Each member of Cream was a legend already when they formed. Their music was a force unto itslef and that's probably why they burned out so fast.
I heard a suppsoed quote from Ginger Baker sometime in the late 70s that I liked, even if it's not true: "The best thing about Cream is, we knew when to stop."
want to hear some great fuckin blues harp? just listen and enjoy, i play this song too, and it's damn hard to keep it going without running out of breath, Jack was awesome in his youth, and still plays the harp well even though he is now in his 60's. the years do take the toll on the amount of wind you got, believe me.
@ESPEEandERIE The closest my friends & I could get to this superhuman performance was a couple of "New Yorkers" ,a bucket of Col.Sanders listening in awe to the Wheels of Fire LP that came out that day.....PS I hate you :-)
even though i am not a harmonica player and i am not expert in harmonica playing by all means and i am aware of all of the harmonica masters in the world but to my taste this is my favorite harmonica blues song and this song along with Rolling and Tumblin made me take the blues route on my music career when i was very young.thanks Jack,Eric and Ginger..
When I first heard this song in '92, it kicked my ass so hard. I'll never forget how my ass was kicked that summer beginning on Mother's Day of '92 when I first heard "Badge", and then later that summer, I bought "Wheels of Fire." Oh my goodness - never heard drums and a harmonica like this ever in my life. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker are ultra-legends.
Finally, the guitar solo to "Toad" was astounding (live version - not so much studio).
Cream had so much influence on the development of musicians. I learned to play guitar with the Ventures but by 1969 I knew every not that Jack Bruce played in the 15 minute version of Spoonful.......on my 59 Fender Precision Bass.
I dont get it.... why do you think Bruce is playing the bass AND the harpe here...... Do you hear a bassguitar on this track? NO!! You have Ginger in the back doing some great drumming,- and a big and loud Ludwig bass drum. But Jack Bruce is "only" playing the harpe and singing. This track is one of my to 10 all time rock tracks....... Wow, he is giving us a piece of his soul here...... No bass, though. Sorry.
@hfranke07 /jack bruce is singing this song, playin bass, while ginger beats it out, I was a freshman in highschool when this came out, bad then, still bad, to this day, where were you then, lol?/I'm a '53 studebaker
Bruce is not a harp master like James cotton or Paul Butterfield, but he sure puts his heart and soul into blowing it here - always loved this track - Bruce is a great blues singer, really feeling the music - he was my ideal as a blues bassist and singer, back in the day, and still love to hear him
@SupernalOne You forget to mention the influence of Jazz & classical music on Jack & his solo work. My favourite of his albums 'Harmony Row' has a lot of Jazz patterns in the songs more than blues.Clapton is far more of a bluesman
true that - absolutely. Clapton loves blues single-mindedly, Bruce has varied interests and classical musical training. I recall Bruce said he had to unlearn classical music to play the blues -
Well, ok I could be wrong here, but on this particular one I still think he is just playing harp, but on the 2005 re union he does have the harp a fixed to the stand up mike and he is playing the bass and blowing harp and singing into another mike " Sitting On Top of The World."...it is here on youtube, you notice the different in the intensity of the harp on these too songs, that is why I say he is not playing bass here but he could be and if he is, than he is for sure very underrated IMO
this version of Traintime sounds like the one on Wheels of Fire - if so, it was followed by "toad" the drum solo song -- the beginning of that song is Clapton playing guitar alone for about 10 seconds before Bruce comes in on bass - it always sounded like bruce was switching instruments, hence the delay - don't know, but this version sounds like he's completely undistracted, concentrating on his harp work - "As You Said" :)
Jack is NOT playing the bass, Ginger Baker is doing bass on the drums, Jack has two hands on, some one on another live version said he was playing Bass, singing and doing harp, if there we so he would have two puncture wounds in his chest from the harp rack......... no way
I have Jack & Ginger doing this on The Graham Bond Organization Live at Klooks Kleek 10/27/64 CD. So They'd been doing this number for a while by the time they hit the fillmore..
The harmonica playing is "crossharp" style. The song is in the key of E, but the key "A" is stamped on the harmonica. The song that immediately follows is "Toad", which is also in the key of E.
The best track on Wheels of Fire, in my opinion. Clapton goes too overboard wildman on guitar, Ginger Baker's drumming is scattered all over the place; only Jack Bruce is focused. His distorted bass playing is killer!
Cream used a number of songs to highlight their solos. For guitar, it was Clapton playing Stepping Out. For Jack it was Traintime on harmonica. Finally, for Ginger it was Toad. So all three were featured. Toad usually followed Traintime but I don't know if Stepping Out was played in concert with the other two.
C'mon ppl....one of the greatest blues/rock bands ever...doesn't matter about how old you are or the line up of the personnel or subsequent successes/failures...what is the matter with you? It's just about the music and how it makes you feel....
FYI', Traintime was recorded March 8, at the Winterland, and Toad was recorded March 7 at the Fillmore. Crossroads and Spoonful were recorded on 3 10 68 at The Winterland, as wee several other songs from the Live Cream Sessions I and II
IMHO, this would have been enhanced if you had included the segue into Toad, at least when Baker picks up the sticks and the guitars are plugged in and those first chords are hit. I wasn't there that night, but I can still "see" the whole performance anyway!
Always thought this was one of the most frenetic and frankly "LOUD" rock songs every recorded. How can two musicians make so much tasty noise with brushes on drums (only two and no cymbals! Maybe three drums if he's using both bass drums, which I doubt) and a harmonica? I'm get exhausted listening to it! GASP
Clapton had a much more significant career after Cream than Bruce or Baker. Without any of them Cream would not be as good, but Clapton was the driving force.
I agree with wilsontigers. Cream would not be considered a great band if they just had a great bass player and a great drummer. They needed a great blues guitarist as well.
Cream Is One Of The Most Incredible Bands That I Ever Heard! Only In 3 Albums They Did Way More Great Work Than Any Band With More Than 10 Albums! It's Incredible, Every Artist From Cream Playing On More Than 4 Instruments & They Doing It AMAZING! Such A Great Talent! Such Big Emotion & Passion, This Is REAL MUSIC!
Cream, The Doors, The Beatles, Jeff Beck & The Rolling Stones RULES!
Harmonica Solo again. After I first heard this recording in 1968, I bought my first harmonica and tried to learn how to play Train Time! If it wasn't for Jack Bruce I may not have gotten into playing harmonicas.
ahah well,i try every day to do traintime on my one,but it's a bit difficult!thank you for your comment and sorry for the poor english ;) long live jack bruce
@BilliHeathMusic ME TOO, STARTED PLAYING HARP WHEN I HEARD THIS AND ALSO WAS TURNED ON TO PAUL BUTTERFIELD BY A FREIND. PICKED UP HARP IN 68 AND HAVEN'T PUT IT DOWN EVER SINCE, AND I'M 57 NOW, BEEN PLAYING FOR OVER 40 YEARS, LOVE TO PLAY THIS SONG IN KEY OF "A" HARP, BUT SOMETIMES DO IT WITH A "C"
@BilliHeathMusic this track was onme of the reasons i got my first harp in 1969, and i have been playing ever since. Paul Butterfield was also a big influence, as well as howling wolf and Keith Relf of the old yardbirds
If you play drums, try to imitate a big old Harley V twin idling roughly. I try to do this. Remember that one cylinder might be 8 cycling while the other is 4 cycling.
dżek - lata 60 - siąte - byliśmy tak młodzi
MrKazikes 1 month ago
dżek trzymaj się
MrKazikes 1 month ago
Each member of Cream was a legend already when they formed. Their music was a force unto itslef and that's probably why they burned out so fast.
I heard a suppsoed quote from Ginger Baker sometime in the late 70s that I liked, even if it's not true: "The best thing about Cream is, we knew when to stop."
plantagenis 2 months ago
want to hear some great fuckin blues harp? just listen and enjoy, i play this song too, and it's damn hard to keep it going without running out of breath, Jack was awesome in his youth, and still plays the harp well even though he is now in his 60's. the years do take the toll on the amount of wind you got, believe me.
BLUESMANRONCHICAGO 2 months ago
One of my all time favorite bands. I was at Winterland during this performance.
ESPEEandERIE 3 months ago
@ESPEEandERIE The closest my friends & I could get to this superhuman performance was a couple of "New Yorkers" ,a bucket of Col.Sanders listening in awe to the Wheels of Fire LP that came out that day.....PS I hate you :-)
DaDa2Phlux 2 months ago
In 1968 in the Ballerina Ballirina Ballroom Nairn, I was 10ft away from Jack when he played this - fantastic!!
quicktothe4 8 months ago
even though i am not a harmonica player and i am not expert in harmonica playing by all means and i am aware of all of the harmonica masters in the world but to my taste this is my favorite harmonica blues song and this song along with Rolling and Tumblin made me take the blues route on my music career when i was very young.thanks Jack,Eric and Ginger..
joetaino1 11 months ago
When I first heard this song in '92, it kicked my ass so hard. I'll never forget how my ass was kicked that summer beginning on Mother's Day of '92 when I first heard "Badge", and then later that summer, I bought "Wheels of Fire." Oh my goodness - never heard drums and a harmonica like this ever in my life. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker are ultra-legends.
Finally, the guitar solo to "Toad" was astounding (live version - not so much studio).
zut212 1 year ago
@zut212 - The solo in"Toad" was drums, not guitar.
cdsorvinyl 1 year ago
@cdsorvinyl The amazing drum solo starts off with a guitar solo that was nothing short of amazing.
zut212 1 year ago
Buon vecchio blues.....
MsFunkyDrummer 1 year ago
God what lungs! Traintime is so intense one could envision a hotter than hell summer day in the Mississippi Delta.
TumbrelJockey 1 year ago
Cream had so much influence on the development of musicians. I learned to play guitar with the Ventures but by 1969 I knew every not that Jack Bruce played in the 15 minute version of Spoonful.......on my 59 Fender Precision Bass.
grailkin 1 year ago
I LOVE THIS SONG
Bruce - Baker - Clapton = best supergroup of 60's
CLAPTON IS GOD !!!
andrerockmetal 1 year ago
Jack Bruce is so awsome...
xcinthyas 1 year ago
I dont get it.... why do you think Bruce is playing the bass AND the harpe here...... Do you hear a bassguitar on this track? NO!! You have Ginger in the back doing some great drumming,- and a big and loud Ludwig bass drum. But Jack Bruce is "only" playing the harpe and singing. This track is one of my to 10 all time rock tracks....... Wow, he is giving us a piece of his soul here...... No bass, though. Sorry.
hfranke07 1 year ago 2
@hfranke07 /jack bruce is singing this song, playin bass, while ginger beats it out, I was a freshman in highschool when this came out, bad then, still bad, to this day, where were you then, lol?/I'm a '53 studebaker
teleevangelist 1 year ago
Bruce is not a harp master like James cotton or Paul Butterfield, but he sure puts his heart and soul into blowing it here - always loved this track - Bruce is a great blues singer, really feeling the music - he was my ideal as a blues bassist and singer, back in the day, and still love to hear him
SupernalOne 1 year ago 2
@SupernalOne You forget to mention the influence of Jazz & classical music on Jack & his solo work. My favourite of his albums 'Harmony Row' has a lot of Jazz patterns in the songs more than blues.Clapton is far more of a bluesman
kenfig 1 year ago
@kenfig
true that - absolutely. Clapton loves blues single-mindedly, Bruce has varied interests and classical musical training. I recall Bruce said he had to unlearn classical music to play the blues -
Cheers
SupernalOne 1 year ago
Well, ok I could be wrong here, but on this particular one I still think he is just playing harp, but on the 2005 re union he does have the harp a fixed to the stand up mike and he is playing the bass and blowing harp and singing into another mike " Sitting On Top of The World."...it is here on youtube, you notice the different in the intensity of the harp on these too songs, that is why I say he is not playing bass here but he could be and if he is, than he is for sure very underrated IMO
thefabb 2 years ago
this version of Traintime sounds like the one on Wheels of Fire - if so, it was followed by "toad" the drum solo song -- the beginning of that song is Clapton playing guitar alone for about 10 seconds before Bruce comes in on bass - it always sounded like bruce was switching instruments, hence the delay - don't know, but this version sounds like he's completely undistracted, concentrating on his harp work - "As You Said" :)
SupernalOne 1 year ago
Jack is NOT playing the bass, Ginger Baker is doing bass on the drums, Jack has two hands on, some one on another live version said he was playing Bass, singing and doing harp, if there we so he would have two puncture wounds in his chest from the harp rack......... no way
thefabb 2 years ago
I'm feelin' it. Love this harp!
PublicklyPersonal 2 years ago
does anyone kno wer i can get the harmonica tabs for dis song??
watsmyname01 2 years ago
I have Jack & Ginger doing this on The Graham Bond Organization Live at Klooks Kleek 10/27/64 CD. So They'd been doing this number for a while by the time they hit the fillmore..
12347771 2 years ago
this is from fillmore west
littlejimi91 2 years ago
What key is that harmonica in?
GhostyFilms 2 years ago
sounds like C.
Bman17727 2 years ago
The harmonica playing is "crossharp" style. The song is in the key of E, but the key "A" is stamped on the harmonica. The song that immediately follows is "Toad", which is also in the key of E.
neoaffiliate 2 years ago
Liquid Genius!
TheSupremeGenius 2 years ago
Jack is feelin it!
CadillacL 2 years ago
Bad ass song. RocknRoll ain't what it used to be.
speedofc 2 years ago
The best track on Wheels of Fire, in my opinion. Clapton goes too overboard wildman on guitar, Ginger Baker's drumming is scattered all over the place; only Jack Bruce is focused. His distorted bass playing is killer!
cullions4 2 years ago
Cream used a number of songs to highlight their solos. For guitar, it was Clapton playing Stepping Out. For Jack it was Traintime on harmonica. Finally, for Ginger it was Toad. So all three were featured. Toad usually followed Traintime but I don't know if Stepping Out was played in concert with the other two.
wfsutube 2 years ago
man, this song gave me goosebumps at 5:12 , I can tell he feels it.
guitamasta 2 years ago
C'mon ppl....one of the greatest blues/rock bands ever...doesn't matter about how old you are or the line up of the personnel or subsequent successes/failures...what is the matter with you? It's just about the music and how it makes you feel....
Kesskah 2 years ago
FYI', Traintime was recorded March 8, at the Winterland, and Toad was recorded March 7 at the Fillmore. Crossroads and Spoonful were recorded on 3 10 68 at The Winterland, as wee several other songs from the Live Cream Sessions I and II
supsailor1885 2 years ago
IMHO, this would have been enhanced if you had included the segue into Toad, at least when Baker picks up the sticks and the guitars are plugged in and those first chords are hit. I wasn't there that night, but I can still "see" the whole performance anyway!
ngiyaxolisa 2 years ago
Always thought this was one of the most frenetic and frankly "LOUD" rock songs every recorded. How can two musicians make so much tasty noise with brushes on drums (only two and no cymbals! Maybe three drums if he's using both bass drums, which I doubt) and a harmonica? I'm get exhausted listening to it! GASP
ngiyaxolisa 2 years ago
SPLENDID!
I OWN THE 'WHEELS OF FIRE' LP ON the ATCO LABEL
DrAss2001 3 years ago
So do I! I bought for $2.99 my junior year of high school!
(1968)
ptcoe65 2 years ago
anyone know what key that harp is? G?
RambleOn582 3 years ago
The songs pretty good, but it is missing the most important element to a Cream song..............
wilsontigershotmail 3 years ago
Clapton must have been having a cigarette break.
NilezII 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
figures everyone kisses Capton's ass, im not saying he sucked but he didn't deserve the attention he got, Bruce and Baker on the other hand...
Frobe77 2 years ago
Clapton had a much more significant career after Cream than Bruce or Baker. Without any of them Cream would not be as good, but Clapton was the driving force.
wilsontigershotmail 2 years ago
alright, i just never knew much about his input for cream
Frobe77 2 years ago
I agree with wilsontigers. Cream would not be considered a great band if they just had a great bass player and a great drummer. They needed a great blues guitarist as well.
abeatlesguy 2 years ago
this is live at the fillmore west, not at the winterland
epimetero 3 years ago
thats what it says on the record but only toad was live at the fillmore on march 7.
crossroads, spoonful, and traintime were at the winterland the following days.
fattony2011 3 years ago
exactly...i read the same thing somewhere,so i wrote winterland on the video info ;) thank u
rikyhendrixx 3 years ago
besides sitting on top of the world on goodbye this is my favorite cream song
Jromano989 3 years ago
So.....where are you going to see that type of cool nowadays?
68blues 3 years ago 2
Recorded at Fillmore West in San Francisco.
Outstanding drum work by Ginger Baker, keeping that "train" rolling down the tracks.
Jack Bruce's harp work is both driving and mournful. That's a tough combination to achieve but he does it with finesse, and passion.
This is by far the best version of this song.
1after9o9 3 years ago 6
Cream Is One Of The Most Incredible Bands That I Ever Heard! Only In 3 Albums They Did Way More Great Work Than Any Band With More Than 10 Albums! It's Incredible, Every Artist From Cream Playing On More Than 4 Instruments & They Doing It AMAZING! Such A Great Talent! Such Big Emotion & Passion, This Is REAL MUSIC!
Cream, The Doors, The Beatles, Jeff Beck & The Rolling Stones RULES!
THE GREAT 60's 4 LIFE!
LostprophetMETALStar 3 years ago 9
yeah you rock man,thank for this great comment LONG LIFE CREAM
rikyhendrixx 3 years ago
Lostprophet--I'm 57 and literally grew up with those bands except Beck. No retrospect for me...
curlymyhero 3 years ago
To: rikyhendrixx; Cream-Traintime
My Wheels of Fire LP got ripped off years
ago! I'm so glad to here this great Jack Bruce
Harmonica Solo again. After I first heard this recording in 1968, I bought my first harmonica and tried to learn how to play Train Time! If it wasn't for Jack Bruce I may not have gotten into playing harmonicas.
Thanks for sharing!
Billi
BilliHeathMusic 3 years ago 3
ahah well,i try every day to do traintime on my one,but it's a bit difficult!thank you for your comment and sorry for the poor english ;) long live jack bruce
rikyhendrixx 3 years ago
@BilliHeathMusic ME TOO, STARTED PLAYING HARP WHEN I HEARD THIS AND ALSO WAS TURNED ON TO PAUL BUTTERFIELD BY A FREIND. PICKED UP HARP IN 68 AND HAVEN'T PUT IT DOWN EVER SINCE, AND I'M 57 NOW, BEEN PLAYING FOR OVER 40 YEARS, LOVE TO PLAY THIS SONG IN KEY OF "A" HARP, BUT SOMETIMES DO IT WITH A "C"
BLUESMANRONCHICAGO 1 year ago
@BilliHeathMusic this track was onme of the reasons i got my first harp in 1969, and i have been playing ever since. Paul Butterfield was also a big influence, as well as howling wolf and Keith Relf of the old yardbirds
BLUESMANRONCHICAGO 7 months ago
If you play drums, try to imitate a big old Harley V twin idling roughly. I try to do this. Remember that one cylinder might be 8 cycling while the other is 4 cycling.
bimmjim 3 years ago
after this version of traintime ginger baker plays a great drum solo on toad,doesn't he?
i'd like to hear that,i never did it...
rikyhendrixx 3 years ago
Thanks riky. This is the verssion I have been looking for.
bimmjim 3 years ago
I hope you enjoyed it,thank you very much for comment,it's always nice to share a (not well known) rock classic with people ;)
rikyhendrixx 3 years ago
Great video......(but you should have included the classic intro to Toad)
jhendrixfanatic 3 years ago
well,dude,If i'd have it i'd post it!I don't have the full album...what a pity!thank you for comment
rikyhendrixx 3 years ago
this song shows how with a drum and a harmonica you can do one of the most powerful songs in rock history!Long live cream
rikyhendrixx 3 years ago
it is from wheels of fire
yescure6 3 years ago 2
yes i wrote it in video info :D thank u for comment LONG LIVE CREAM
rikyhendrixx 3 years ago
it must be from the wheels of fire
yescure6 3 years ago
Love this song!!
Wich album is it from, btw?
Thx!
Dragonyinyang 3 years ago 2
omg what a voice and what a soun on the harmo, and i can hear his respiration omg :)
yescure6 3 years ago
Great!!I got the original album it's creazy
starshoot3 3 years ago
well i'm keeping money to buy it...i just listened to spoonful from that gig...wow!thank u for comment
rikyhendrixx 3 years ago
magnifico
SbarbUS 3 years ago 2