Royal Albert Hall: London May 2-3-5-6 2005 | 
| Artist: Cream
Label: Reprise / Wea
List Price: $24.98
Buy New: $10.18
You Save: $14.80 (59%)
New (51) Used (16) from $9.40
Rating:  100 reviews
Sales Rank: 17478
Format: Live
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 49416
UPC: 093624941620
EAN: 0093624941620
ASIN: B000AYEIZY
Release Date: October 4, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New - Factory Sealed - Shipped from Florida via USPS First class mail. We ONLY sell what we have in stock. NO back orders here.Import Edition
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| Tracks:
| • | I'm So Glad | | • | Spoonful | | • | Outside Woman Blues | | • | Pressed Rat & Warthog | | • | Sleepy Time Time | | • | N.S.U. | | • | Badge | | • | Politician | | • | Sweet Wine | | • | Rollin' & Tumblin' | | • | Stormy Monday | | • | Deserted Cities of the Heart | | • | Born Under A Bad Sign | | • | We're Going Wrong | | • | Crossroads | | • | Sitting On Top of the World | | • | White Room | | • | Toad | | • | Sunshine of Your Love |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
After a 37 year absence Cream reformed in May 2005 for a series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, the stage of their last UK performance. As befitting a trio whose focus was always squarely on the music, they emerge to no fanfare, briefly test their instruments and launch into the perfectly apt "I'm So Glad." Drawing from each of their four studio albums, they revisit the songs for their inherent resonance and as a springboard for their instrumental interplay. There's no need to update the material, as it all still fits each of the three men like a thousand dollar suit. Bruce's vocals still soar with operatic bearing, Clapton sounds energized, freed from the production cushioning on his own recordings, and Baker, now in his mid-sixties, can still dazzle with his solo turn on "Toad." --David Greenberger
Album Description
Cream, the legendary band of Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, performed for the first time in 37 years in May 2005. One of the most highly anticipated reunions in rock, the concert at London's Royal Albert Hall-where the band played its farewell show November 26, 1968-returned to the stage the trio that forever changed rock 'n' roll. Now the best of those historic peformances are available on Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6 2005. This is classic Classic Rock. A companion DVD is being released utilizing different takes of the same tracks.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 95 more reviews...
LESS CLOTTED CREAM.... October 7, 2005
o dubhthaigh (north rustico, pei, canada)
98 out of 112 found this review helpful
... than before. Cream was always one of those shizoid bands: studio efforts overdubbed, well produced psychedelia, live shows a tsunami of three soloists having a go at it simultaneously on an Anglo-blues catalogue. Here, for the first time I can remember hearing, they play more like a BAND. There is a locked in cohesion to this show that was never present before, as you can clearly hear when you compare this to the farewell show from '69. These three coined the cliche "supergroup" and were known for playing with a ferocity fueled by their competitive egos. Perhaps as age has slowed them all down and as time has taken its toll on them and their colleagues, the notion of working more in step with each other brings more significant rewards.
It certainly does to the material. Their take here on Willie Dixon, Booker T Jones, Skip James and T-Bone have all the swagger of the masters and less of the youthful unrestrained testosterone of the late 60's. "Born Under a Bad Sign" and "Spoonful" would make their authors proud. "Badge" suffers from Clapton having so thoroughly redefined it with his band that it seems nothing but perfunctory here. However, Baker's bizarre reading of "... Wart..." is so weird that it seems to have gained in its spooky evocation of something both Dickensian and psychedelic. In the case of each of the musicians, they are clearly listening to each other and playing better as a unit than you would ever have any right to expect. There is a supple pwer and subtlety to how integrated they are in each other's rhythms that is inspiring. Given the mediocrity of Clapton's BACK HOME, this is a delightful return to form. He isn't the GOD that he was on Cream's first surfacing, but that was just another way of clotting the music from flowing. All the years have served each of them well. They have not just not missed a beat (still with me?), they're actually a much better band.
The DVD is spectacularly shot. It is the kind of rock film Martin Scorcese would shave his bushy eyebrows for. Miraculously, Baker has survived well. Bruce looks almost as old as Steve Howe, and Clapton is amazing. It is a joy to watch their technique as they play. This really was a brilliant coda that eclipses the original legend. There is much to celebrate on both CD and DVD here. Enjoy!
Cream Is Back October 7, 2005
Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA)
43 out of 52 found this review helpful
The original power rock trio Cream reunited for the first time in thirty-seven years for a string of concerts at the place they played their last shows, Royal Albert Hall. Anyone expecting the band to be as fierce and experimental as they were then is just unfair. Most acts mellow with age and lose their youthful aggression. Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker are no different. Despite this, the band is quite tight on the album. There aren't the lengthy jams of the old days, but that is made up for by sharper and more focused playing. Mr. Bruce's bass is still quite heavy and although he can't hit all the high notes, his voice is still fluid. Mr. Clapton doesn't cut loose as much, but his phrasing and styling is impeccable. Mr. Baker's drumming is less erratic and adds a more solid backbeat. All the favorites like "Crossroads", "White Room", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "I'm So Glad" and "Spoonful" are included as well as some nuggets like "Pressed Rat & Warthog", "Deserted Cities Of The Heart" and "Badge".
I'm So Glad It Happened May 27, 2007
Craig Fenton (Airplaneville, New Jersey)
35 out of 35 found this review helpful
As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" I would obviously be a tremendous fan of a band of Cream's magnitude.
If you want to call their first go around "Power Trio", "Supergroup", or both you would be correct. Jack Bruce had a voice that could mesmerize a nation and their ability to improvise was nothing short of spectacular. The London subway walls were filled with admiration (Alright it was graffiti) for Eric's solos, Ginger's unique style, and Jack's thunderous bass-lines.
Cream could take the 5 minute tune and even when it reached 18 minutes you still would hang on every note.
The brief reunion tour was a bit different in their approach. You didn't have 20 minute jams and they played the songs closer to what a Derek & The Dominos show would be but to be able to experience the three of them on stage again is well worth the shorter improvisation and less intense solos.
Don't get me wrong. Jack Bruce can be proud of his voice to this day and when you watched him play the bass, men and women half is age feel far inferior. Ginger may have held back a bit on the drums but in no way did he detract from the pure joy of the reunion.
The songs for the most part were what you thought. A fanatic like myself would have liked something out of the blue such as "Those Were The Days" or "What A Bring Down" but I was too busy sitting on top of the world during the festivities.
For the younger fan see why they were "The Cream." For us old folks, we can feel a bit more youthful.
Be well always,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
 Best Classic Rock DVD EVER! April 9, 2007
Roger E (Tracy, Ca. USA)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
A review I read about the Live CD's of Cream in the 1960's not inspiring, well I can say to you, "Cream's reunion 2005 DVD". I can not stop watching this performance, it is so outstanding. Eric Clapton's fantastic guitar work during this reunion is inspirational, and is essential listening to any Cream or Eric Clapton fan.
Eric, with original members Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker performing like the superstars of old, rock the Albert Hall to the delight of thousands who were fortunate enough to be there. For us, the unlucky, this great 2 DVD Set can be ordered, and when played on a surround sound/ big screen system, this show comes alive. With outstanding editing, a high quality soundtrack, excellant near HD quality picture, this concert is at the top of my top ten list. This DVD sets the standard for outstanding music DVD videos.
ONE OF THE GREATEST LIVE ALBUMS EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! November 17, 2005
Dave Fruge (Metairie, La. United States)
14 out of 25 found this review helpful
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????????? DID THESE GUYS REALLY BREAK UP 27 YEARS AGO?????????? You can't tell it from this album!!!!!! In fact, they sound better than they did in the 60's, because they're no longer fighting, & they're enjoying being together as a cohesive unit. Jack Bruce quickly put to rest any fears I had about his voice being shot. IT'S NOT!!!!!!! It sounds as great as ever, particularly on "Sleepy Time Time" & "Born Under A Bad Sign", which sound as if the vocal tracks are straight off of the original album! In fact, when you listen to them, there's NO DOUBT that what I've been saying for years is true: THIS IS THE DOGGIE THAT TAUGHT BLACK SABBATH ITS TRICK!!!! His eerily-heavy, creeping bass style hasn't missed a beat, either.Ginger baker's drumming is as awesome & solid as ever too, particularyly when he plays his solo on "Toad". It leves NO DOUBT that "the old man still has heat in his arms". His vocals on "Pressed Rat & Warthog" are awesome, too, sounding alot like Keith Moon's rendition of a creeky old pervert! Now, CLAPTON! WHAT CAN I SAY!!!! Anyone who thinks he sold out & forgot how to play, you've got another thing coming!!!!!!! He tears up the frets on several tracks, especially on "Stormy Monday", where he delivered the most awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping solo I have EVER heard him play, & that's saying ALOT!!!! After the song ended, Jack Bruce said the only thing there was TO say: "Ladies & Gentlemen. It's an honor to play with him. ERIC CLAPTON ON THE GUITAR!!!" Now, the only complaint I've heard was that they sold out on "Badge" & played it the way Clapton plays it solo. I didn't find it at all! There's no synthesizer in place of Bruce's bass, & no extention at the end. But lat's say they had; Originally, this was Clapton's song, not Cream's! Sadly, & ironically, after Jack Bruce's & Ginger Baker's fighting & attempts to one-up each other exploded on stage & turned "Crossroads" into the immortal classic that it is, they each went off SEPERATELY to record a song in a last ditch effort to save the band. George Harrison, Clapton's best friend, even played the solo on "Badge". By then, though, Mr. E had had it! Anyway, the point is, if he had wanted to be indulged, he deserved it! As glad as I (& every fan) am that Clapton did this, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO! HE'S A LIVING LEGEND! Now, every die-hard fan feels the same about Bruce & Baker, but to the casual fan, they're just 2 men that used to be in Cream. Now for the bottom line: If you're a fan, or even if you're not, GET THIS!!!! You've been brainwashed long enough. It's time to hear the true genious & musicianship which inspired the watered down "rock" that has taken over the radio. I promise that once you hear it, you'll be doing like me & praying that these "3 old men" make a go of it & stay together long term. if they didn't, it would be a crime, & we would ONCE AGAIN be left to dream of what could have been!!!!!!!
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