This performance knocked my socks off when I was a snot nosed know-it-all punk of 15, it knocks my socks off now as a senior citizen of 64, and it'll still be knocking my socks off when I'm the senile old geezer with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel that I'm closer than I like to think to being. If it isn't the most kick-ass live guitar, bass, and drums performance individually, it's the most kick-ass live combination of guitar, bass, and drums in the history of rock music imho. The Winterland Ballroom should have been put on the list of historically and culturally significant sites and preserved for this performance alone.
This is the version that made the song famous. It was on the double album Wheels of Fire and also received airplay as a single. It was in jukeboxes. One of EC's best solos, or anybody's.
True dat. The work he did on "Sitting on Top of the World", and "Politician" from the 'Goodbye Album', are testaments to how good he could play and why no one has ever tried to replicate him...not even Hendrix. Hendrix said Clapton's renditions of those tunes and the guitar playing on them, could not be improved upon. EC, Pete "Guitar" Lewis and Mike Bloomfield were my idols, and from 18 years old to today (78), even though Hendrix heavily influenced me later, for me EC was the player who caused me to seriously learn to play.
My all time favourite Cream number without a doubt. When you have almost total mastery of your instrument and are at one with the rest of the band, it all slots into place. Sad to see the passing of Jack Bruce- RIP Jack and thanks so much for being there for us.
Clapton's finest performance, and one that literally put him on the map as a legendary guitarist. He was literally channeling the universe on this one. Wow. I have never heard a solo like that ... EVER.
If you haven't heard the story of how this particular version of Crossroads was a "timing mistake," caused by a rushed performance at Winterland, go look it up. But however it happened, after that second solo section, these guys could have laid down their instruments and retired, knowing that what they'd just done could never be matched. But that did not stop them from going forward, and it did not stop the rest of us, who instead went and found a guitar or bass or some drums to learn how to play. Jack, you were a great inspiration, and beyond that, you created some epochal magic moments that kick us in the head and make us "so glad" to be alive. I will miss you, but I will hear you.
I've heard this thing about EC playing ahead of the beat, or whatever, but I don't get it. I've listened to this solo countless times since mid '70s and it will always be as perfect as it could be. It would be easy for a guitarist to lose the timing with the complicated bass and changing drum patterns, however. To my ears it's spot on.
i think the magic behind this happy accident is the timing + the major and minor pentatonic shift. probably clapton wanted to do something amazing in his head and shifted the scale to add some extra notes to the mix. the result is for the history books.
Peter Lundgren I've had the same experience: I've listened to this track I don't know how many times since Wheels of Fire came out, and I don't have the slightest idea what anybody's talking about, Clapton's timing or G. Baker playing the "incorrect beat" for half the first solo etc., or whatever. It must have started with rumors and then people started to convince themselves that they were hearing it. That happens.
Crossroads (and Spoonful as well) on Wheels of Fire is mislabeled as being from the Fillmore, but it is in fact recorded 10 March 1968 at Winterland, San Francisco, CA.
This is def some of the Master's greatest work. Took me two years of practicing everyday to learn it note for note. The guitar work Hendrix did on Band of Gypsies was excellent too and on par with this masterpiece. I'm not religious but I still pray everyday that we can keep Eric among us for many more years to come. He's a world treasure.
El primer solo és fantàstic, però el segon és senzillament bestial, brutal i irrepetible! (The first solo is fantastic, but the second is simply beastly, brutal and unrepeatable!)
Ah yes, One of the best, 1st heard this in 1968, (age 14, buck toothed teenager w/braces & glasses) our "hip" 18 yr old cousin from San Francisco brought us this LP. Guess he was there......Cream was the 1st Super group.. Timeless, like Hendrix/their talent can never be replicated
Someone thought it clever to use footage from the Royal Albert Hall farewell concert and put the audio from Wheels of Fire on it. The thing is, there's nothing wrong with the original soundtrack.
I am not trying to be disrespectful here. I acknowledge Clapton's talent. But I have been looking for, or waiting for someone to show me, a guitar solo better than Terry Kath's guitar solo, on 25 or 6 to 4, Live at Tanglewood. This is not it. This is good guitar, but it doesn't touch Terry Kath's guitar solo at Tanglewood. I don't even like Chicago. But his performance left me forever changed. The first time I saw it, which was only 2 years ago, I wanted to run out into the street & scream my lungs out. I was so impressed, that I tell everyone who will listen, how amazing it is. I read everything I could find on Terry Kath & became enraged to learn that the critics virtually ignored his talent. When I looked at Rolling Stones list of the best guitarists, I could not believe that he wasn't even on it. That told me, that without a doubt, Rolling Stone Magazine is nothing but a kiss ass, bogus magazine & so is their list. I watch that video now, at least once a week & it never fails to amaze me. I still want to run through my neighborhood & scream, "Holy shit, people, stop what you're doing & watch this video." I saw this guitar solo, listed as #1 on a website, so I immediately came here to watch it. No. It does not deserve to be #1. I'm sorry, Clapton fans. It just doesn't. And I am still waiting for someone to show me a better guitar solo than Kath's, on 25 or 6 to 4, Live at Tanglewood. I believe it is the best I have ever seen, in my 60 years of life. Robin Trower, Alex Lifeson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pat Travers, Jeff Beck, Tony Iommi, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Duane Allman, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Joe Bonamassa. I am a fan & have always been a lover of good guitar. It boggles my brain, when I see Keith Richards listed as one of the world's greatest guitarists. Really? Keith Richards. KEITH RICHARDS??? The only reason he appears on any greatest guitarist list, is because sheeple don't rise up in protest & demand that he be put in the list at # 90, not #4. I love The Stones, but give me a break. When has Keith Richard's guitar playing knocked your socks off? Please. Anyway, I left this rant, because it is my duty to spread the wonder that was Terry Kath everywhere that I can. He is the most criminally underrated guitar player that ever lived. I wish he was still alive, so he could see the comments people leave on the Tanglewood video. And so I could see him in person & just touch him. And thank him for the way I feel every time I watch his guitar solo on that video. Absolutely without a doubt, the best I have ever seen. Ever.
![Gunna - HIM ALL ALONG [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HiCxoDeo0hc/mqdefault.jpg)
![GEEK TIMË [OFFICIAL AUDIO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ry-6RvkH880/mqdefault.jpg)
This performance knocked my socks off when I was a snot nosed know-it-all punk of 15, it knocks my socks off now as a senior citizen of 64, and it'll still be knocking my socks off when I'm the senile old geezer with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel that I'm closer than I like to think to being. If it isn't the most kick-ass live guitar, bass, and drums performance individually, it's the most kick-ass live combination of guitar, bass, and drums in the history of rock music imho. The Winterland Ballroom should have been put on the list of historically and culturally significant sites and preserved for this performance alone.
Arbeedubya me too
This is the version that made the song famous. It was on the double album Wheels of Fire and also received airplay as a single. It was in jukeboxes. One of EC's best solos, or anybody's.
paul harris you said a big truth, many don't want to hear
True dat. The work he did on "Sitting on Top of the World", and "Politician" from the 'Goodbye Album', are testaments to how good he could play and why no one has ever tried to replicate him...not even Hendrix. Hendrix said Clapton's renditions of those tunes and the guitar playing on them, could not be improved upon. EC, Pete "Guitar" Lewis and Mike Bloomfield were my idols, and from 18 years old to today (78), even though Hendrix heavily influenced me later, for me EC was the player who caused me to seriously learn to play.
One of the greatest guitar solos ever
My all time favourite Cream number without a doubt. When you have almost total mastery of your instrument and are at one with the rest of the band, it all slots into place. Sad to see the passing of Jack Bruce- RIP Jack and thanks so much for being there for us.
Amazing 56 Years Old This Song Is
Cream is the greatest power trio of all time
If only we had the real video to Winterland and the rest of the concert!
Clapton's finest performance, and one that literally put him on the map as a legendary guitarist. He was literally channeling the universe on this one. Wow. I have never heard a solo like that ... EVER.
If you haven't heard the story of how this particular version of Crossroads was a "timing mistake," caused by a rushed performance at Winterland, go look it up. But however it happened, after that second solo section, these guys could have laid down their instruments and retired, knowing that what they'd just done could never be matched.
But that did not stop them from going forward, and it did not stop the rest of us, who instead went and found a guitar or bass or some drums to learn how to play.
Jack, you were a great inspiration, and beyond that, you created some epochal magic moments that kick us in the head and make us "so glad" to be alive. I will miss you, but I will hear you.
I've heard this thing about EC playing ahead of the beat, or whatever, but I don't get it. I've listened to this solo countless times since mid '70s and it will always be as perfect as it could be. It would be easy for a guitarist to lose the timing with the complicated bass and changing drum patterns, however. To my ears it's spot on.
i think the magic behind this happy accident is the timing + the major and minor pentatonic shift. probably clapton wanted to do something amazing in his head and shifted the scale to add some extra notes to the mix. the result is for the history books.
Peter Lundgren I've had the same experience: I've listened to this track I don't know how many times since Wheels of Fire came out, and I don't have the slightest idea what anybody's talking about, Clapton's timing or G. Baker playing the "incorrect beat" for half the first solo etc., or whatever. It must have started with rumors and then people started to convince themselves that they were hearing it. That happens.
Alex Seicean What "shift" are you referring to? He's using a blues scale, which includes both 3 natural and 3 flat.
From Wheels of Fire
I have had this album since 1970
wait for the 2nd Clapton solo - genius
Crossroads (and Spoonful as well) on Wheels of Fire is mislabeled as being from the Fillmore, but it is in fact recorded 10 March 1968 at Winterland, San Francisco, CA.
Thank you for setting 'em straight. I was there!
The greatest electric guitar solo ever played.
This is def some of the Master's greatest work. Took me two years of practicing everyday to learn it note for note. The guitar work Hendrix did on Band of Gypsies was excellent too and on par with this masterpiece. I'm not religious but I still pray everyday that we can keep Eric among us for many more years to come. He's a world treasure.
So long Jack. Glad that you were among us for a while.
El primer solo és fantàstic, però el segon és senzillament bestial, brutal i irrepetible! (The first solo is fantastic, but the second is simply beastly, brutal and unrepeatable!)
Sadly they just don't make 'em like this anymore - the perfect blend of jazz rhythm section and blues guitar. Fabulous...
No they don't...!
ruclips.net/video/0GoI48D4oAg/видео.html
The version of Crossroads on "Wheels of Fire" IS from the Winterland concert
Ah yes, One of the best, 1st heard this in 1968, (age 14, buck toothed teenager w/braces & glasses) our "hip" 18 yr old cousin from San Francisco brought us this LP. Guess he was there......Cream was the 1st Super group.. Timeless, like Hendrix/their talent can never be replicated
This song stands with the greatest pieces of music of All times !!!!!!
Jack Bruce best bass man ever...trained on the classical cello thats why he could make his electric bass sing.
ESTA ES LA MEJOR VERSIÓN EN DIRECTO DE CROSSROADS DE CREAM DE TODOS LOS TIEMPOS!
Now that is how to play the "Guitars" and the Drums always remember Ginger.
RIP John Symon Asher Bruce
best bass live solo...jack bruce
If forced to vote for best live song performance this is it. As for albums... Live at Leeds
The second guitar lead is indescribable. It’s about the best recorded guitar work ever, no disrespect to Jimi.
Clapton rulz!
Jack Bruce if you please.
the video effects detract from the experience
Whats wrong with this video? Was that on purpose?
Someone thought it clever to use footage from the Royal Albert Hall farewell concert and put the audio from Wheels of Fire on it.
The thing is, there's nothing wrong with the original soundtrack.
Seizure inducing
Great music, horrible video
Clapton thought his solo on this sucked. That's as pathetically wrong as saying that Trump sucks.
Trump does suck, and bigtime to boot.
Nice try...
I am not trying to be disrespectful here. I acknowledge Clapton's talent. But I have been looking for, or waiting for someone to show me, a guitar solo better than Terry Kath's guitar solo, on 25 or 6 to 4, Live at Tanglewood. This is not it. This is good guitar, but it doesn't touch Terry Kath's guitar solo at Tanglewood. I don't even like Chicago. But his performance left me forever changed. The first time I saw it, which was only 2 years ago, I wanted to run out into the street & scream my lungs out. I was so impressed, that I tell everyone who will listen, how amazing it is. I read everything I could find on Terry Kath & became enraged to learn that the critics virtually ignored his talent. When I looked at Rolling Stones list of the best guitarists, I could not believe that he wasn't even on it. That told me, that without a doubt, Rolling Stone Magazine is nothing but a kiss ass, bogus magazine & so is their list. I watch that video now, at least once a week & it never fails to amaze me. I still want to run through my neighborhood & scream, "Holy shit, people, stop what you're doing & watch this video." I saw this guitar solo, listed as #1 on a website, so I immediately came here to watch it. No. It does not deserve to be #1. I'm sorry, Clapton fans. It just doesn't. And I am still waiting for someone to show me a better guitar solo than Kath's, on 25 or 6 to 4, Live at Tanglewood. I believe it is the best I have ever seen, in my 60 years of life. Robin Trower, Alex Lifeson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pat Travers, Jeff Beck, Tony Iommi, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Duane Allman, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Joe Bonamassa. I am a fan & have always been a lover of good guitar. It boggles my brain, when I see Keith Richards listed as one of the world's greatest guitarists. Really? Keith Richards. KEITH RICHARDS??? The only reason he appears on any greatest guitarist list, is because sheeple don't rise up in protest & demand that he be put in the list at # 90, not #4.
I love The Stones, but give me a break. When has Keith Richard's guitar playing knocked your socks off? Please. Anyway, I left this rant, because it is my duty to spread the wonder that was Terry Kath everywhere that I can. He is the most criminally underrated guitar player that ever lived. I wish he was still alive, so he could see the comments people leave on the Tanglewood video. And so I could see him in person & just touch him. And thank him for the way I feel every time I watch his guitar solo on that video. Absolutely without a doubt, the best I have ever seen. Ever.