Customer Reviews

Classic Albums: Cream - Disraeli Gears (Dol)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have to agree with the other reviewers-this is the best video product on Cream up to date-perhaps my enjoyment was rooted in this being a totally new project that wasn't rehashing the older Cream products.

It wasn't the "Farewell Concert", with it's unbearable editing. Or "Fresh Live Cream", with it's sketchy origins, but including the amazing Revolution Club footage. Nor was it "Strange Brew", leaving us fans wondering-are these guys ever going to get back together again?!

The "Classic Albums" dvd is simply worth watching for the NEW interviews alone, but we are awarded with additional solo performances as a bonus. Eric's solo performances makes one wonder how these guys would sound in an acoustic setting. Fans of Jack may have heard him on piano performances before...but this may be a totally new experience for fans strictly of Cream. Ginger Baker is always a treat when he is talkin' drums-it's similar to what he did in the "Farewell Concerts" footage, but almost 40 years later.

The songs are discussed in good detail, & afterwards, you may approach this album differently in your listening experience. A particularly enjoyable selection was Peter Brown, Jack, & Eric's recollection of "Sunshine of Your Love". The interviews are all done at seperate locations w/ each individual- but Jack plays the classic riff on his stand up bass(again, a Cream acoustic set-is it out of the question?), Eric plays it on his guitar, while Brown recollects hearing the riff.... and began to write..."It's Getting Near Dawn"......

Unfortunately, the "other" footage from the Revolution Club didn't make this dvd-saving them for another Cream project? The black & white footage of "We're Going Wrong" isn't well shot, but it's a nice showcase for a very young Ginger & Eric. Ginger is...well, Ginger-but Eric is quite animated here, which may surprise some people not familiar with his work in Cream. Jack isn't too visible, but we do get a rare opportunity to see him play the Danelectro Long Horn.

Tom Dowd was missed on this particular project(as well as Felix Pappalardi)-RIP gentlemen. You can find some of Mr. Dowd's recollections of Cream on the excellent dvd, "Tom Dowd & the Language of Music".

Of all the video products out on Cream, this is by far the best. The music from this all-time classic album is 5+ stars. Once you view this, you get a whole new perspective on the album and its individual songs (much like other "Classic Album" series DVD's). I now enjoy my CD of this landmark album that much more after listening to the story behind songs such as "We're Going Wrong", "World of Pain" and "SWLABR" ("she was like a bearded rainbow"). It was primarily the songs that were not as famous that amazed me on this program. Most of the primary players that were involved in the making of this album are fortunately still alive and on hand to discuss their memories (including the talented artist that created the famous album cover). Eric's introduction to the "wah-wah" petal helped make "Tales of Brave Ulysses" a favorite back in 1967. It was also interesting to hear about some of their influential peers (Clapton mentions "The Loving Spoonful" as one). They have pulled together some great classic black & white and color footage on this DVD. The bonus track for "Tales of Brave Ulysses" is an incredible fully restored color vintage performance!

Audio: 4.5 stars
Video: 5 stars (new footage); 3-3.5 stars (old footage)
Bonus features: 5 Stars

If you enjoy Cream, late 60's rock or any of the "Classic Album" DVD's you won't go wrong. Well priced too!

I'm sure most of the people who are reading this are familiar with the Classic Albums series. I knew what to expect before watching it but I was pleasantly suprised. The information on the history of Cream and how they progressed with Disraeli Gears in the studio was great. All of the major players (that were still alive) were interviewed. The footage that was available was amazing. The only piece that I hadn't seen was of the song "We're Going Wrong". It was live and in black and white. The band was pretty intense. Bruce's vocals were great as always, Baker was a colossus, but it was Clapton who really impressed me. He was playing like a madman and was looking intense. I recommend this DVD to any fan of Cream. It is a great companion DVD for anyone who bought the reunion show.

This is by far the best vintage Cream video, and probably the best of the Classic Album series.
The story behind the making of the record and the band at that time is excellent material and fun stuff to know. With info about the recording of each song on Disreali Gears, this DVD gives us an insight into the mysterious and unknown side of the band that made such great music among all of the hype and media attention.
The original footage of the band is priceless. Cream video is very rare, although there seems to be a pile of it hidden somewhere.
As a bonus, the video of the bandmembers doing the old songs now is just another treat.
This is mezmerizing to watch and long overdue.

This DVD is very, VERY captivating and you will find yourself watching it over and over and over. It tends to have that effect on people. Also, it presents an interesting history of CREAM. These guys were fated to play together, and were on top of their game when they WERE together. CREAM's early disbandment was a pity, and their recent reunion 37 years later is one of the happiest events of my life.

As a drummer myself, no one has ever inspired me quite the way that Ginger Baker does with his uniquely creative style, and CREAM is my favorite group in rock history. These recently made DVD's [this one and the 2005 Reunion] leave me weeping when I realize how nearly the opportunity to produce them might have been missed. Jack Bruce was close to death in 2003 from liver cancer. The recent live footage of all three CREAM members is, to me, a treasure.

This DVD incorporates both vintage footage and recent interviews, using those to weave a fascincating history of the Disraeli Gears album. Here we learn that Felix Papalardi [a brilliant musician who had played bass with Mountain] was very instrumental in the production of this album. We learn the history of the songs and the album cover.

Sadly, we also learn that the brass at Atlantic records apparently viewed CREAM as a group starring Eric Clapton as front man with a rhythm section behind him. In truth, the members of CREAM cannot be separated in this way, and I cannot help but suspect that this concept went far to create unnecessary tension that helped lead [among many other factors] to CREAM's premature demise in 1969. Just a theory, of course. For in CREAM, there truly was no front man. CREAM was three musicians from a blues & jazz background who fed off of each other musically, making music somewhat of a conversation between three individuals. It is a style that I love to hear, and also to experience as a musician myself.

Long live CREAM!!!

As a musician and a fan from the get-go, this DVD is priceless. The artists and others in their own words explain how it was done. A gold mine of info about a truly groundbreaking album and band.

Like the Classic Artist DVD on Cream, the extras (special features) of this disc are the most priceless. Highlights of these are the one-on-one close up footages of Clapton playing Sunshine and Outside Woman Blues on solo guitar, Jack playing We're Going Wrong on solo piano, and Ginger giving a drum lesson on exactly how to play Sunshine the right way. The main body of the special is very good also, but the extras you'll watch over and over. There's also great concert footage of the group playing We're Going Wrong in which Clapton looks more intense (almost angry) than I've ever seen anywhere. Highly recommended.

If you are a Cream fan,than this will be a welcome addition to your Cream DVD collection!!! Includes the original 50 minute program as well some 30 minutes of additional footage!!! Great interviews and performances,a great documentary on this 1967 classic!!! Disreali Gears is an absolute classic!!! Rock on Cream!!! A+

I can't add to the superlatives which have been justly heaped upon this DVD. I only wish they'd covered Ginger Baker's composition "Blue Condition."

For anyone already familiar with this 'L.P', this documentary provides a lot of interesting information; I for one had no idea how much of a collaborative effort it was, in terms of songwriting credits, the art work and so on. For others not familiar with Cream or the late 60s, this may not really enlighten them very much as to the impact that this record had, or why it did. Nonetheless, there's lots of interesting material stuffed away on the 'extra features', including a drum lesson from Ginger Baker and some thoughtful reminiscences from Eric Clapton. Oh, and a steal at the price....