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| Value for Money | 7/10  |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | 6/10 |
Starring: Cream
Manufacturer: Bmg Music Programming
Features:
| Sony Bmg |  | £5.97P&P: £1.46 |
Full review by
dmh1
expert review 
on 14th Aug 2004
User Rating : 6
Respect :
0
Good Points: Live footage of Cream
Bad Points: Apalling direction; Intrusive voiceover; Dated psychedelic effects; No focus on instruments (at all!); Poor sound.
General comments: Cream - Farewell Concert - Although Cream's November '68 Farewell Concerts at he RAH were scarcely their best performances, this film is a travesty. Most of the footage is from the better second show (apart from White Room) although shots from both concerts are interspersed without regard to continuity. Fans wishing to scrutinise Clapton's guitar technique will be sorely disappointed: coverage is strictly limited to EC's head. Likewise Bruce & Baker are filmed without regard to showcasing their instrumental virtuosity. Director Tony Palmer concentrates obsessively on vocals. All the songs are truncated (in the 45 minute edition) although the 80 minute version provides complete renditions.
The sound is muddy at best and lacks clarity and punch. Given that these shows were recorded some eight months after the live Wheels of Fire material, the poor sound quality here is puzzling. One must assume that the British sound technicians had little experience recording in high volume live settings.
It is a sad fact that due to the short lifetime of the band (June '66 to November '68) there is a dearth of live Cream concert footage. Apart from the Fresh Live Cream DVD material, the Farewell Concert provides the only opportunity to see the band perform live. Observed from that point of view, this DVD is indispensable viewing for Cream fans, despite its many shortcomings. The sheer instrumental power of the band is only sporadically apparent, for example, during Clapton's White Room solo, and the casual viewer will undoubtedly question Cream's deservedly great live reputation.
All in all, a classic example of how not to do it. A great opportunity sadly missed.
dmh1's review and ratings | 281 words
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