Cream / NY, USA 10.25.2005 DAT Master Edition

Here is a first-generation, superb-quality stereo audience master recording of the second night of the surprise Cream reunion concerts! We are releasing a prized master from a renowned UK-based taper who is highly respected in the Eric Clapton collecting community. We recently released the top-tier master from the first night as *MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 2005 1ST NIGHT: Original DAT Master*; this week, we follow up with newly acquired first-generation masters for the second and third nights, provided by the same veteran taper. The quality of these masters—boasting the best sound ever heard—is on par with the excellence proven by the first-night release. Experience the sheer, overwhelming power delivered with crystal-clear definition and superb sonic balance. We hope you enjoy the performances from the second and third nights in this magnificent quality. It has already been 21 years since those events. Cream—a band that left an indelible mark on rock history—revolutionized the genre alongside Jimi Hendrix, despite an active career spanning little more than two years (1966–1968). Consequently, rock fans had constantly clamored for a reunion ever since the band’s 1968 breakup. However, for 37 years, Clapton’s will prevented it from happening. Having achieved massive solo success, he viewed a Cream reunion as a meaningless spectacle—a mere step backward—tainted by the bitter memories of the exhaustion and burnout caused by being caught in the crossfire of the feud between Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. Yet, the situation changed dramatically in 2005. Jack Bruce’s health had deteriorated to the point where he required a liver transplant and was facing a life-threatening crisis. Meanwhile, Ginger Baker was in dire straits in Nigeria—his place of residence—facing the seizure of his home due to unpaid taxes. Having spent the years following 2000 reflecting on his career and rekindling old friendships through collaborations with fellow musicians, Clapton reached out to two of his oldest friends. This led to a reunion concert series—first held over four days in May at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Naturally, rock fans flocked to the venue from all corners of the globe; it appears a great number of fans traveled from Japan to witness the event as well. When the trio took the stage together for the first time in 37 years, the old dynamic—once described as “waging war with their instruments”—was nowhere to be found. Gone, too, was the wall of loud, distorted sound. Instead, there were three men occasionally exchanging smiles and showing mutual respect. Viewed purely from a musical standpoint, one might even argue that this was the sound they had truly wanted to create all along. The concert served to reaffirm the uniqueness of Cream’s songs and the extraordinary skill of the three musicians. The officially released DVD of the London shows includes interviews with the members; in a conversation with Ginger Baker, he remarked that every night felt special because Eric Clapton would play a different lead solo for each song. Because it was impossible to predict what might happen, he had to approach the drums with renewed intensity every single night. It was a concert that reminded everyone of the true spirit of a musician. A superb master recording that vividly brings back the New York shows—which offered a distinct experience from the London performances. Following the overwhelming acclaim and massive response to the London concerts, a series of shows in New York was scheduled for October of that same year. Let us now look back at Clapton’s activities during that year leading up to the Cream reunion.・January 15, 2005: Performed and recorded “Wish You Were Here” with Roger Waters at a BBC television studio for “Tsunami Aid.” ・January 22, 2005: Performed at the “Tsunami Aid” charity concert in Cardiff, UK. ・March 11, 2005: Appeared in a charity show for “Comic Relief” at a BBC television studio. Performed “Reconsider Baby” backed by Jools Holland’s band. March 14, 2005: Shared the stage with Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Robbie Robertson, and others at the 20th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction concert held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. April 8, 2005: Performed alongside UB40, Roger Daltrey, and others at a charity concert for the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall in London. May 2, 3, 5, and 6, 2005: Held Cream reunion concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London. June 11, 2005: Performed with Roger Taylor, Ringo Starr, and others at a charity concert in Bramley, Surrey, UK. <<August 30, 2005: Released the album *Back Home*.>> September 3, 2005: Appeared with John Mayer at CNN’s television studios to perform “Broken Hearted” for a Hurricane Katrina relief charity event. October 24, 25, and 26, 2005: Held Cream reunion concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York. December 31, 2005: Held the annual “New Year’s Eve Dance” charity concert for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). As you can see, the Cream reunion concerts were the main focus of the year (all other activities were one-off charity events). In short, Clapton dedicated his efforts in 2005 to the Cream reunion. For fans, these concerts represented a dream-come-true moment, realized after 37 years. All three musicians were over sixty; while the raw, earth-shattering power of their past had subsided and their improvisations were more concise, a seasoned maturity had taken its place. Each played instruments different from those used during the original Cream era, yet they captivated the audience by drawing out the best qualities of the songs through techniques honed over their entire careers. Regarding Clapton, while many had anticipated he would crank up the volume on a Gibson-style guitar—just as he had in the Cream days—he effortlessly defied those expectations, choosing instead to play only his signature Stratocaster, a model he favored at the time. With moderate volume and instruments distinct from their past setup, the unique musical character of each member in 2005 truly shone through. Every song was meticulously rehearsed, and the setlist incorporated fresh ideas. Most notably, they included tracks never performed live during the original Cream era—such as “Outside Woman Blues,” “Pressed Rat and Warthog,” and “Badge”—as well as “Stormy Monday,” a blues standard they had played on the club circuit before Cream even formed. For the intro to that song, Ginger provided a continuous drum-roll backing—a touch that could only have come from him. The US shows also featured “Tales of Brave Ulysses,” highlighted by Clapton’s exhilarating, relentless use of the wah-wah pedal during the outro. Furthermore, “Badge” was performed in a style almost identical to the original Cream recording: it began with Jack’s bass line rather than the guitar intro Clapton used in his solo shows, and the section following the break was played only once, unlike the repeated arrangement often heard in his solo performances. Throughout the shows, Clapton played with a conscious focus on the “Cream” sound, clearly aiming to recapture that specific feeling. According to fan reports from the time, several numbers were performed even better than they had been on opening night. One account notes that while “Crossroads” merely smoldered during the initial performance, this time it blazed with intensity; furthermore, Eric’s lead guitar work—driven by the powerful rhythms of Jack and Ginger on tracks like “Deserted Cities of the Heart” and “We’re Going Wrong”—was exceptionally forceful and inventive. Clapton’s playing on “Stormy Monday” also clearly surpassed his performance on the opening night, and Ginger’s drum solo on “Toad” was likewise acclaimed as superior to the first show. Although the feud between Jack and Ginger was cited as the original cause of the band’s breakup, it is said that their relationship remained civil off-stage during the London concerts; however, by the subsequent New York shows, they had reportedly reverted to being at each other’s throats backstage. Yet, given the brief three-day run, they managed to keep these tensions off the stage, delivering their best performances and successfully concluding the engagement. While an official live album from the London shows exists, it naturally does not include recordings from these New York performances. Both Jack and Ginger have since passed away, making a Cream reunion impossible today; one can only be grateful that this reunion actually took place when it did. There is no doubt that just as Cream left its mark on rock history, this concert series has also been indelibly etched into that legacy. Although recordings from this date have been released previously, this particular title features a superb master recording offering the highest audio quality to date. Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA 25th October 2005 ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 (57:47) 1. Intro 2. I’m So Glad 3. Spoonful 4. Outside Woman Blues 5. Pressed Rat 6. Sleepy Time Time 7. Tales of Brave Ulysses 8. N.S.U. 9. Badge 10. Politician 11. Sweet Wine 12. Rolllin’ & Tumblin’Disc 2 (65:30) 1. Stormy Monday 2. Deserted Cities 3. Born Under A Bad Sign 4. We’re Going Wrong 5. Crossroads 6. Sitting On Top Of The World 7. White Room 8. Toad 9. Sunshine Of Your Love Eric Clapton – Guitar / Vocals Jack Bruce – Bass / Vocals Ginger Baker – Drums