Both reviewers rated Orpheus as hyped up crap
Both reviewers rated Orpheus as hyped up crap
Jon
Landau reviewed the Cream concert of the 23rd of March.
The full review was published in Brandeis University’s Student
Newspaper, “The Justice” on March 26, 1968.
An modified version of this review was subsequently published in
‘Rolling Stone’. That issue
also contained a long interview with Clapton.
Another
review of the concert, by Alan Heineman, was published in June 1968 Downbeat.
This review also encompassed the Jefferson Airplane who had played at
Brandeis on April 28th.
It
should be noted that both are Jazz reviewers straying into Rock.
We
also have the bootleg and it is absolutely confirmed from the details in the
reviews that it is a recording of the concert.
Reviews:
Alan
Heineman, “Trippin’: Impressions of Cream and Jefferson Airplane”,
Downbeat June 1968, Pp 15-16.
Jon
Landau, “Cream On Its Way”, The Justice [Brandeis University], Vol XX,
No.19, March 26 1968, p4.
Jon Landau, “Cream”, Rolling Stone, May 11 1968, p14. (Quotes from this are in italics).
Was
Landau’s review balanced and fair? Well
let’s compare the two reviews on specific points (plus my criticisms – why
shouldn’t I criticise the critics?):
|
Heineman |
Landau |
Editor |
|
[Jack]
Cassidy and Bruce are the only two interesting electric bassists I have
ever heard. |
|
|
|
…few
rock drummers, however dextrous, extend their rhythmic conceptions much
beyond symmetrically divided 4/4; Baker {is an exception] |
…Ginger
Baker played every rock drumming break, every drumming cliché that there
is during his performance of “Sunshine”.
And he …played his instrument flawlessly |
Landau
must be kidding – Rock drumming was overwhelmingly locked into
“symmetrically divided 4/4”. Baker
opened up Rock drumming – no one I repeat no-one was playing Rock drums
with anything approaching his technical skills. |
|
[Jorma]
Kaukonen and Clapton are among the handful of gifted guitarists,
technically and conceptually. |
Clapton
is a master of the blues clichés of the last 40 years. |
Well
if Clapton is the master of these “cliches’ where does that leave, B.B.,
Albert, Freddy, Buddy etc, the ones he is supposedly copying? Landau
demeans the creators of these so-called “blues clichés”. |
|
Clapton
in particular has few or no technical equals, in jazz or rock.
He has to be heard to be believed. |
He
knows the music of B.B.King and Albert King like the back of his hand and
he didn’t play a note that wasn’t blues that Saturday night |
Clapton
does know their music and many other blues guitarists.
His influences were more nakedly obvious in the past.
Now they are blended into an architectural solo approach but it is
firmly pentatonic scales. |
|
Cream
began its set at 2.15 a.m. .. of 3,000 present from 8.00 p.m., fully 2,500
remained, for the most part placidly. Quite a tribute. |
After
the endless succession of announcements the Cream were introduced to a
standing ovation. |
|
|
It
was deserved. If anything was
worth the five-hour wait, its set was. |
|
|
|
There
are some groups that really should not perform live… For some the
opposite is the case and Cream is one of these. |
|
|
|
In
the first place there is the matter of volume. A trio – right? Wrong.
Seven orchestras. Cream’s
sound is just this side of physically tangible. It assaults, drowns, lifts, transports, and when it stops,
one feels alone, insufficient somehow. |
|
|
|
Cream’s
records …present the group as predominantly vocal…In person, it gets
the singing out of the way in a hurry and gets down to business. |
Unlike
on their albums, the group came on as a predominantly instrumental trio
with vocals used basically to begin and end each number. |
|
Hunter College Auditorium, March 29, 1st Show.
Note: New stacks with wheels, EC on Les Paul