Cream, Royal Albert Hall: London, May 2-3-5-6 2005 [HD DVD]

Cream, Royal Albert Hall: London, May 2-3-5-6 2005 [HD DVD] Review

Cream, Royal Albert Hall: London, May 2-3-5-6 2005 [HD DVD] Feature

• In May of 2005 Cream returned to London's Royal Albert Hall--to the same stage where they had done what was thought be their final performance in 1968. It was one of the most eagerly anticipated, hard-to-get tickets in Rock history. With the exception of a brief reunion set at their 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cream had not played together in nearly four decades. This D

They step onto the stage of London's Royal Albert Hall: Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, and Eric Clapton. The capacity crowd, which includes Sean Penn and Jude Law, stands to greet them. Thirty-seven years after their farewell concert, the famously fiery Cream did the unthinkable--they reunited. This double-disc collection (and accompanying CD set) captures highlights from the historic four-day engagement, beginning with a buoyant "I'm So Glad" and ending with a triumphant "Sunshine of Your Love." It would be churlish to suggest that Cream appears exactly as they did in the 1960s (Bruce looks a little frail), but the legendary power trio still has the goods. Bruce is still the essence of soul (a particularly rich vocal on "Politician"), while Baker is as irrepressible as ever (a rare vocal on "Pressed Rat and Warthog," percussive tour-de-force "Toad"). Then there's Clapton, who remains as much a master of the guitar as of understatement. "Thanks for waiting all these years," he quips after a slow-burning "Outside Woman Blues," then adds, "We're going to do every song we know." The track listing is, indeed, generous, despite the absence of such Cream classics as "I Feel Free," "Strange Brew," and "Tales of Brave Ulysses." All told, there are 22 songs plus three alternate takes--and not a bad one in the bunch. --Kathleen C. Fennessy Movie description Cream's set of reunion shows in May 2005 was a justly hot ticket. The legendary rock trio of Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton--two jazz musicians and a blues guitarist--was one of the most influential bands of the 1960s, even though they played together for less than three years. They brought their psychedelic fusion of blues and pop into the mainstream with albums like FRESH CREAM and WHEELS OF FIRE; Clapton, long regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, did some of his best work on those albums. London's Royal Albert Hall, the site of what was supposed to be Cream's final performance back in 1968, was also the venue for their reunion show. Sounding as if they'd been on vacation for a few weeks instead of disbanded for well over three decades, Cream brought the house down with a series of four shows, all of which are excerpted here. The band performs classics like "Spoonful," "Born Under a Bad Sign," "Sunshine of Your Love," and "White Room," among more than 20 others. Also featured are interviews with Baker, Bruce, and Clapton.

Royal Albert Hall: London May 2-3-5-6 2005

Royal Albert Hall: London May 2-3-5-6 2005 Review

Royal Albert Hall: London May 2-3-5-6 2005 Feature

• CREAM ROYAL ALBERT HALL - MAY 2,3,5,6 (2CD)

After a 37 year absence Cream reformed in May 2005 for a series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, the stage of their last UK performance. As befitting a trio whose focus was always squarely on the music, they emerge to no fanfare, briefly test their instruments and launch into the perfectly apt "I'm So Glad." Drawing from each of their four studio albums, they revisit the songs for their inherent resonance and as a springboard for their instrumental interplay. There's no need to update the material, as it all still fits each of the three men like a thousand dollar suit. Bruce's vocals still soar with operatic bearing, Clapton sounds energized, freed from the production cushioning on his own recordings, and Baker, now in his mid-sixties, can still dazzle with his solo turn on "Toad." --David Greenberger Cream, the legendary band of Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, performed for the first time in 37 years in May 2005. One of the most highly anticipated reunions in rock, the concert at London's Royal Albert Hall-where the band played its farewell show November 26, 1968-returned to the stage the trio that forever changed rock 'n' roll. Now the best of those historic peformances are available on Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6 2005. This is classic Classic Rock. A companion DVD is being released utilizing different takes of the same tracks.

Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005

Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005 Review

Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005 Feature

• 2 DVDs
• Cream
• Format 2 DVDs

They step onto the stage of London's Royal Albert Hall: Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, and Eric Clapton. The capacity crowd, which includes Sean Penn and Jude Law, stands to greet them. Thirty-seven years after their farewell concert, the famously fiery Cream did the unthinkable--they reunited. This double-disc collection (and accompanying CD set) captures highlights from the historic four-day engagement, beginning with a buoyant "I'm So Glad" and ending with a triumphant "Sunshine of Your Love." It would be churlish to suggest that Cream appears exactly as they did in the 1960s (Bruce looks a little frail), but the legendary power trio still has the goods. Bruce is still the essence of soul (a particularly rich vocal on "Politician"), while Baker is as irrepressible as ever (a rare vocal on "Pressed Rat and Warthog," percussive tour-de-force "Toad"). Then there's Clapton, who remains as much a master of the guitar as of understatement. "Thanks for waiting all these years," he quips after a slow-burning "Outside Woman Blues," then adds, "We're going to do every song we know." The track listing is, indeed, generous, despite the absence of such Cream classics as "I Feel Free," "Strange Brew," and "Tales of Brave Ulysses." All told, there are 22 songs plus three alternate takes--and not a bad one in the bunch. --Kathleen C. Fennessy In May of 2005 Cream returned to London's Royal Albert Hall-to the same stage where they had completed what was thought to be their final performance in 1968. It was one of the most eagerly anticipated, hard-to-get tickets in rock history. With the exception of a brief reunion set at their 1993 induction into the Rock and roll Hall of Fame, Cream had not played together in nearly four decades. This DVD documents Cream's momentous London shows. Performances from each of the four nights are featured and much more. Also included are alternate performances and interviews with Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton. Cream formed in 1966 and disbanded in 1968. The band were a prolific and thrilling live act and toured incessantly in their short but remarkable history.Track Listings: I'm So Glad, Spoonful, Outside Woman Blues, Pressed Rat & Warthog, Sleepy Time Time, N.S.U., Badge, Politician, Sweet Wine, Rollin' & Tumblin', Stormy Monday, Deserted Cities of the Heart, Born Under a Bad Sign, We're Going Wrong, Crossroads, Sitting on Top of the World, White Room, Toad, Sunshine of Your Love, Spoonful (Alternate Takes), Sleepy Time Time (Alternate Takes), Badge (Alternate Takes), Sweet Wine (Alternate Takes), Rollin' & Tumblin', We're Going Wrong, White Room, Sunshine of Your Love