Every once in a while, something lives up to the hype.<\/p>\n
Shit, those dudes could PLAY!<\/p>\n
Sure, listen for the Hendrix.\u00c2\u00a0 But be surprised by the Lighthouse cover of "Eight Miles High".\u00c2\u00a0 And even the Doobies’ "Black Water".<\/p>\n
But what made me write this now is Cream’s take on "NSU" from March 1968.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s FEROCIOUS!\u00c2\u00a0 For the youngsters out there, you won’t BELIEVE it’s only three players.\u00c2\u00a0 With Ginger pounding and Eric proving why so many THOUGHT he was God back then.\u00c2\u00a0 He doesn’t play like this anymore.\u00c2\u00a0 Now he grimaces and looks towards the heavens.\u00c2\u00a0 Back in the day, when he was in this band, EC stood almost stock still.\u00c2\u00a0 And just WAILED!\u00c2\u00a0 Pulling shit from his guitar that must have come from somewhere deep inside.\u00c2\u00a0 Because there was evidence of almost no external movement.<\/p>\n
And the other highlight so far was James Taylor singing "Fire and Rain" from May 1970.\u00c2\u00a0 Although I wasn’t at THIS show, I did see him TWICE on that same endless tour.\u00c2\u00a0 April in Cambridge, Mass., and May in Port Chester, New York.\u00c2\u00a0 Just him and his guitar.\u00c2\u00a0 Wow.\u00c2\u00a0 JT doesn’t even SING the same way anymore.\u00c2\u00a0 Now he’s a crooner.\u00c2\u00a0 Whereas back then he was like Eric, channeling from somewhere deep in his soul.\u00c2\u00a0 It was like watching a movie.\u00c2\u00a0 With someone else’s life unfolding in front of your very eye.\u00c2\u00a0 But BETTER than a movie.\u00c2\u00a0 Because music penetrates you, is alive in a way no film can ever be.<\/p>\n
I have no idea how this dude got the rights to play this stuff.\u00c2\u00a0 Maybe it’s in the original Bill Graham contracts.<\/p>\n
I’m not saying that compilations from this era would sell five million copies, but THIS is the real music.\u00c2\u00a0 Grace Slick singing with Great Society.\u00c2\u00a0 Neil Young playing a tune from "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" before almost ANYBODY knew who he even was, back in March of ’70.\u00c2\u00a0 Quicksilver Messenger Service tearing it up.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, you can’t fast-forward, you’ve got to listen to everything.\u00c2\u00a0 And every time I’ve launched, it’s started at the same Miles Davis tune.\u00c2\u00a0 So, when you’ve got a few hours, when you’re in front of the computer, dial this up.\u00c2\u00a0 I guarantee you there will be moments that reach you.<\/p>\n
Shit, you can hear the energy and passion not only in the PLAYING of Cream, but in the audience response.\u00c2\u00a0 This was BEFORE "Sunshine Of Your Love" broke on AM radio.\u00c2\u00a0 The band’s playing like it has something to prove.\u00c2\u00a0 And let me tell you, they pass the audition.<\/p>\n
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