I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Crème. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. All the albums reviewed are indeed classic albums.
** ¼ Stars
Producer: Felix Pappalardi
Musicians: Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, L’Angelo
Misterioso, Felix Pappalardi
Songs: (Live) I’m So Glad, Politician, Sitting On Top of The
World, (Studio) Badge, Doing That Scrapyard Thing, What A Bringdown
By Matther Antony Allair
Man, what a drag! it is so frustrating for the sake of the
paying public to have to address these problems. Cream was, for a time, the
pre-eminent Blues power trio, and there’s no disputing that they are three of
the most gifted players and singers on the scene. Clapton often rose to the
occasion as a guitarist and singer in that band, Jack Bruce is a phenomenal
bass player and lead singer, and no one can dispute what an incredible drummer
Ginger Baker is. At the start of 66, they looked like they would be the
dominant power trio of the era, then Jimi Hendrix came along and met the
challenge.
After two studio albums, “Fresh Cream” and “Disraeli Gears”,
the band shifted to focusing a little less on building new material, and
recorded their live performances, treading on the good will their first two
albums, one disc of “Wheels Of Fire” was live material. This is the final album
and first post Cream release, the single “Badge” is the best ticket on the
album. “Crossroads” was a great performance and great idea for a single, but
perhaps the trend towards live recordings was a little much.
I can predict the scowls - Yes, I am aware that the band is
following the idiom of the blues tradition, I am aware the band is following
the spirit of jazz improvisation, the establishment of a head, then follows
into an improvisation before it reverts back to the head. The problem is most
traditional jazz players listen to each other, but it can feel like with Cream
it’s about one upmanship.
Regarding side one, something about the live material just
doesn’t sit will with me. “I’m So Glad” and “Politician” are nicely done,
phenomenal playing, but it feels like treading water. I know I am supposed to
like the live stuff - I appreciate the skill - but it just isn’t connecting
with me. What’s more frustrating is the fact that the charming single “Anyone
For Tennis” could have padded out the side one run time. This carries over into
the opening live track for side two, “Sitting On Top Of The World” which again
is nicely done, but just didn’t connect with me and it’s hard to define why.
Perhaps it’s because the band doesn’t seem to serve the songs, but their
prowess. The track “Badge” is the
strongest number on the album, and it is said that a Beatle contributed to the
song – I’ll Leave you to guess which one.
Jack’s “Doing That Scrapyard Thing” is just idiosyncratic,
while his closer “What A Bringdown” is stronger but could have been more, yet
the track’s title is ironic, if not apt, considering the situation. This is a
slight drag, all things considered. Once again, the prior single from 1966, “Wrapping
Paper” would have been a more satisfying album ender as ‘Goodbye’ acts as a
coda. Considering the half hour run time of the whole thing, this feels like a
cheat and an odd piece for a final statement. This just came out a month after
Led Zeppelin’s debut, and you can see the stark contrast as far as the
presentation of quality between the two albums. It’s up to the reader to decide
what they connect with more.
“Badge” is the strongest piece overall as much as some fans won’t
want to admit it. The rest is a mere curiosity. A very mixed legacy.
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