CREAM: THE ALTERNATIVE ALBUM - MasterPlan records released this CD momentarily in early 1997, then had to retract due to pressure from Polygram. Includes alternative takes from your favourite Fresh Cream songs and two previously unreleased songs, You Make Me Feel and Fallstaff Beer.
WHEELS OF FIRE (2 Gold Disk Set)- For die hard fans, this includes the extended version of "Passing the Time"- 90 extra seconds of studio soloing which were cut just prior to album release. Also included on the STUDIO disk is "Anyone for Tennis". On the LIVE disk, the sound clarity is very high. Just before going into "Spoonful", one hears the beating of Ginger's sticks to the appropriate rhythm.
STRANGE BREW (video)- An excellent video, including video from Tony Palmer's film documentary of Cream's Farewell concert at the Albert Hall. Also includes interviews with Baker, Bruce, Clapton, and lyricist Pete Brown, Robert Cray, plus a clip of the Jimi Hendrix Experience performing "Sunshine of Your Love". Palmer's filming technique was quite primitive, and his shots of the band are terrible- often coming close up into Bruce's mouth as he sings. Nonetheless, the music makes it all worth the bother; the solos are incredible!
FAREWELL CONCERT (video)- Not as exciting as the other videos, this one is Palmer's original documentary. It includes a few good interviews, but the songs are not played in completion. It's short, and we get only glimpses of the material included in the above video.
FRESH LIVE CREAM (video)- By far the best of the three videos, including new interviews after the Hall of Fame induction, clips from the Farewell concerts, and rare, newly discovered footage of a rehearsal show at the Revolution Club in London. Since there's no audience, there's no background noise. Taken alone, the powerful version of "Spoonful" played at the Revolution makes it worth buying the video, and the rest is just as exciting. A must for any Cream fan.
CROSSROADS (Clapton Box Set)- In addition to regular CREAM material, this features two unreleased studio tracks, a fast version of "Hey Lawdy Mama", and "Steppin' Out", on which each member solos. Very good.
JOHN MAYALL: PRIMAL SOLOS, LOOKING BACK - These two albums feature Bruce and Clapton playing live, primordial blues with Mayall. Particularly powerful are Bruce's solo on "Hoochie Coochie Man" (Primal Solos) and Clapton's brilliant playing on "They Call It Stormy Monday" (Looking Back).