Cream - Earliest Known footage, December 1966

[orlaej]

Ginger Baker: "Wrapping paper is the biggest piece of shit, ever!"

[mickeymousebiker1]

I love the tune "Wrapping Paper." A good old-fashioned sound.

[motorhead5367]

Song sucks.

[mcleanartists]

@motorhead5367 There are TWO songs here girls.

[JIMBCPA]

Baker absolutely despised this song, that is why is mugging behind the drums.

[Ezguitarpick]

OH how historic. Laughing at Ginger Baker doing a great job pretending to actually hit the drums, highhats etc. They came a long way from those days. Now that I am older, they look so young to me in this.

[Gnottason]

haha, not their finest moment

[swingmanu]

Clapton at his best? That's cream....And Blind Faith.

[georgef1776]

Looks like Jack studied at the Paul McCartney School of Cuteness - I'll give him a B-

[MrKirkenstein]

hahahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!!!!!!­!!



[martyblueyes]

I saw Cream at the Murray the K Easter Show at the Paramount theatre near Fulton St. in Bklyn in 1966. I was 12, my brother was 11. Tickets were about $4. They played with thr Who, Blues Project, and many other bands. Each band got 2 songs to play.The Who started breaking up their instruments after "my generation" we'd never seen anything like it before. Cream played "I feel Free" and "NSU" before they were thrown off the stage. The leading act that night was Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels

[slimshine953]

@martyblueyes It couldn't have been Easter '66, or in that year at all. Cream didn't make it's debut as a group until late July of '66, in England. The band's first trip to the states was in March '67, for a couple weeks, where they played 8 or 10 shows at New York's RKO theater, then returned to London. It's possible that they played the Murray the K show, prior to their departure. Perhaps this is what you recall.

[martyblueyes]

@slimshine953 Considering that I'm 57 now, my memore only serves me half right, sometimes. You are correct, it was 1967 and it was at the RKO theater,not the Paramount. I was there

[slimshine953]

@martyblueyes I understand, you're forgiven lol. Wish I was at that show. I'm envious. Consider yourself fortunate to have seen this legend of a band for their first US appearances. Rock on mate.

[lloydvictim]

Ginger Baker without the face whiskers? This is a great vid of historical importance. Those who are critical of the music displayed her, do not understand the record biz in the 60's. The suits were looking for "pop" tunes that would sell well for a month. The musicians were willing to play that game so that their more serious tunes might be discovered by serious music fans.

Great find!

[LanceHelmut]

enforced lip synching was all pervasive for rock on t.v. in this era...so what ? ..this is cream...real rock royalty ! great post.

[Stof31]

I love the way Ginger Baker makes it painfully obvious he's not interesting in _pretending_ to play drums ... :)

[HunterGathera]

@Stof31 haha yea its hilarious, hes just pissing around

[dowsemeister]

Gotta love this stuff but thank god Jimi came and woke them up a month or two earlier.

Eric does get a great sound on that tasty solo

[Nacho66]

That Bass he is playing is NOT a Fender Jazzmaster played 'bass' style. It is a Fender VI bass guitar (6-string) that he used to record the song.

[pickenspolitics]

Ginger Baker waving his drums sticks is the funniest thing I've seen on youtube. I think they knew how foolish this was.

[milkshakebabies2010]

What's the name of that first song? So 1966...Like everyone else, the lip synching doesn't do it for me but - as others have said - it is historical because it's the early CREAM. I know their hits and Clapton's career (the hits that preceeded and came after)...and read his book...Anyway, I'm interested in that first song, thanks....(Everyone seen the "Sunshine of Your Love" video from the farewell '68 concert, I hope.)

[OurLadyOfSorrows08]

Thanks for posting. I am a long time Cream fan but had never seen this. It is really a shame the TV show producers back then insisted on lip-synching, unplugged guitars and no-contact drumming. You can tell Ginger is just laughing at the process. Jack Bruce is "playing" a Fender Jazzmaster guitar bass style. But what really shines through here is the songwriting and musicianship in the recorded track. They were way ahead of their time.

[keltyk]

Baker looks such a junky- The 2nd tune has the heaviest moments surely to come out of 66-- aside from if Cream did even heavier stuff- I don't think there was much that was seriously proper heavy before 1969 and Zeppelin-- In some ways some of their set is very advanced for its time- despite that tune 1 is based on 30s jazz

[uradragon]

Damn some break through music here. thanks for posting. Incredible really. there is a great deal of music that I lived through and never really knew what I was listening too. i.e. the complexity or the heart behind it.

[SAHBfan]

If you want to hear someone really venting their spleen and calling this song 'CRAP' (Actually, I think his exact words were... "The biggest pile of SHIT ever recorded") - then search for footage of the Ginger Baker interview from around 2005 ;-)

I think this whole song choice / miming / TV show style thing showed that the record companies had very little idea of what they had or how to handle it.

Interesting clip, though, thanks for posting.

[genericgeorge]

Gniger is really getting into the pretending to hit the drums lol

[codehendrix]

eric clapton just got beat up by hendrix around this time lol!!!!!!!!

[almudjk]

before they discovered LSD

[NoRosesForMe]

This is NOT crap for the simple fact that it is early Cram and rarely seen and yes they are lip synching but ,,,,its lovely to see them this early. LOVE their first album. Jazzy and strange and magical and Jack Bruce is beautiful. THANK YOU for posting this. Love it. Bless you and peace "Jenny"...people just dont GET the song (Wrapping Paper) and the times it came from,,,etc etc. ITS CREAM people!

[theonlyantony]

@NoRosesForMeThey released it to fox the press and fans,who were expecting the first single to be blues rock.There's1920's theme running through the first album-Very fashionable at that point.Voices=wonderful.It's a stroll by the river in Richmond on a warm day in 1966 which the Cream must have done

as they were often in the area(I FEEL FREE video shot at Old Deer Park,by Thames). The Auberge(Nando's stands on the site next to Odeon)=where all the bands used to hang.it's the café in 'Poor Cow'

[theonlyantony]

@NoRosesForMe They released it to fox the press and fans,who were expecting the first single to be blues rock.There's1920's theme running through the first album-Very fashionable at that point.Voices=wonderful.It's a stroll by the river in Richmond on a warm day in 1966 which the Cream must have done

as they were often in the area(I FEEL FREE video shot at Old Deer Park,by Thames). The Auberge(Nando's stands on the site next to Odeon)=where all the bands used to hang.it's the café in 'Poor Cow'

[jsilence418]

Considering their future output, it is a relatively crappy song, sounds like something ray stevens would sing !

[akibubba1]

this clip is really strange when you mute the sound...(everyone should try it once-better than shrooms !! ) - ahhhh, my beloved Atco mono "Fresh Cream" (yes-the one w/ the good version of "Sweet Wine" on it) - heavy vinyl, wonderfully crude and beautiful-sounding analog technology - 'tis a shame to ever put Cream songs in digital cans...

[bozzojoe]

They were just kids! If you want to hear just what a great musician and singer Jack is/was check out his post Cream album "Songs for a Taylor" (It might be "Tailor")

[forevertobeginning]

CRAP

[MattHatter]

Can you believe this song ("Wrapping Paper") was the band's FIRST release?! What the hell were they thinking?! I think this was one of those pressure from management / record label things. To release something slightly hokey and whimsical because that was what was "in" at the time. It's by far the most BORING track they ever released!

[genericgeorge]

@MattHatter it's a lot like Good day sunshine, daydream, sunny afternoon. More Kinks than Cream lol

[MattHatter]

@genericgeorge Yeah you can definitely hear those types of songs in "Wrapping Paper." Probably the only songs I don't care for by Cream are "Wrapping Paper," "Sleepy Time Time," and "Sitting On Top Of The World." I'm not saying they're bad, I just find them to be too slow for me in particular. I really wouldn't care for "Sweet Wine" all that much if it wasn't for Clapton's awesome solo. Everything else of Cream's I absolutely love.

[flyinv1967]

this is the song G.Baker hated as seen in a video

[armyod0818]

@DONDIVA1969 No way. This is a great song. Just give it some time to sink in.

[redfirered1]

Those shirts are way out there----

[redfirered1]

Can not disguise Jack Bruce!!

[SluFay]

man they sound pretty good consodering they don't have any guitar cords

[jimdep1]

This was one of THE most exciting times in music in the last 100 years. Cream was fresh alright. Popular music today is total crap in comparison.

[jpnoll]

their idea of a spoof song?

[DONDIVA1969]

Terrible song

[kmsmith49]

This is hilarious. When you think about how good Cream actually were, they must really felt silly doing this.

[Frankonino]

They were only three, but sounded like 25!

[toughserb145]

@Frankonino Because they had back up players in the back. There was rythem, piano and others.

[toughserb145]

my favorite band since i was 9. im 13 now and it still is my favorite

[dylancollver]

@toughserb145 cool

[BLUESMANRONCHICAGO]

many of the British invasion groups hated to "mime" the words and playing, they all liked playing Sullivan show cause it was live

[milanoccs]

Best group of all times, by far.



[Tombstoneblues19]

Ginger hated Wrapping Paper. Looked liked he couldn't wait to get it over with.

[HBK1337]

@Tombstoneblues19 they all hated it. i do too, it kinda sucks.

[BLUESMANRONCHICAGO]

@HBK1337 pink floyd absolutely hated it, roger Waters told a great story about Syd Barrett freezing up in front of the TV cameras cause he was so stoned and Roger had to mime the lyrics!!!

[coolmanjack1995]

Its pretty awesome to see that ginger is so damn good he doesnt have to actually hit the drums lol. Couldnt they have just recorded it of him actually playing and then turned the volume off in the video? That would just make sense

[harvey1954]

Hard to believe that Clapton left the Yardbirds over "For Your Love", but ends up doing a crap tune like this a couple of years later. Winchester Cathederal drivel.

[armyod0818]

@harvey1954 A crap tune?  Check your ears, man!

[harvey1954]

@armyod0818 Checked 'em! Everything's fine and the tune is still crap. Listen to "Badge", "I Feel Free", or "I'm So Glad" for some of their better songs.

[archie977]

i think this was in putney vermont

[paparazzi323]

a classic !

[1dockthorwho23]

Fender six string bass all most got one at the time I though it was to much money $300.00 who knew LOL Thanks for posting Love this stuff c];-)

[dunokuba]

Thats some shitty lip-syncing

[robin56]

Great to see!!! it is funny how high off the skins Ginger is :D

[grinsonyou]

Definitely on Planet Ginger

[grinsonyou]

Defiantly on Planet Ginger

[MrJoeoliff]

wow! i must have blinked and missed this the first time around. good stuff.

[Samuijazz]

Who was trying to market them as Hermans Hermits?

Glad they got over that.

[hihats]

Ginger on air drums

[afrobeat1957]

Nice! Sort of Comical.

[afrobeat1957]

Nice!

[kathmandoo]

Why they released this crap is beyond me. They were a brilliant band and great Musos. I Loved them but this song does NOT represent what they were about.

[noclouds111]

Jack Bruce had a great voice...when he was really singing.

[bamboosa]

Ginger hated this song. Dig the fake drumming.

[NintendoSinceBirth1]

they were hating wrapping paper haha

[DYNODRUM]

Ba Boo WaH Ba , baba wAH boo ba Babu waH.

[fuzzface100]

Very very cool video! Thought I'd seen all the Cream footage that existed - you've proved me wrong!

Great to see them in their early days...

[moonlightsea8]

FABULISTIC!!!!!

[Holi64]

what is jack bruce playin?

[earinsound]

@Holi64

looks like a Fender 6 string bass

[PBANDSNOW]

@Holi64 Fender VI

[TheNiceroad]

Found it funny that Clapton had left the Yardbirds a year earlier because he wanted to play more blues oriented music! lol

[sludgefingers]

Sweet Wine at 3:58 - of my favourite ever guitar solos (including the background solos and the feedback).

[Fronte999]

oh this is REALLY great stuff. I never got to see these guys actually playing that song. I can clearly remember the first moment I heard Clapton, on the radio at my friend Terrence Wescott's house in Poughkeepsie NY. they were playing Sunshine of Your Love.

[Galantski]

From about 4:00 on Ginger Baker goes ape on the drums and looks like a Muppet! LOL

[ClygarPro]

Jack is playing a Jaguar? How freaky in this clip. Lipsincked!

[jtscirocco]

An interesting selection for their first song. Not what you would expect from Cream. It demonstrates their tremendous versatility. Too bad the biz burned them out after only two years. They could have gone on to greater heights.

[nish147]

And we can see that Clapton's famed Les Paul....later used in while my guitar gently weeps.....

[jjoy52]

@nish147 I thought he used one of George Harrison's guitars, as he hadn't expected to be there playing.

[1blastman]

Sounds like it was produced by Mickey Most.

But Sweet Wine works for me.

[spacepatrolman]

@1blastman ginger baker didnt like this song but its a good blues piano number by jack bruce

[CadillacL]

Cream, THE greatest! :)

[theonlyantony]

Actually Wrapping Paper's quite Queen 'Night At Opera'! or rather vice-versa....I love the nineteen-twentiesness of this era. i love that Cream surprised the fans and press with Wrapping Paper. They were saying 'we play as we please!'

[WhiteCamry92]

@theonlyantony ,

I agree; "Sweet Wine" is more Queen than Cream. Did Queen ever play it?

[WhiteCamry92]

@theonlyantony,

Correction: I meant to say "Wrapping Paper."

[LordGroundhog]

For those of you too young to know, rock musicians were almost always made to synch (fake) performing on TV back then. The studios sometimes said they didn't have the tech to balance the sounds, and sometimes they didn't trust the band to be able to play live without screwing up, but a lot of time they just didn't trust them to play "clean".

[Khultan]

I don't get the allure of this.

[PAULLONDEN]

Fresh Cream indeed....

But then,to think Clapton left The Yardbirds for "For Your Love"....

4:03 that Ginger...;] this must be the most intense drum sync session EVER...

[67Stu]

You think they could be faking it anymore if they tried? HA HA HA!

[MrRcurrent]

Fantastic! Real vintage Eric Clapton on Gibson Les Paul. Sweet vine: Feedback screaming everywhere. A sort of psychedelic nightmare. This was the original version from Fresh Cream. Yeah, the cream was very fresh and the wine was sooo sweet!

Jack (his voice! his bass!), Ginger (a great musician, not only one of the best drummers in the world!), Eric (golden tone, full of colours, talking guitar!): they were number one, those days. Those were the days, my friends!

[majinbunda]

Respond to this video... ginger sucks at pretending thats hes playing couse hes just too good when doing it for real

[G8GT364CI]

@majinbunda Most drummers did that when the bands lip-synched I think it was so they wouldn't accidentally hit too hard.

[bamboosa]

Ginger hated this song.

[yourtubesteak]

Amazing!



[broccolibloom]

Amazing Footage! Thankyou very much. :)

[TheGrayRevolution]

Amazing Footage Man..., Exetremely Geniously.

[Talpestruzzolo]

...and the drummer?! WTF?! xD LOL

[slashgrass]

Amazing footage Eugene!!!

Thank you so much for this my friend.

-Giuliano

[hall9calation]

@slashgrass

enjoy, friend!

Cream is one of the best groups of all time

[JediMasterCheryl]

@hall9calation You got that right! Cream is one of the best bands I have ever heard...well ever! :)

[Tushratta]

Big thanks for the post, a real gold rarity !