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A superb stereo audience master recording from the third night of Cream’s reunion concerts at Madison Square Garden! This release comes from the private collection of a highly respected UK-based taper—a veteran known for top-tier Eric Clapton recordings. We have received pristine master tapes covering both the second and third nights of the October 2005 reunion shows. These are “first-generation” masters newly acquired by this veteran taper. The audio quality is the best ever heard: crystal-clear sound without a hint of murkiness, offering a powerful, dynamic impact and superb sonic balance. This release features the complete performance from the third night, October 26th. Please also enjoy the simultaneously released recording of the second night, which boasts equally magnificent quality. It has already been 21 years since that time. 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 breakup in 1968. However, for 37 years, Clapton’s own resolve prevented it from happening. Having achieved massive solo success, he viewed a Cream reunion as nothing more than a meaningless spectacle—a step backward into the past—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, in 2005, the situation changed dramatically. 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 facing the seizure of his home in Nigeria 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, which kicked off with a four-night run at London’s Royal Albert Hall in May. Naturally, rock fans from all over the world flocked to the venue, with many traveling from Japan as well. When the trio took the stage together for the first time in 37 years, the old days of “waging war with their instruments”—characterized by deafening, distorted volumes—were nowhere to be found. Instead, there were three men occasionally exchanging smiles and showing mutual respect. Viewed purely from a musical perspective, one might even argue that this was the sound they had truly wanted to create all along. It was a concert that reaffirmed the uniqueness of Cream’s songs and the extraordinary skills of the three musicians. The officially released DVD of the London shows includes interviews with the members; in a conversation with Ginger Baker, he noted that every night felt special because Eric Clapton would play a different lead solo for each song. Because it was impossible to predict what would happen next, he had to bring a renewed intensity to his drumming every single night. It was a concert that reminded them of the true spirit of being 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 success of 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 members were over sixty; while the raw, earth-shattering power of their past had receded and their improvisations had become 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 was allowed to shine through. Every song was meticulously rehearsed, and the setlist incorporated fresh ideas. Most notably, they included tracks they had 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 prior to forming Cream (live recordings of this song exist from Clapton’s time with the Bluesbreakers and from Jack and Ginger’s tenure with the Graham Bond Organisation). During the intro to “Stormy Monday,” Ginger notably maintained a continuous drum roll as backing—a touch that could only have come from him. The US leg of the tour 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 later performances. Throughout the shows, Clapton remained deeply conscious of the “Cream” identity; it seems he was intent on recapturing that specific feeling once again. It was a stylish touch that Clapton and Bruce swapped vocal parts during the verses of “White Room,” while it was equally pleasing that they stuck faithfully to the original vocal arrangement for “Sunshine of Your Love.” Regarding “Toad,” which features a lengthy drum solo by Ginger, I was initially worried that—given he was a drummer in his sixties—he might falter or make mistakes; however, his performance was so commanding and magnificent that I felt I owed him an apology for ever doubting him. There are few active drummers who possess such technique and can execute such a diverse and exciting array of rhythmic patterns. The audience was clearly amazed, erupting into thunderous applause multiple times during the solo. A fan who attended the final show reported: “The concert really took off with ‘N.S.U.’—that guitar solo was superb! Fantastic! This was followed by brilliant renditions of ‘Politician,’ ‘Stormy Monday,’ ‘Badge,’ ‘Born Under a Bad Sign,’ and ‘We’re Going Wrong.’ The way the guitar solo built up in ‘We’re Going Wrong’ was particularly fascinating. ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ was also excellent; the three of them played in perfect sync.” Famous artists such as Little Steven, Billy Joel, and Lenny Kravitz were reportedly in the audience, a testament to the legendary status and immense interest surrounding the band. While the band’s original breakup was attributed to the feud between Jack and Ginger, and it is said that their relationship remained cordial off-stage during the London shows, they apparently reverted to being at each other’s throats backstage during the subsequent New York run. Yet, as it was a brief three-day engagement, they didn’t let those tensions affect the stage; the trio delivered their best performances and successfully concluded the run. Although an official live album from the London shows has been released, it naturally does not include recordings from these New York performances. Sadly, both Jack and Ginger have since passed away. A Cream reunion is no longer possible today; we are truly fortunate that it happened when it did. Just as Cream left its mark on rock history, there is no doubt that this concert has also been etched into that legacy. While recordings from this date have been released previously, this particular edition features a superb “first-generation” master source. Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA – October 26, 2005 – ULTIMATE SOUND (from Original Masters) Disc 1 (58:55) 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. NSU 9. Badge 10. Politician 11. Sweet Wine 12. Rollin’ & Tumblin’ Disc 2 (65:58) 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
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