I got into a bit of a hostile exchange with a lady who thought Tal Wilkenfeld was hot shit on the bass. I said she was very good, granted, but was no Jack Bruce. The other person said Bruce was overrated. I invited her to listen to this. Ms. Wilkenfeld couldn't touch this, but that's nothing to be ashamed of, since noone else could imho.
Along with Quicksilver's "Who Do You Love", this was the greatest live song ever recorded. And, ironically, both were recorded live at the Fillmore West. What a great time that was for the music of a generation. I still have most of my old albums from those years and this one, WHEELS OF FIRE, is an absolute treasure.
@deanslist101 Actually, "Spoonful", "Crossroads", and "Traintime" were all recorded at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco (now, sadly, torn down). It was the editing that made it sound like they went straight from "Traintime" into "Toad", which was the only song actually recorded at the Fillmore West. Why that portion of the album was even labelled "Live At The Fillmore" when only one of the four live performances was recorded there is a mystery to many people, including me.
By the way, "Spoonful" refers to whatever gets you through the moment - be it heroin, love, tea, gold, or a bullet (just a spoon from my 45 save me from another man). Listen to Willie Dixon songs. The best ever written.
In 69 Spoonful was the number one jam song in my world. That's when we carried instruments around and actually played them, and jammed and we weren't plugged into the Cyber Reich. Wake up kids, start jamming or sink back into your electronic coma. I saw Cream twice, so there.
This was '67 @ the Fillmore. Wheels of Fire. Best. I think Ginger said they were not rock and roll. They were fusion of jazz, blues, improvising, etc. It rocked whatever it is.
This song, is the greatest live recording of any rock and roll song in the history of rock and roll. Nothing tops this recording. And this was in 68? 69? Beats the crap outta rap or any other newer music. Hell, it's beats everything. Hands down.
@sandshark666 Couldn't agree more. I bought Wheels of Fire the day it came out and I still have a vinyl copy. This is absolute fucking magic from the first note to the last. It's the best live recording ever made of Clapton, Cream, blues-rock, and pretty much everything else. Ever.
@sandshark666 Amen to that. Every word, and nothing to add. I was just 15 when this came out (in '68) and you know what? I knew instantly that it was a classic. A true classic. It was almost weird. Even at that age, I just knew it was, and would be, their best ever recording. I'm 58 now, but I still listen to it at least once a month....
@teleevangelist YOU and ME BOTH BROTHER, WHAT A GREAT TIME, WAS WHEN I WAS FIRST GETTING INTO THE BLUES AND LEARNING TO PLAY HARMONICA, AND I'M STILL PLAYING OVER 40 YEARS LATER, LOVE THIS SONG
pfaessel1 it was communal. If there was one thing the corporate music industry disliked was too much creativity. They liked 2 to 3 minute song formats. Something they could market and make money on. This was really above their paygrade....so they had to destroy it and try re creating the stale 50's. It worked till the Punk and New wave late 70's early 80's. I appreciate those later rebels..now it just fucked..Hootie and the Blowjob WTF
I would have loved to be there when they were performing this excellent version of the song. I still have many records in my collection where the whole record was one or two songs; it was like sharing a jam session with Traffic, Jimmy, or any of those great groups of the 60's.
...these guys are just getting it on! I doubt we will ever see times like this, musically, again, where you could play out and do about anything. The times, the late 60's, were so crazy and audiences were way more open to Anything...like this! You could take alot of chances musically. Music, and the music industry, became very conservative, starting in the early 70's.
@pfaessel1 YEAH, WHAT A SHAME HOW INDUSTRY CHANGED, JACK DID A SONG ABOUT THE INDUSTRY CALLED 52ND ST, CHECK IT OUT FROM HIS ALBUM, "SHADOWS IN THE AIR", SOME GREAT NEW TUNES AND SOME REMAKES OF HIS SOLO AND CREAM DAYS
this is some serious blues music. Long live the cream!
robertpisarek 3 months ago
His Holy Modal Majesty is another song that is a great jazz instrumental. Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield, Super Session.
cameltooth1 6 months ago
I got into a bit of a hostile exchange with a lady who thought Tal Wilkenfeld was hot shit on the bass. I said she was very good, granted, but was no Jack Bruce. The other person said Bruce was overrated. I invited her to listen to this. Ms. Wilkenfeld couldn't touch this, but that's nothing to be ashamed of, since noone else could imho.
Arbeedubya 7 months ago in playlist Cream Wheels of Fire
Along with Quicksilver's "Who Do You Love", this was the greatest live song ever recorded. And, ironically, both were recorded live at the Fillmore West. What a great time that was for the music of a generation. I still have most of my old albums from those years and this one, WHEELS OF FIRE, is an absolute treasure.
deanslist101 8 months ago
@deanslist101 Actually, "Spoonful", "Crossroads", and "Traintime" were all recorded at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco (now, sadly, torn down). It was the editing that made it sound like they went straight from "Traintime" into "Toad", which was the only song actually recorded at the Fillmore West. Why that portion of the album was even labelled "Live At The Fillmore" when only one of the four live performances was recorded there is a mystery to many people, including me.
Arbeedubya 7 months ago in playlist Cream Wheels of Fire
@deanslist101 Exactly my feeling. Spoonful, and Who Do You Love; greatest live songs ever. What a decade.
counterstriving 6 months ago
By the way, "Spoonful" refers to whatever gets you through the moment - be it heroin, love, tea, gold, or a bullet (just a spoon from my 45 save me from another man). Listen to Willie Dixon songs. The best ever written.
bamboosa 9 months ago
In 69 Spoonful was the number one jam song in my world. That's when we carried instruments around and actually played them, and jammed and we weren't plugged into the Cyber Reich. Wake up kids, start jamming or sink back into your electronic coma. I saw Cream twice, so there.
bamboosa 9 months ago
I was 17 when that came out and I was just learning about lead guitar.
That song is great for that. Want to learn how to play lead tastefully?
Practice with this song.
McKellar51 1 year ago 5
Recorded March 10, 1968 @Winterland (San Francisco)
MaximeHoussin 1 year ago 2
Hendrix dosent even touch this, CLAPTON IS GOD
gardnerGB 1 year ago 2
fillmore 1968.hendrix non lo pensa proprio a slow hand...
sdsdsdsdsnhgvjshfvjs 1 year ago
This was '67 @ the Fillmore. Wheels of Fire. Best. I think Ginger said they were not rock and roll. They were fusion of jazz, blues, improvising, etc. It rocked whatever it is.
cameltooth1 1 year ago 2
This song, is the greatest live recording of any rock and roll song in the history of rock and roll. Nothing tops this recording. And this was in 68? 69? Beats the crap outta rap or any other newer music. Hell, it's beats everything. Hands down.
sandshark666 1 year ago 8
@sandshark666 Couldn't agree more. I bought Wheels of Fire the day it came out and I still have a vinyl copy. This is absolute fucking magic from the first note to the last. It's the best live recording ever made of Clapton, Cream, blues-rock, and pretty much everything else. Ever.
Yours, old fucker. :)
fripouille69 1 year ago 4
@sandshark666 Couldn't agree more, my man.
counterstriving 6 months ago
@sandshark666 Amen to that. Every word, and nothing to add. I was just 15 when this came out (in '68) and you know what? I knew instantly that it was a classic. A true classic. It was almost weird. Even at that age, I just knew it was, and would be, their best ever recording. I'm 58 now, but I still listen to it at least once a month....
fripouille69 5 months ago
Thank god I kept this on History Of EC............
annysvan 1 year ago 3
...brings me back to '67, I was a freshman in highschool then
teleevangelist 1 year ago 3
@teleevangelist YOU and ME BOTH BROTHER, WHAT A GREAT TIME, WAS WHEN I WAS FIRST GETTING INTO THE BLUES AND LEARNING TO PLAY HARMONICA, AND I'M STILL PLAYING OVER 40 YEARS LATER, LOVE THIS SONG
BLUESMANRONCHICAGO 1 year ago 2
Flag this video as magnificent!
JimGawthrop 2 years ago
the best rock song ever...never surpassed or duplicated even by clapton himself...something special. it's the fifth synphony of rock
cirosuperiore 2 years ago 3
Yeah, you are right
pfaessel1 it was communal. If there was one thing the corporate music industry disliked was too much creativity. They liked 2 to 3 minute song formats. Something they could market and make money on. This was really above their paygrade....so they had to destroy it and try re creating the stale 50's. It worked till the Punk and New wave late 70's early 80's. I appreciate those later rebels..now it just fucked..Hootie and the Blowjob WTF
thefabb 2 years ago
Seems like it was yesterday, at times.
Jenscool 2 years ago
Right on about "at times". It's now one of those times. I think it's a fLaShBaCk!
iddottaw 2 years ago
I would have loved to be there when they were performing this excellent version of the song. I still have many records in my collection where the whole record was one or two songs; it was like sharing a jam session with Traffic, Jimmy, or any of those great groups of the 60's.
JorgeAmarull 3 years ago
...these guys are just getting it on! I doubt we will ever see times like this, musically, again, where you could play out and do about anything. The times, the late 60's, were so crazy and audiences were way more open to Anything...like this! You could take alot of chances musically. Music, and the music industry, became very conservative, starting in the early 70's.
pfaessel1 3 years ago
@pfaessel1 /all you said is maybe debateable, but you failed to mention who you should here d/f, ginger baker, jack bruce,eric clapton
teleevangelist 1 year ago
@pfaessel1 YEAH, WHAT A SHAME HOW INDUSTRY CHANGED, JACK DID A SONG ABOUT THE INDUSTRY CALLED 52ND ST, CHECK IT OUT FROM HIS ALBUM, "SHADOWS IN THE AIR", SOME GREAT NEW TUNES AND SOME REMAKES OF HIS SOLO AND CREAM DAYS
BLUESMANRONCHICAGO 1 year ago
...wait - 1967!
swlabrnsu 3 years ago
thats 2 cream songs in your name you must be a fan you think theyd do a new album
missmarleneoh 3 years ago
I wish! Well at least they're all still alive (Jack & Ginger don't get along).
swlabrnsu 3 years ago
@swlabrnsu Ironically one of the best things about Cream's improvisations was the creative interaction between the drums and bass.
counterstriving 6 months ago