cream bootlegs

THE UNOFFICIAL RECORDINGS: BOOTLEGS

Note: Bootlegs are illegal recordings and the sale of such is in breach of copyright laws

Bootlegs are unofficial live recordings or releases of material that the record companies won't release (alternate takes etc). While this is nominally illegal it is not the same as pirating legitimate releases. The recording industry does not like bootlegs because they think they deprive them of revenue even though they wouldn't bother releasing them themselves. These unofficial recordings are usually of low audio quality, limited packaging (though occasionally excellent packaging like "Creamset" which unfortunately is poor audio!)) and thus are only of interest to the dedicated fan who already would have the legitimate releases. My sonic ratings range from unlistenable to worth digital remastering for official release.

They are important because they can give us insite into artists at key periods of their career. Without them we wouldn't be able to hear the glories of Charlie Parker soloing for 10 min! They provide us with an opportunity to hear Cream in their early live days and at their absolute peak on the '67 US tour. The record companies need to release the remaining live material and even be daring and get hold of some of the master bootleg tapes, digitally reprocess them and get them out (like the Allman Bros "Live at Ludlow Garage 1970"). Cream broke up over 30 years ago, its historic now!

The following listings have been compiled from information kindly provided by Bob Elliott, Eric Clapton Bootography and other collectors plus my own collecting. Recordings marked with "(?)" are not absolutely clear as to place and/or exact date. However I am confident that the dating is at least approximately correct. As at 23rd January 1999 , this list is a complete and accurate list of all known Cream bootlegs.

Email me for advice on possible sources, availability and quality of bootlegs

LIVE RECORDINGS

March, 1967 – Amsterdam, Holland (from the Eric Clapton Bootography)
Steppin’ Out, Sweet Wine, Lost Love, NSU, Big Black Woman Blues, Sleepy Time Time, Crossroads.
This is a bootleged bootleg. Cream never played in Holland. It is the Klooks Kleek recording - Lost Love=Meet Me In the Bottom, Big Black Woman Blues=Lawdy Mama.

March 7, 1967 - ‘Konserthuset’ Stockholm, Sweden (FM broadcast) (REVIEW)
N.S.U., Steppin’ Out, Traintime, Toad, I’m So Glad (25 min)
Importance: 4, Music: 4, Sound: 2-3 (quality 3 but overspeed)

May 7, 1967 - ‘Empire Pool’ Wembley, England
N.S.U. (inc), I’m So Glad (10 min)
Importance: 2, Music: 4, Sound: 1

May 23, 1967 - 'Marquee Club' Soho, London, England (REVIEW)
Tales of Brave Ulysses, World of Pain, Outside Woman Blues, Dance the Night Away, Sleepy Time Time, Sweet Wine, Rollin' and Tumblin', N.S.U. (inc) (38 min. )

May 29, 1967 - 'Tulip Bulb Auction Hall' Spalding, England (REVIEW)
N.S.U., Sunshine of Your Love, We're Going Wrong, Steppin' Out, Rollin' and Tumblin', Toad, I'm So Glad (40) min.
Note: This is an audience recording, not a soundboard as claimed, with vocals & bass almost non-existent
Importance: 4, Music: 3, Sound: 2-3 (4 except for lack of bass/vocals)

Sept. 3, 1967 - ‘Fillmore Auditorium’ San Francisco, California (REVIEW)
Spoonful, Tales of Brave Ulysses, Sunshine of Your Love, Sweet Wine, N.S.U., Hey Lawdy Mama, Sleepy Time Time, Steppin’ Out (inc) (70 min)
Importance: 4, Music: 4, Sound: 2-3

Sept. 9, 1967 - ‘Brandeis University’ Waltham, Massachusetts (REVIEW)
Tales of Brave Ulysses, Sunshine of Your Love, N.S.U., Sitting On Top of the World, Steppin’ Out, Traintime, Toad. (85 min)
Importance: 5, Music: 5, Sound: 3-4

Sept. (10-15), 1967 - ‘Psychedelic Supermarket’ Boston, Massachusetts (REVIEW)
Sunshine of Your Love, Spoonful, Tales of Brave Ulysses, Sweet Wine (inc) (35 min)
Importance: 3, Music: 4, Sound: 2

October or November, 1967 - ?, UK (Note previously listed as March, Amsterdam) (REVIEW)
Spoonful, Steppin’ Out, Traintime, Toad, I’m So Glad (inc) (45 min)
Importance: 3, Music: 3-4, Sound: 1

Nov. 14, 1967 - ‘Konserthuset’ Stockholm, Sweden (REVIEW)
Tales of Brave Ulysses, Sunshine of Your Love, Sleepy Time Time, Steppin’ Out, Traintime, Toad (inc), I’m So Glad (65 min)
Importance: 3, Music: 4, Sound: 3-4 (4 but underspeed by about 13%!)

March 3, 1968 - ‘Fillmore Auditorium’ San Francisco, California (REVIEW)
N.S.U., Politician, Sunshine of Your Love, I’m So Glad, Spoonful (inc), Steppin’ Out, Traintime (inc), Toad (inc) (65 min)
Importance: 3, Music: 4, Sound: 4

March 7, 1968 - ‘Fillmore Auditorium’ San Francisco, California
Sleepy Time Time, Tales of Brave Ulysses, Crossroads, We’re Going Wrong
Note: "Sleepy Time Time" is from 9th March Winterland and released on "Live Cream", the rest are from 10th March Winterland (see below) and only "We're Going Wrong" has not been officially released.

March 10, 1968 - ‘Winterland Arena’ San Francisco, Cal. (both sets) (REVIEW)
Tales of Brave Ulysses+, Spoonful*, Crossroads*, We’re Going Wrong, Sweet Wine#, Sunshine of Your Love, N.S.U.#, Steppin’ Out, Traintime, Toad (inc), I’m So Glad (inc) (95 min)
(* - released on ‘Wheels of Fire’, # - released on ‘Live Cream’, + - released on ‘Live Cream Volume 2’)
Note: This is also around as "Fillmore 7th March" but with a different set order

March 18, 1968 - ‘Anaheim Convention Centre’, Anaheim Cal. (REVIEW) - newly discovered in 2000
Spoonful, Sunshine of Your Love, Rollin & Tumblin, Steppin’ Out, Toad (fragment only), I’m So Glad (52 min)
Importance: 3, Music: 4, Sound: 3-4

March 23/24, 1968 - Shapiro Athletic Center, ‘Brandeis University’ Waltham, Massachusetts (REVIEW)
Tales of Brave Ulysses, Sunshine of Your Love, N.S.U., Sitting On Top of the World, Steppin’ Out, Traintime, Toad. (85 min)
Importance: 5, Music: 5, Sound: 4+

April 5, 1968 - ‘Back Bay Theatre’ Boston, Massachusetts (REVIEW)
Sunshine of Your Love, Spoonful, Sleepy Time Time, Steppin’ Out, Traintime, Toad (85 min)
Importance: 3, Music: 5, Sound: 4

May 25, 1968 - ‘Civic Auditorium’ San Jose, California (REVIEW)
Tales of Brave Ulysses, Sunshine of Your Love, I’m So Glad, Sitting On Top of the World, Steppin’ Out, Traintime, Toad (inc) (62 min)
Importance: 3, Music: 3-4, Sound: 2-3

June 11, 1968 - ‘Paul Sauve Arena’ Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Tales of Brave Ulysses, Sunshine of Your Love, Sitting On Top of the World, N.S.U., Traintime, Steppin’ Out, Toad (60 min)

June 15, 1968 - ‘Oakdale Theatre’ Wallingford, Connecticut
White Room, Politician, I’m So Glad, Sitting On Top of the World, Crossroads, Sunshine of Your Love, Traintime, Spoonful, Toad (70 min)
Note: This is actually from the Final tour of Oct/Nov - venue unknown

Oct. 4, 1968 - ‘Alameda County Coliseum Arena’ Oakland, CA (REVIEW)
White Room*, Politician*, Crossroads, Sunshine of Your Love, Spoonful, Deserted Cities of the Heart*, Passing the Time with drum solo, I’m So Glad (* - released on ‘Live Cream Volume 2’) (65 min)

Oct. 5, 1968 - ‘University of New Mexico’ Albuquerque, NM
White Room, Politician, I’m So Glad, Sitting On Top of the World, Sunshine of Your Love, Deserted Cities of the Heart, Toad, Spoonful (70 min)

Oct. 11, 1968 - ‘New Haven Arena’ New Haven, Connecticut
White Room, Politician (13 min)

Oct. 13, 1968 - ‘Coliseum’ Chicago, Illinois
White Room, Politician, I’m So Glad, SittingOn Top of the World, Sunshine of Your Love,Crossroads, Traintime, Toad, Spoonful (50 min)

Oct. 18, 1968 - ‘The Forum’ Inglewood, California
White Room, Politician, I’m So Glad, Sitting On Top of the World, Sunshine of Your Love, Crossroads, Traintime, Toad, Spoonful
Note: This is actually the performances of 19th and 20th Oct combined

Oct. 19, 1968 - ‘The Forum’ Inglewood, California
White Room, Politician*, I’m So Glad*, Sitting On Top of the World*, (25 min)
(* - released on ‘Goodbye’)

Oct. 20, 1968 - ‘Sports Arena’ San Diego, California (REVIEW)
Crossroads*, Sunshine of Your Love*, Traintime, Toad, Spoonful (53 min)
* previously listed as from the Forum of the 19th.

Oct. 25, 1968 - ‘Memorial Auditorium’ Dallas, Texas (REVIEW)
White Room, Sunshine of Your Love, I’m So Glad, Sitting On Top of the World, Crossroads, Traintime, Toad, Spoonful (85 min)

Nov. 2, 1968 - ‘Madison Square Gardens’ NYC
Presentation of awards for ‘Wheels of Fire’ LP, White Room, Politician, I’m So Glad, Sitting On Top of the World (inc), Sunshine of Your Love, Crossroads, Traintime, Toad, Spoonful (80 min)

Nov. 4, 1968 - ‘Rhode Island Auditorium’ Providence, RI
Spoonful, Toad (only songs performed due to curfew) (35 min)

Nov. 26, 1968 - ‘Royal Albert Hall’ London, England (2^nd show)
White Room, Politician, I’m So Glad, Sitting On Top of the World, Crossroads, Toad, Spoonful, Sunshine of Your Love, Steppin’ Out (75 min)
Note: There is a 'complete' boot and a dub from the soundtrack of the 16mm film version. On the soundtrack dub some tracks are incomplete and voice overs do intrude.

BBC Radio/TV Recordings

General ratings: Importance: 3, Music: 3, Sound: 5-6.
Note: "We're Going Wrong" - 5 on music, and Politician - 5 on importance.

Sept. 1967 - ‘All My Loving’ music documentary (video)
We’re Going Wrong (inc) ('Twice a Fortnight" BBC TV) also on Fresh Live Cream video.
I’m So Glad (inc), Toad (inc), (filmed at the ‘Fillmore Auditorium’ San Francisco,California in Feb/March. 1968) (10 min)

Jan. 12, 1993 - ‘Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’ Los Angeles, Cal.
Induction presentation, Sunshine of Your Love, Born Under A Bad Sign, Crossroads (22 min)