Cream - 1967-09-04 - Whiskey A Go-Go (HQ Aud)

Cream

1967-09-04

Whisky a Go Go

Los Angeles, CA

HQ Audience

192 kbps

Artwork Included

CD 1:

01. Opening SE

02. N.S.U.

03. Tales Of Brave Ulysses

04. Sitting On Top Of The World

05. Sweet Wine

06. Rollin` & Tumblin`

CD 2:

01. Opening SE

02. Spoonful

03. Sunshine Of Your Love

04. Sleepy Time Time

05. Stepping Out

06. Train Time

07. Toad

08. I`m So Glad

Cream - 1967-09-04 - Whiskey A Go-Go (HQ Aud)

Cream was part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 1993 induction class that included Sly and The Family Stone (see our September 1 post), Dick Clark, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. Etta James, and Van Morrison. As we also mentioned in the Sly Stone posts, that induction ceremony had more memorable moments, both good and bad, than almost any other. One of the good moments was when Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton performed together as Cream for the first time since the band’s break up in 1968. You can find that performance, and the prior day’s rehearsal here.

Today's post takes us back to the early days of Cream.  In March of 1967, Cream made their first US appearance, playing 9 shows at the RKO Theater in NY as part of radio DJ Murray the K’s "Music in the 5th Dimension" concert series. They then went into the studio in NY to record their second album, Disraeli Gears, which when released in November would hit number 4 on the US Billboard charts. Disraeli Gears featured Cream classics such as Sunshine of Your Love, Strange Brew, SWLABR and Tales of Brave Ulysses. Cream returned to the states in August 1967 to launch their first US tour, playing multiple nights at some of the classic venues in rock history, including the Fillmore West, the Café Au Go Go and The Whiskey A Go Go (go here for complete tour details). Despite the upcoming release of Disraeli Gears, Cream generally only played Tales of Brave Ulysses and Sunshine of Your Love from that album during these shows. Performing to the counter culture during the Summer of Love, Cream started to stretch out on stage, with some songs reaching 20 minutes.  Extended jams in numbers like Spoonful, NSU, Toad and Sweet Wine became live favorites for both the band and their audience. This HQ audience recording from the Whisky on September 4, 1967, 4 dozen years ago today, captures all the excitement, power and intensity of Cream’s initial US Tour. Download it and relive another glorious moment from the Summer of Love.