#acid blues

[xiadz]

The stars above They bring me to you The night is quiet But I keep wishing, I do

[toomanybandstoomanybands]

Cream - Farewell Concert, Nov. 26th 1968

It seems I wasn’t the only one suffering from a lack of Cream, so here’s some Cream facts! These mostly come from Disraeli gears-era as that was the first album I listened to when I first became obsessed with the group.

Sorry if you know these already, these are just the ones I could remember off the top of my head. Please feel free to share more! I’m no music aficionado; I’m learning everyday. I just love too many bands, too many bands… :)

Cream was the first rock supergroup! I only learned of this recently, so it’s a new fact to me.

‘Disraeli Gears’ is a play on ‘derailleur’ gears on a bike and Benjamin Disraeli, the 1st Earl of Beaconsfield and British Prime Minister from 1874 - 1880. Supposedly, Clapton was interested in purchasing a bike, and Mick Turner, their roadie, mispronounced ‘derailleur’ gears as ‘Disraeli’ gears, according to Baker. It’s funny to me how often malapropisms and mispronunciations end up as song titles!

SWLABR is an acronym for ‘She Walked Like A Bearded Rainbow’. Bruce had sent flowers meant for his then-girlfriend to Pete Brown’s (an English performance poet who worked a lot with the band) residence. Brown was taken by the movement of the flowers, noting that they reminded him of ‘the way girls walk’. These flowers were irises, supposedly Bearded Iris, or Chasing Rainbow.

The studio that Paul McCartney used to record the ‘Band on the Run’ album in Nigeria was built by Baker! Great album, by the way.

I think all fans of Cream know that Bruce and Baker did not get along, although there was a quite a bit of tension between all the members of the group. They only agreed to be a group due to Clapton’s insistence, and their recognition and respect of the other’s musical talents. Just as it was due to Clapton that the group formed, it was also due to Clapton that they disbanded two and half years later. It is said that a scathing review from Rolling Stone is what led to Clapton’s decision to leave the group, although he had been mulling over the idea for almost a year by that point.

Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder and president of Atlantic Records, upon hearing ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ had thought that the song was ‘psychedelic hogwash’. That ‘hogwash’ went on to be Cream’s best known song!

While touring in the US, in certain performances it seemed that what the group played on stage was irrelevant; they received a standing ovation after accidental feedback, and when there were issues with Clapton’s sound, they were left to play with just bass and drums, to an equally enthusiastic applause. This, paired with growing tension between Baker and Bruce, made performing ever more tedious and uninspiring.

‘Wheels of Fire’ was No.1 for 5 weeks in the US, and the first ever double-album to go platinum, but the band split up before it was even released.

[60s70salbumreviews-blog]

Elias Hulk - Unchained (1970) UK

(Acid Blues/Heavy Psych)

Somewhere in Bournemouth 1968, the green giant emerged largely through vibrant concert performances. 

The Hulk started with the thunderous vox of Pete Thorpe who fronted the Harvey Wells Soul Band that become legendary through the ballrooms of the Boscombe Hippodrome warming up for Status Quo, Small Faces and Pretty Things. 

The stirring grit of In The Midnight Hour could only hold them for long and by 1969 Thorpe recruited ex Free Love rhythm guitarist Pete Granville Frazer, ex Big Idea vocalist / guitarist Phil Clough, ex Push drummer Bernard James and Free Love bassist James Haines as Elias Hulk, with the latter recruitment of guitarist Neil Tatum.

The groups stomping ground was the South West of England where rural hippy communities were loyal and astute enough to enjoy lengthy solos. 

Far from green the Hulk launched Unchained in 1970. By 1971 the great Hulk had fallen with Granville writing material for The Ckreed which included future Babe Ruth bassist Dave Hewitt. 

These days Hulk’s influence lies with Dr Brown and Bevis Frond.

The bass in the opening of We Can Fly is tight as fuck. The vocals remind me of Ozzy. The guitar work is very psychedelic which I dig a lot. Ward-like drum solo in the middle of the track is not bad either. If you’re a Sabbath fan, check out this tune. Nightmare is cacophonous. Very grainy and fuzzy with throbbing drumwork. Guitar solo rocks. Been Around Too Long is alright. It’s more quieter. I dig the bass in this one though. Yesterday’s Trip first minute is slower. Different. Then it transcends into something on-beat. I love when they do that with songs. The bass and drums kill it. Anthology Of Dreams has a haunting guitar riff in the beginning. Made me think of a classic horror film. Then, of course, transcends into something more upbeat and vibrant. The riff in Free is incredible. I like this tune a lot. The guitar is singing along with Thorpe. My all time favourite off this album is instrumental Delhi Blues. It reminds me of India (duh). Listening to this tune makes me wanna go back home. Ending is Ain’t Got You. Slow and sad at the start and then proceeds into something more vibrant and psychedelic. 

Overall this album is alright. I liked side two better than the first. I recommend this to those that are huge fans of Black Sabbath. The album is very bass/drum driven which isn’t bad at all.

*Bolded are my favourites off the album.*

1. We Can Fly (Granville Frazer, Peter Thorpe)  2. Nightmare (Bernard James, Granville Frazer, James Haines, Neil Tatum, Peter Thorpe)  3. Been Around Too Long (James Haines, Neil Tatum, Peter Thorpe)  4. Yesterday's Trip (Granville Frazer, Neil Tatum, Peter Thorpe) 5. Anthology Of Dreams (Granville Frazer, Peter Thorpe)  6. Free (Granville Frazer, Neil Tatum, Peter Thorpe)  7. Delhi Blues (Bernard James, Granville Frazer, James Haines)  8. Ain't Got You (Granville Frazer, Peter Thorpe) 

Peter Thorpe "Big Pete Thorpe" - Lead Vocals Neil Tatum - Lead Guitar Granville Frazer - Rhythm Guitar James Haines - Bass Guitar Bernard James - Drums

[fuckyeahmotorik]

#1124

Richard Dawson - Soldier

“Peasant“, 2017

Great song from Dawson’s upcoming album! Weird blues for life.

[asphyxiating-endless-darkness]

Bye Bye Blues

[theowl08]

"Acid Blues"- The Main Squeeze

[danskjavlarna]

[greasynoise]

HONKEYFINGER!!!! 07.05.16