no, he was not kidding . Baker had the balls - and perhaps insanity - to play as an equal member and he did indeed have something to say on the drums. Jack Bruce and he fought -- haha. Cream was like " die young and leave a good-looking corpse. " that is what happened.

[@jamesmarchetti3286]

Great full history !!!

[@danielrockmyer949]

Loved this Matt! Big Cream fan here since 1970. I actually at 10 years old bought Live Cream! Thanks for posting! 💥🎸🎼

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Daniel!

[@geneobrien8907]

Thank you for another great bio Matt! This one warms my heart, its difficult to convey the excitement of hearing Fresh Cream when it was first released. So much was going on at the time and this album was another solid reinforced for a lifestyle which was common to the artists and their audience. Wheels of Fire was the first platinum-selling double album and for what was basically a hard rock group, to have a number one selling album when most Boomers weren't even aware of Cream, is quite impressive. Disraeli Gears was in everyone's record collection for several months before Sunshine of Your Love started to be played on AM radio and that is what made people outside of the counterculture aware of Cream. Thanks again for covering Cream, a group for which I have special memories!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Hey Gene, it was my pleasure to do this video. Plenty more to come!

[@DennisAlvarezMusic]

Another great and informative video Matt!

[@Steve68858]

A great review of Cream Matt. One of my favourites since I discovered them in the 80’s. some really great unique songs.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Steve!

[@TheAcidTest.]

THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!

[@aldonapetrano4663]

Great job giving the history of one of the most influential groups of all-time, The Cream were short lived, but left an enormous impact on Rock n Roll. Clapton, Baker, & Bruce were each in the top 3 of each instruments that they played.....THANK you!

[@boogeen1]

Excellent! This was a very interesting and informative documentary. The Bee Gees tidbit was very interesting as well.

[@willharris3798]

Your presentations of #167 and #168 are a great narrative. Groovy work. I agree about the pushing of their live sound in America in the late sixties, pursuing it in 1970 and 1972. They were popular to buy, but I rarely played them, then or now. Their studio sound was much more interesting.

[@dwodo21]

Outstanding as always!,

[@markandresen1]

A superb follow-up to your superb history lesson on the GBO.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Mark! It's a good one to cross off my very long list.

[@loakland2773]

Excellence presentation and research. I love your work. Thank you very much.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, loakland! More to come.

[@donkloos9078]

Great video, thank you. Cream was my favorite band growing up and playing in bands, I tried to emulate Eric Clapton. Even recently at the age of 68 I got to perform Cream's version of Crossroads as a tribute. The studio work is great, but I really love the raw live recordings such as Spoonful, Crossroads, I'm So Glad.

[@uraniumradio]

Great run down of a great set.

[@Aceface101]

Outstanding rock journalism, Matt. Your reviews are incredibly faithful and expertly cater to every discerning connoisseur of music. This channel is becoming areal treasure to many of us. Many blessings, my man.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

That is very kind of you Aceface. I do put loads of passion and work into these and I'm so happy other people appreciate the music of this era. Plenty more to come!

[@Aceface101]

@@popgoesthe60s52 nobody does it better, and it shows you put everything into it. And these things are an art form unto themselves - if you do them well, they hold a tremendous shelf life. You found your groove, and we are all most grateful for this, thank you.

[@vincognito]

Hi Matt. Just checking in to say hi because I've been so out of the loop...but that doesn't mean I haven't been watching! I really love these retrospectives. It's important that the music of this era gets documented and looked at closely. People who haven't lived through the 60's don't realize just how huge Cream was. They were a worldwide phenomenon. Almost like a foreshadowing of future rock trios like the Police, who also went global. Gotta love the Brits. They've always had a great way of refurbishing musical styles and presenting them in a new way: The Beatles reinterpreting American R&B and Pop; The Cream bringing American Blues to the forefront of the musical scene; the Police reinventing Reggae. It fascinates me how these reinventions created a whole new sound.

[@DandyLion662a]

Your vid just popped up in YT's algorithm. Excellent history. Boomer here, early Cream fan. Also well-steeped in 60s music. I already knew a fair bit about Clapton & Cream but learned some new stuff. Off to check some of your other vids.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Welcome, DandyLion!