Cream – Goodbye (1969/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

After less than 3 years in existence, and some 15 million albums sold, „Goodbye“ was Cream’s farewell release. Baker, Bruce and Clapton indicated at the time that they were burned out on the concept, the touring, the improvisational ‘battles,’ and each other. The live cuts (‘I’m So Glad,’ ‘Politician’ and ‘Sitting On Top Of The World’) are indicative of how the band’s concert chemistry had evolved from earlier live recordings (such as those on „Wheels Of Fire“ and Live Cream Vol. 1 & 2). But what’s most striking about „Goodbye“ is the charm and craftsmanship of their last studio tracks, indicating that Cream was far from played out creatively, and illustrating how strong their songwriting skills really were.

The Beatles’ influence is readily apparent on each studio track, the most famous being Clapton’s ‘Badge,’ featuring George Harrison. Bruce’s ‘Doin’ The Scrapyard Thing,’ with its mixture of funk and the English music hall, points to the directions he would pursue on „Songs For A Tailor“ and his other underrated solo albums, while Baker’s use of odd meters on ‘What A Bringdown’ anticipates ‘Do What You Like’ on Blind Faith.

After a mere three albums in just under three years, Cream called it quits in 1969. Being proper gentlemen, they said their formal goodbyes with a tour and a farewell album called — what else? — Goodbye. As a slim, six-song single LP, it’s far shorter than the rambling, out-of-control Wheels of Fire, but it boasts the same structure, evenly dividing its time between tracks cut on-stage and in the studio. While the live side contains nothing as indelible as “Crossroads,” the live music on the whole is better than that on Wheels of Fire, capturing the trio at an empathetic peak as a band. It’s hard, heavy rock, with Cream digging deep into their original “Politician” with the same intensity as they do on “Sitting on Top of the World,” but it’s the rampaging “I’m So Glad” that illustrates how far they’ve come; compare it to the original studio version on Fresh Cream and it’s easy to see just how much further they’re stretching their improvisation. The studio side also finds them at something of a peak. Boasting a song apiece from each member, it opens with the majestic classic “Badge,” co-written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison and ranking among both of their best work. It’s followed by Jack Bruce’s “Doing That Scrapyard Thing,” an overstuffed near-masterpiece filled with wonderful, imaginative eccentricities, and finally, there’s Ginger Baker’s tense, dramatic “What a Bringdown,” easily the best original he contributed to the group. Like all of Cream’s albums outside Disraeli Gears, Goodbye is an album of moments, not a tight cohesive work, but those moments are all quite strong on their own terms, making this a good and appropriate final bow.
– Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Tracklist:
1. Cream – I’m So Glad (Live At The Forum, Los Angeles 1968) (09:12)
2. Cream – Politician (Live At The Forum, Los Angeles 1968) (06:19)
3. Cream – Sitting On Top Of The World (Live At The Forum, Los Angeles 1968) (05:07)
4. Cream – Badge (02:48)
5. Cream – Doing That Scrapyard Thing (03:18)
6. Cream – What A Bringdown (03:57)

Personnel:
Eric Clapton – vocals, guitar
Jack Bruce – vvocals, harmonica, piano, organ, keyboards
Ginger Baker – vvocals, drums, percussion
George Harrison – vguitar
Felix Pappalardi – viola, piano, Mellotron, bass

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