Guide to British Music of the 1960s

March 1999

CD Review

Cream- Disraeli Gears

• About Making Time

• Advertising

• Add url

This one is worth is for the cover alone although admittedly, the smaller size of the CD cover does not do it complete justice compared with the original LP. The album represents a crossover between the pure blues backgrounds of the three protagonists and the psychedelic movement where the UK music scene was heading. The three members of Cream already had impressive CVs. Jack Bruce (bass) and Ginger Baker (drums) had been in the Graham Bond Organisation while Eric Clapton (guitar) had made his name in the Yardbirds and then as featured guitarist with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Clapton was going through his "afro" phase and this can be witnessed on the right hand side of Martin Shape's distinctive cover.

The album's most distinctive song has become one of rock music's most played opening riffs. Sunshine of Your Love was played by the Jimi Hendrix Experience as an instrumental version on the Happening for Lulu TV show as his tribute to Cream. Both the Experience and Cream were playing the same type of psychedelic, heavy blues in London and Disraeli Gears fits neatly alongside Are You Experienced? As what was going on at the time.

The aforementioned Sunshine of Your Love made the breakthrough for Cream in the USA reaching number 5 in the singles charts. Cream were touring the US around the time of the album's release and this resulted in the live set Wheels of Fire. After this, the group spent much of their too-brief career touring in the US. The album itself had been recorded in New York.

There are a number of different songwriting combinations including lyricist Pete Brown. He co-wrote SWLABR (She Was Like a Bearded Rainbow) as well as Take it Back, Dance the Night Away and Sunshine of Your Love. Martin Sharp of Oz, who designed the cover, also appeared in the writing credits, co-penning the excellent Takes of Brave Ulysses with Clapton.

This is the definitive Cream album that made their names on both sides of the Atlantic and should be in every 1960s CD collection.

mp, February 1999

Essential Tracks:

• Sunshine of your Love
• Tales of Brave Ulysees
• SWLABR

Track Listing:

1. Strange Brew
2. Sunshine of Your Love
3. World of Pain
4. Dance the Night Away
5. Blue Condition
6. Tales of Brave Ulysses
7. Swlabr
8. We're Going Wrong
9. Outside Woman Blues
10. Take It Back
11. Mother's Lament