Given that Cream did so much great work in their brief (less than three years) tenure, and given their reputation for being such a great live band, this CD has to be considered a bit of a disappointment. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the quality of the recordings... everything is right there, and the track selection, on first glance, appears scrumptious. In fact, it's a bit hard to actually put your finger on what's missing here. But Cream put out a lot of live work (of the six albums they released between 1966 and 1972, two are entirely live, and two others are half live), and none of the live stuff is particularly stunning. Except for the fact that most of the numbers include some extended jams, there isn't much to recommend them over the studio versions.

'Goodbye Cream', released in 1969, put on vinyl all that was left of Cream's studio works, and the remaining grooves were filled in with some live tracks. After that, the hunt was on to chronicle the dead band's live persona. In 1970, 'Live Cream Vol. 1' was released, offering covers of tracks from their debut LP, 'Fresh Cream'. Two years later, this second live disc emerged, 'Live Cream Vol. 2' which draws two tracks each from the band's second and third studio releases ('Disraeli Gears' and 'Wheels of Fire'), a live version of 'Politician' (a studio track from 'Goodbye Cream'), and a nearly fourteen minute version of a James Bracken instrumental originally performed by Eric Clapton with the Bluesbreakers called 'Steppin' Out'.

'Live Cream Vol. 2' is derived from 3 separate concerts, two consecutive nights at the Winterland, San Francisco venue, and the October 4 show at the Oakland Coliseum, all in 1968. Of the more familiar tracks, I would say only 'Deserted Cities of the Heart' evokes the kind of emotional response elicited by the studio version. I believe 'White Room' and 'Tales of Brave Ulysses' benefitted too much from the confines and control of a recording studio for any three-piece band to have any chance of replicating them onstage. It's nice to hear an extended, alternate version of the rabidly overplayed 'Sunshine of Your Love', but you just question if this particular live version is representative of the sort of performance all the raving was about. It's good, but it's certainly not going to convince me to put away my copy of 'Disraeli Gears'.

So while there is no complaint about the recording quality, the track selection, or even the individual performances, the 'magic', for me, is missing. Clapton, as usual, performs at a dizzying pace, and while I don't frequently 'tune in' to the bass lines in a song, Jack Bruce rarely disappoints when I do. Ginger Baker, to me the one member of Cream with the most readily recognizable, 'signiture' sound, doesn't impress as one would expect... but I find no flaw in his performance either. The band is in their prime and I have every reason to believe these were insprired performances, but I don't feel the inspiration. As Steve Winwood would say, "Sometimes I feel so uninspired"... sure, maybe it's me. I wouldn't be surprised, nor field a strong argument, with anyone who absolutely loved this disc.

Experiencing Cream live, in their hayday, is something many of us never had the opportunity to do. If that is your situation, by all means give this disc a listen. I think it's even money, however, whether you'll be inclined to keep replaying these tracks over their studio counterparts. That's my review and I'm going to stick with it, even if you dis me.

This was one of the reasons I started playing guitar!

Released a few years after the band broke up, it never failed to show why Cream had the stellar reputation it did. Without studio sweetening, these tracks stand up beautifully in a live environment.

The combination of Ginger Baker's liberally jazz-inflected drumming, Jack Bruce's roaring, snarling yet melodic bass and Clapton's soulful blues phrasing cranked up to 11 was enough to get my attention at a young age and stuck with me ever since. Combined with memorable riffs and melodies, colorful chord progressions ("Tales of Brave Ulysses" and "Deserted Cities of The Heart" as great examples)and Jack Bruce's soaring voice, this was indeed a fearsome threesome that messed me up for life in a good way. The band's ability to combine the cry of the blues, colorful psychedelia and the loose "go for it" attitude of jazz improvisation was a miracle to behold.

"Steppin Out" takes a fun blues instrumental and shoots it to the moon with Clapton and Baker kicking out the jams and taking no prisoners.

Despite the nasty internal tensions that blew the band apart after their brief existence, they managed to put out an impressive catalog of music that would inspire for years to come. Can't recommend it enough.

This album was my first acquaintance with Cream. I was 14 years old and beginning to take interest in drums. I put this record on, and within 15 seconds of listening to the first number I realized what rock drumming should be about.

There's enough musical material just on the first number, (Deserted Cities of the Heart) to have inspired countless future metal albums in terms of riffs and playing paradigms. In the second part of White Room, after the instrumental bit, it seems that they are bringing the number to a close; then there is a slight time change and Clapton plays some unearthly notes on the guitar, before the ending really climaxes. The intensity of just these few seconds is so staggering that you wonder what it felt like being in the audience, or being one of the three!

Compared to Live Cream vol 1, the songs are less drawn out (except Steppin' Out) but more intense, I would say.

I can't see how anyone could have given this album less than five stars out of five - if anyone ever played better or more spectacular I would like to hear that!

This is mostly a response to "kireviewer" below:

1). Contrary to what you've stated, the
album was brought out a full two years after
"Live Cream, Vol I". No "rush to cash in".

2). This is one of the first live rock albums
ever to utilize then-state-of-the-art mobile
recording technology, and the engineers involved
fully deserve a part of my five stars; this thing
sounds great!

For everybody else: Man, buy this thing! These performances
are the essence of great live blues-rock. Wonderful
album, all of it!

This may be a somewhat overlooked item in the Cream catalog, and it should not be regarded as an inferior follow-up to "Live Cream," but as an essential supplement. A Cream fan may be indifferent to the nearly 14 minute, generic jam of "Steppin' Out," but the version of "Sunshine of Your Love" on this disc is a V8 Supercharged Cobra that makes the original studio version feel like a stock 6. Also, the "Tales of Brave Ulysses" here has a butt like a battleship: that is, it sits down in the groove with a mighty purpose. The "Deserted Cities" here is a bit more raucous and driven than the original, and is thus nice to have. The odd track out is "White Room," in which the band inexplicably flubs a change or two and sounds noncommittal. It is pale beside the "Wheels of Fire" version. Bottom line: at least half of the disc is still great.