Disco de Cream: “Goodbye [Remaster]”

I respectfully disagree with another reviewer about the dubious quality of "Doing that scrapyard thing" and "What a bringdown". Scrapyard is one of my favourite Cream songs, a classic '60s Monty Pythonesque music hall jaunt reminiscent of Beatles offerings like "Lady Madonna". Great leslie enhanced guitar on this one. Is that Felix Papallardi on keyboards? What a bringdown is a great Baker(?) song. The bridge is classic Jack on vocals. In fact the three studio songs were at the time considered on a par with each other (Badge, of course, gaining wide popularity over time). The lack of soloing on Scrapyard and Bringdown give an indication of perhaps a more ensemble approach which could have developed (ala the Band or Traffic). The politician and sitting on top versions on this album are outstanding, as is I'm so glad. On comparing this album with Wheels of Fire, the studio cuts are certainly on a par with the lesser heard wheels titles and the live cuts are far more enduring than Toad (unless you're a percussionist). I have fond memories of this album, as I'm sure many others do as well. It marked the poignancy of their breakup as a band. It also pointed to possible new, and unfortunately unrealized within that group, directions. Goodbye was, in fact, a nice bridge (bridge not badge) between Wheels of Fire and the Blind Faith album. Let's hope we hear more of Cream in the future.

Goodbye is generally agreed upon as the weakest of Cream's albums, but it is still very, very good. The live tracks, as stated before, are phenomenal. My personal favorite is 'Sitting on Top of the World'. Clapton's blues guitar is mind-blowing on this one. The studio tracks are also great. 'Badge', one of Cream's very best songs is here, of course. I do not agree with the other reviewers that the final two studio tracks are 'weak'. They're not up to the level of 'Badge' certainly, but they're still really good. I like 'Doing That Scrapyard Thing' a lot. It's a catchy tune with nice lyrics which sounds rather like the Beatles, I think. 'What a Bringdown' is also a fine song by Ginger with great vocals and guitar by Clapton.

I give Goodbye four and a half stars instead of five only because I know that Cream was capable of much more than a short, six-track album with only three new studio cuts. If the album had featured more new original songs to fill it out more, that would have helped. This is apparently, however, the best that Cream could manage in the time around their breakup, but still it's pretty darn good.

I agree with the other reviewers I scanned, in that this is Cream's weakest effort. However, it's STILL awesome! If you're curious and want to take the time for my input, here 'tis. I grew up a strong Cream fan (saw them twice) and bought all their albums and played them to death in the 60s and 70s. As we all mature (well, most of us), I stopped listening to them (other than the occasional radio play of White Room and Crossroads over the years). OK, so I'm now selling all my old LPs on eBay, as it's just a hassle to play them on the stereo. After listing my 4 Cream albums (Wheels of Fire was clearly the best, then Fresh Cream, Goodbye in last place), I decided to record some of the tunes I liked the most to CD (rather than fork for buying new CDs). I remember how much the live Sitting on Top of the World used to get me off. Actually, the first 6 guitar notes were among my favorite all time musical sounds for years. So, I put it on and IT STILL WORKS! This album is worth buying just for the live Sitting on Top (as well as Badge). Politian still works great too for a 52-year old grandpa.

...when it is remastered by the chucklehead who did "Goodbye" by Cream (the latest remaster). Don't get me wrong this is a fine album and unlike some people here, I feel that the trio of studio tracks demonstrated continued growth for the band. Eric Clapton and George Harrison's "Badge" features a sublime melody for the chorus and Harrison himself reused the bridge of the song (which is how it got its title--Clapton read "bridge" as "Badge")for "Here Comes the Sun" for The Beatles' "Abbey Road" (in fact all of the guitar playing up until the solo is Harrison playing rhythm guitar). Jack Bruce and Peter Brown's "Doing That Scrapyard Thing" is wonderfully eccentric and points to the direction of his second solo album (although it was released first--confused? So were fans!)"Songs for A Taylor" and Ginger Baker checks in with one of his most accomplished songs the tense "What A Bringdown" closing out the album.

What's really interesting are the live cuts that open the album. All three feature Cream at the top of their game and compliment the other live tracks from "Wheels of Fire", "Live Cream Volumes 1 & 2". In fact I personally feel that these are among the strongest live cuts that the band committed to record (along with "Live Cream II")but your milage may vary.

This remaster sounds a bit shrill, harsh and compressed to me. If you can find an original first CD issue go with that or as another choice the Mofi Gold Edition (which isn't the best one admittedly but it's pretty darn good). Both are better than the latest CD editions that have been littering the stores. The music is the most important part of course but also keep in mind HOW it is presented in terms of sound also can be important as well.

This is a good Cream album!!! Not as great as Wheels Of Fire or Disreali Gears, but it's still good!!! Great live workouts of I'm So Glad,Politition,and Sitting On Top Of The World. and the studio tracks are cool too!!! Badge is the highlight, but Doing That Scrapyard Thing and What A Bringdown have their own unique charm also! Overall a great album!!! Five stars!!! A+