Before this 1968 thread gets off the box set topic, any comments about the 2005 reunion should go in this new thread: The Cream Reunion Shows of 2005 - it's already 15 years later!
This baby finally arrived after 6 1/2 weeks of postal limbo, free of charge since Amazon.uk pushed a refund on me when they thought it was lost. It'd better be worth the £0.00 ($0.00 after conversion) I spent on it.
For one reason, at least to me, is that the RAH show is not nearly the quality of sound as the studio tracks. The RAH show sounds like a decent bootleg, not a legit release...IMO.
Listening to the first disc now. The sound is certainly shooting below par (really good). I'm feeling Ginger on "Passing The Time."
It took forever but mine arrived safely recently and I have been playing through it. My gut feeling is that the best performances were already released and while this is a nice collector addition to my pretty large Clapton and related artist collection I would not categorise it as 10/10 essential.
It would help if there was an image there. If it's of Eric Clapton playing left handed, that has already been mentioned.
Lol Yes there is suppose to be an image; wonder why it is not visible. How did that get past the people that overlooked/published the book?
I finally pulled the trigger on this. I'm a Jack Bruce near-completist, so I knew I'd get around to it eventually (and didn't want to wait until it's OOP). As others have pointed out, Crossroads at Oakland is a train wreck! Mostly due to Ginger. It sounds like he left the drum riser and Pete Brown took over for him. I almost wonder if Ginger was having trouble hearing the others at that point for some reason. Just uncharacteristically off.
My standard issue box from Amazon arrived with the glossy cover coming apart at one of the edges. I guess I need to find the right glue? My other educated guess is the Japan box is much better made. Other than bonus tracks (not an issue here) that's why I go for the Japanese product, e.g.., higher quality construction and design details not found on the standard issue. In this instance, I purchased late so I couldn't get the bonus poster that came with the Japan box. But maybe I should have gone that route, anyway.
I got the Japanese box because I was unable to find a domestic box in stock at the on line retailers I normally use. It is well constructed packaging and I like the protective plastic sleeves for the discs. Not worth the extra money, but I did have an earned points buyer coupon that was expiring in a couple of days, so I took the opportunity. Very happy with the quality and of course the availability...
It does recover, but the beginning (doesn't Eric start it in the wrong key too?) is just hilariously bad! I've said it before, but none of the other live versions I've heard (on this box or on boots) match the groove on the classic 03/10/68 version and a big part of that I think is that locked-in tango rhythm that Ginger plays there - did he ever play it that way again...?
Bullmoose still has some in stock for those looking for this in the U.S. still. That's where I got mine. - Cream - Goodbye Tour – Live 1968
Maybe not, but Ginger lays down a nice groove on BBM's City of Gold, basically a remake of Crossroads. (Sad all three guys are no longer with us)
It was some fancy Richard Branson party to celebrate Virgin’s 21st birthday 26th May 1994 Live at The Manor. I remember watching it on TV at the time but the detail was from YouTube.
I pre-ordered a copy from another vendor before release and then never heard from them after it was released. When I contacted them they said sorry, they didn't have any left and weren't sure they'd ever get any more. I searched other sellers (except Bull Moose) and came up with nothing. I fell through the cracks completely, cancelled my back order, and went with the Japan Box so I could be sure of getting it.
