Live Cream Volume 2 [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Live]

Cream | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 7, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Live
• Label: Polydor / Umgd
• ASIN: B0000067L6
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,292 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing, April 30, 2004

By 

Vahagn Hayrapetyan (Copenhagen, S Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live Cream Volume 2 (Audio CD)

This album was my first acquaintance with Cream. I was 14 years old and beginning to take interest in drums. I put this record on, and within 15 seconds of listening to the first number I realized what rock drumming should be about.

There's enough musical material just on the first number, (Deserted Cities of the Heart) to have inspired countless future metal albums in terms of riffs and playing paradigms. In the second part of White Room, after the instrumental bit, it seems that they are bringing the number to a close; then there is a slight time change and Clapton plays some unearthly notes on the guitar, before the ending really climaxes. The intensity of just these few seconds is so staggering that you wonder what it felt like being in the audience, or being one of the three!

Compared to Live Cream vol 1, the songs are less drawn out (except Steppin' Out) but more intense, I would say.

I can't see how anyone could have given this album less than five stars out of five - if anyone ever played better or more spectacular I would like to hear that!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astral Jam Session, September 23, 2000

By 

"wednightprayermeeting" (Bellview, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live Cream Volume 2 (Audio CD)

Cream's studio albums are classic, but the reason that these guys came together on Earth was to play live.

Taped at such San Francisco area venues as Winterland, and the Oakland Coloseum in 1968, Jack, Ginger, and Clapton stretch out full force on strong live versions of "White Room," "Politician," "Sunshine Of Your Love," and a hypnotic version of "Tales Of Brave Ulysses."

Bruce's "Deserted Cities Of The Heart" is sung with intensity, and the final cut "Steppin' Out" is a high powered 13 minute blues jam, showcasing each member of The Cream.

THe way these guys jam on their extended live cuts is full of jazz-like fluidity, bluesy rhythm, and the intensity of hard rock. And it all comes together on this disk.

Clapton's solos are extraterrestrial, and Bruce's voice is in good form.

Definately some of the coolest hard rock from the sixties.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and Inspiring!, October 8, 2004

By 

P. McKenna "theowlwatches" (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live Cream Volume 2 (Audio CD)

This was one of the reasons I started playing guitar!

Released a few years after the band broke up, it never failed to show why Cream had the stellar reputation it did. Without studio sweetening, these tracks stand up beautifully in a live environment.

The combination of Ginger Baker's liberally jazz-inflected drumming, Jack Bruce's roaring, snarling yet melodic bass and Clapton's soulful blues phrasing cranked up to 11 was enough to get my attention at a young age and stuck with me ever since. Combined with memorable riffs and melodies, colorful chord progressions ("Tales of Brave Ulysses" and "Deserted Cities of The Heart" as great examples)and Jack Bruce's soaring voice, this was indeed a fearsome threesome that messed me up for life in a good way. The band's ability to combine the cry of the blues, colorful psychedelia and the loose "go for it" attitude of jazz improvisation was a miracle to behold.

"Steppin Out" takes a fun blues instrumental and shoots it to the moon with Clapton and Baker kicking out the jams and taking no prisoners.

Despite the nasty internal tensions that blew the band apart after their brief existence, they managed to put out an impressive catalog of music that would inspire for years to come. Can't recommend it enough.