In honor of Richie Hayward who would have turned 66 today.

To clarify, I was talking about what is commonly referred to as the "Classic Rock" radio format, specifically, the one that is so prominent today. Cream is played to death on there. Plus there's the examples given of their sold out reunion shows in recent years. They definitely had a huge impact on rock n' roll, there's no doubt about it.

I merely stated my opinion about how some things are better left alone. In my original post on the subject I was referring specifically to Ted Turner's colorization of old black and white films. I never said anything derogatory or uncomplimentary about this particular piece of footage or the person that did the colorization.

I didn't shoot down the guy's work. I'm just saying some things are just fine the way they are. In this case, black and white footage of Led Zeppelin. I'm not sure how to make that any clearer to you.

I don't recall suggesting that it should be a bonus feature or that the guy isn't creative. I'm saying there's really nothing the matter with leaving things just the way they are, in this case, some black and white footage.

I'm sure it was a lot of hard work so that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying sometimes it's perfectly fine to leave well enough alone. Should all mono records be converted to stereo just because someone finds that more appealing? The same thing applies to converting black and white footage to color footage.

Thanks for the clarification. The Allman Brothers released their first album in '69, Cream was formed in '66. Perhaps someone would refer to three years as being "way before" but I wouldn't. At that time the Allmans were known as the Allman Joys. I'm not sure when they started getting into the lengthy jams but I would imagine they had their impetus in those early years prior to becoming the Allman Brothers Band. At any rate, back to the point, I would still refer to Cream as "legendary" no matter how you cut it.

Didn't anyone learn anything from Ted Turner's colorization fiasco? Footage originally shot in black and white looks perfectly fine that way.

I'm not going to "flame" you but I will respectfully disagree with you. It also depends upon how you choose to define "rock music". If you're referring to hard rock, heavy metal or the heavier side of rock n' roll then Blue Cheer are often the ones credited with taking rock n' roll in that direction but even then they weren't the absolute first. As for stretching out musically into lengthy jams there was also the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band before Cream.

That's the unfortunate thing about the "alt.country" label, some of the artists aren't really that "country" at all. Wilco definitely has some very deep roots in country music, not just with Uncle Tupelo but with the Mermaid Avenue albums as well as some of their own material. Their current sound is pretty far removed from that for the most part. One of my very favorite songs is "Remember the Mountain Bed" from the second Mermaid Avenue record. This particular performance is Jeff Tweedy solo at Farm Aid 25.

For anyone that may have missed Wilco on Austin City Limits over the weekend, you can watch it here.

http://youtu.be/s4ilnADvT2s

I can't say I agree that Cream (or any one band or artist) created "rock music" but they are definitely legendary beyond a shadow of a doubt.

You greatly underestimate the general public. Anyone that's ever listened to Classic Rock radio for any length of time has not only had the songs of Led Zeppelin pounded into their subconscious but those of Cream as well.

Thanks, I had no idea the ARMS concerts had ever been released on CD.

I was referring to your previous post:

Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell performing in Charlottesville, VA on Friday night (February 3rd)

....and what a show it was. Definitely one of many musical highlights for me in 2011.

This is from a couple days ago but better late than never. This is from the All Things Music Plus page on Facebook: ON THIS DATE (26 YEARS AGO) February 3, 1986 – The Firm Mean Business is released. # ALL THINGS MUSIC PLUS+ 3.5/5 # Allmusic 2.5/5 Mean Business is an album by The Firm, released by Atlantic Records on 3 February 1986. Repeating the same bluesy formula as the debut album, Mean Business did not achieve the same commercial success. One of the album's tracks "Live in Peace" was first recorded on Paul Rodgers' first solo album, 1983's Cut Loose. The differences between the two versions was that Chris Slade played the drums slower than the Cut Loose version except for the ending and Jimmy Page added a bluesy guitar solo at the end of the song. The album's title was intended to have a double meaning: that the music business is a hard one, and that the band was serious about its music ("The Firm mean business"). However, perhaps due to the lukewarm-at-best critical and financial success with which the band met, Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers decided to disband The Firm within months of this album's release. The album peaked at #22 on the Billboard's Billboard 200 album chart and #46 on the UK Album Chart, and the single "All The King's Horses" spent four weeks at the top of Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "Fortune Hunter" was originally co-written by Page and Chris Squire for the aborted XYZ project in 1981. Squire was not credited on The Firm's version and later stated he would have sued for royalties if the album had been a hit, but since it failed he dropped the idea because he saw it as inappropriate at a time he was receiving six-figure yearly income from the sales of 90125. REVIEW By Ace Jones, amazon.com (4/5 stars) For anyone suffering Led Zep (or Bad Co.) withdrawal symptoms in the mid 80s, the Firm wasn't quite the answer, but upon repeated listening - Mean Business is probably Jimmy Page's best post-Zep effort. Punchy yet atmospheric with the bluesy vocals of Paul Rodgers, I do admire how these guys actually tried to produce a pretty serious album - and in spite of less than a stellar response - this album stands the test of time. Page would later play some of these tracks live - "Tear Down the Walls" is particularly nice. And "Fortune Hunter" rocks. A progressive album that is underrated and worth exploring. TRACKS Side One 1. Fortune Hunter (Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers) 5:00 2. Cadillac (Page, Rodgers) 5:57 3. All the King's Horses (Rodgers) 3:16 4. Live in Peace (Rodgers) 5:05 Side Two 1. Tear Down the Walls (Page, Rodgers) 4:43 2. Dreaming (Tony Franklin) 6:00 3. Free to Live (Page, Rodgers) 4:13 4. Spirit of Love (Rodgers) 5:06

I'm wondering when the ARMS concerts became an album.