Notes

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London

Audience Recording

Includes more spontaneous playing of short versions of the common CREAM songs than the later shows,
plus a rare rendition of "Lawdy Mama". Although this show is credited to be recorded in Rotterdam, NL,
it is well known in the CREAM scene that it is originally recorded in London at the Klooks Kleek Club
Nov 1966.

http://twtd.bluemountains.net.au/cream/boots.htm

Cream began touring at the end of July, barely a month after beginning serious rehearsals. Initially the
repertoire consisted of blues covers but by November they had added some originals and heavily adapted
blues songs. Touring had expanded to almost nightly performances. "Klooks Kleek" was a club in the .
"Railway Hotel", Hampstead, London. It was a popular venue on the performance circuit because of its
blues aware audience. On Tuesday 15th November, Cream performed and was recorded there. John Platt claims that it may have been an 'official' attempt to record a live album. Based on the available bootleg, it
was an amateurish effort, if that story is true. The available bootleg is dubbed from an LP record with
vinyl noise present.It is reasonably recorded, considering the era, but the mikes were continuously
'clipping'. The engineer was also varying the volume controls to handle the volume. The stacks were
turned up high! Balance is good with only the vocals slightly distant. The recording appears to be of
the end of their first set and the start of their second. Eric's Les Paul/Marshall stack sound and
playing is mature 'Bluesbreaker'. Jack and Ginger are relatively restrained, compared to later
performances, and can be accurately described as a 'rhythm section' for this performance.
An important recording that shows that 'Fresh Cream' quite successfully captured their live performance
of 1966.

Stepping Out (Bracken) 5.13
The opening number is close to the 'Bluesbreaker' album performance. The Les Paul/Marshall stack
sounds magnificent even without the tonal density of the overloaded combo. The major difference is
the lithe and flexible rhythm section.

Sweet Wine (Baker/Godfrey) 4.19
This shows how closely the studio version captured the live performance. Eric includes a feedback
loaded passage in his fine solo.

Meet Me in the Bottom (Brownie McGhee) 4.25
Their only known recording of this blues. A clear example of their beat shuffling approach that could
give a routine blues a unique tilt. Jack in shout mode.

NSU (Bruce)
Closes the 1st set and LP side. Well reproduced in the studio but, like Sweet Wine, more of a pop
performance. During the guitar solo the nascent blowing elements are present.

Hey Lawdy Mama (Junior Wells) 3.03
Eric introduces it as a Junior Wells song and it follows his arrangement. Probably the best
available version.

Sleepy Time Time (Bruce/Godfrey) 6.41.
This is given an extended work out. The 1968 live recording shows only a modest development of
the arrangement. A fine performance all round with Jack still developing his vocal technique.

Crossroads (Robert Johnson/ arr. Clapton)
The LP opens with Clapton's Bluesbreaker opus and now closes with the song that was to become
his Cream opus. The arrangement is complete and it was the technical development of the band,
collectively and individually, that was to bring the masterpiece to finalisation.