Rating : 10/10

10 February 2007

Although the filming was archaic what comes across is the sheer brilliant sometimes effortless musicianship especially Jacks bass playing which in my opinion is still unsurpassed.

Rating : 8/10

28 December 2003

I remember seeing this film at the Lincoln Center (NYC) in either '68 or '69, and I distinctly recall a version of Crossroads in it where Baker plays syncopated cut time between vocals during the verses. This version of the concert does not include that tune.

We get to see Clapton's nice red 335, the painted SG, and a sweet two pickup Firebird. His solo on Politician is the best of any other recorded version. Jack Bruce displays strong vibrato on bass, and Baker's playing is relentless on this version as well.

Bruce's vocals are relaxed and free-wheeling. In fact, it is apparent that all three are at the top of their game in this film.

None of the songs are presented from beginning to end. Poor editing often creates momentary confusion as the tape is not spliced for tempo continuity. I'm So Glad is just nothing except a brief snippet of soloing and then the ending vocals.

Excessive close-ups mar this film for musicians. (We'd rather see their fingers than their faces.) The sound quality is a bit muddy. But in spite of these warts, we must have this film because it is one of the only films available, which is a shame because Cream was such an important band.

Rating : 10/10

24 August 2003

This is priceless, I agree with the others, camera work stinks. There are indeed many cheesy effects and shots. Keep in mind though the interviews with the band provide great insight. Interview with Ginger Baker is timeless, he makes a complete racus on his kit while he is talking. A very long haired glassy eyed Clapton demonstrates a few of his different sounds, to include woman-tone and his wah-wah technique.  I'm not so impressed with JacK Bruce's ego, but he still manages to live up to his reputation. He's truly great , perhaps the strongest impetus in cream, I just cant help feeling that he is a jerk in person. Buy this video!!!!!!

Rating : 9/10

20 March 2002

Well I got to liking Clapton through Cream. I love Cream. I gave it a 9 for the MUSIC PARTS and interviews!!! The camera man should of been shot!!! And well the edits are not the greatest. But the actual show is fantastic. It's a great video to have...watching the best trio of all time say goodbye!

Rating : 6/10

5 April 2001

This video is a nice time signature piece - highly editorialized. Still, the camera-person responsible for the footage of this video, though perhaps brilliantly intuitive, should be taken out and shot. It's as if the filmer anticipated that Clapton would be around for years to come, whereas Bruce and Baker would be leaving the limelight forever. Even when Clappers takes a solo, the camera remains focused on Bruce or Baker. So there is very little footage of E.C. actually playing his guitar - Occasionally there is a glimpse from the side or the rear. The white room solo is marked by all kinds of zooming around E.C.'s honker to highlight the wah-wah. You begin to wonder if permission to film the guitarist at work was denied. Words addressed to the audience by the musicians after the set are subsonic and only understandable if you can read lips.

From the couch potato perspective the music isn't mind blowing but the event is memorable and the audience is frenzied with an interesting mix of students, hippies & yuppies dressed in suits. Goodbye Cream, Hello Blind Faith.

The footage is interspersed with individual interviews of Jack, Eric and Ginger. Bruce talks about music school. Eric candidly demonstrates his use of guitar, wah-wah & technique, flashing a Bugs Bunny smile and a dash of cheekiness at the prospect of smashing his guitar - which he later gave to Tod Rundgren. Ginger displays his kit and plays us some 'rudiments'.

Rating : 7/10

20 November 2000

Once again, I'd have to say that this video is a bit hard for me to watch, having lived thru the psychedelic age (I was married the year after this was filmed); the behind-the-scenes bits are priceless but the morphing, oil & water backgrounds meant to enhance a drug experience are hard on the eyes.

If EC had never done another thing after Cream, I'd never had paid him any mind. I'm so glad he came thru the other side of that fog and was able to appeal to whole new generations of enthusiastic fans, with his talents intact.

Rating : 8/10

5 October 2000

Ah, that last Cream concert. A great performance by all,  includes Interviews with all three PLUS some great classics played live back in 1968. (That's 12 years before I was born fans!)