Cream Reunion Concert: 4th and Final (?) Show at the Royal Albert Hall

by Paul Olsen

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Friday, May 6, 2005. The last of the four Cream reunion concerts featuring Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker is just a few hours away. I've been calling the Royal Albert Hall ticket office all day for returns...the line's been solidly busy. Guess I'm not the only one. Saiichi Sugiyama calls me at 3 pm and asks how I've been getting on and I tell him. He says he doesn't think he can make the show because of everything he has to do to prepare for his own Hard Rock Cafe gig with Pete Brown (co-writer of some of the famous Cream songs) that's scheduled for after the final Cream concert. Saiichi asks if I would I like to go in his place.

The things your friends ask you to do...really. I told him I'd have to think about it, and what cheek to ask me to do this for him, etc., etc. He actually giggled.

So, my friends, the long and the short of it is I went to the final Cream Concert and sat in the second row right in front of Jack Bruce and the show can be summed up in one word.

Perfect.

Here is the set list...and let me preface it by saying Cream played every number flawlessy. It truly was a perfect set Jack was incredible and really rose to the occasion, smiling all night and giving it stick. Eric was totally in form and played every number beautifully....you couldn't ask anything more of him. Ginger was right on the button, driving the whole thing along in his inimitable fashion. They were Cream at its best. Every number got a standing ovation.

"I'm So Glad" - perfect...everything you ever wanted.

"Spoonful" - perfect again...Jack was really happy and having fun with it.

"Outside Woman Blues" - Eric's voice was outstanding, and his playing, well, exquisite. Jack was smiling and loving every minute of it.

"Pressed Rat and Warthog" - not as much smiling and joking around as previous gigs...very straight.

"Sleepy Time Time" - Jack's singing was right on the button. Eric's solo was a masterpiece and the audience quite rightly went wild...what a cracker.

"N.S.U." - Eric shines on this one with lots of sustain...an excellent solo, unlike anything else in the set.

"Badge" - perfection...and then, Jack segues into...

"Politician" - really tasty and the audience loved it.....I did too! "Politician" was terrific, and Eric did a great solo.

"Sweet Wine" - great Ginger Baker counterpoint rhythms. Eric was superb while Jack and Ginger were really driving and thumping along...the old Cream! Eric was really into the groove and it looked like he could have gone on and on, but Ginger brought the band back to the finish too early, I thought. Eric was really sailing on this one and looked like he was quite happy to wail for awhile.

"Rollin' and Tumblin'" - Jack at his best - really great - and Eric sounded slick as hell on bottleneck...very tasty.

"Stormy Monday" - there are no words...Eric was away with the birds on this one....it never gets better than this....what a guitarist he is. Frightening.

"Deserted Cities of the Heart" - Ginger rocked out on this one!

"Born Under a Bad Sign" - Jack was really happy on this one...it was all his and he made the most of it....absolutely the best he has ever been. Nice one, Jack.

"We're Going Wrong" - great feel, very subdued and a lovely contrast, perfectly played and sung. Jack was flawless.

"Toad" - Ginger was perfect again, with a few fireworks. Jack and Eric sat just offstage. Eric was with his wife and daughter who was on his lap and everyone was smiling while Ginger showed everyone in the world who was who and what was what! Tuesday night was a better solo to my ears, but this was again, flawless.

"Sunshine of Your Love" - excellent, played superbly, but again, Tuesday was a better performance - they really opened it up and were more like the old Cream. Still, I'm not complaining!

The final show. I added the question the mark to the title because there's hope, I suppose, that there could be more to come. I understand the DVD of the concert series will be available this fall, but nothing, nothing could ever be quite the same as seeing and hearing these three perform together live. We can only wait, see and hope.

Jack Bruce (left) and Eric Clapton hug at the end of the fourth Cream reunion concert.
Photo by Paul Olsen.

Related link

Where's Eric! - The Eric Clapton Fan Club Magazine