Universal Music Enterprises is proud to present Cream: 1966 – 1972,
Cream’s six studio and live LPs brought together in a boxed set for the first
time. Set for November 24, 2014 release, each LP will have exact reproductions
of original artwork to retain authenticity, and will be pressed in 180-gram
heavyweight audiophile vinyl and contained in a rigid slipcase box.
The British rock supergroup
was formed in 1966, and consisted of bassist/singer Jack Bruce, drummer Ginger
Baker, and guitarist/singer Eric Clapton. Their sound was characterized by a
hybrid of blues rock, hard rock and burgeoning psychedelic rock, combining
imaginative lyrics, often written by poet Pete Brown, Eric Clapton’s innovative
blues guitar playing, Jack Bruce’s operatic voice and fluid bass playing, and
Ginger Baker’s jazz-influenced drumming.
The group soon evolved
further creating a trademark approach built around each musician’s virtuoso
playing. Their live performances soon became renowned for lengthy
improvisational pieces based on traditional blues structures such as
‘Crossroads’ and ‘Spoonful,’ modern blues such as ‘Born Under A Bad Sign,’ and
their own songs such as ‘White Room’ and Ginger Baker’s powerhouse showcase
‘Toad.’
Following their first pop hit
single ‘I Feel Free’ in January 1967, Cream’s debut, Fresh Cream, set the tone
for group’s inventive mix of blues standards and more eccentric original
material and reached No. 6 in the UK album charts. It offered a unique blend of
blues — Robert Johnson’s ‘Four Until Late’ and Skip James’ ‘I’m So Glad’ —
inventive originals such as ‘Dreaming’ and the showcase, near-instrumental
‘Cat’s Squirrel.’
Before the end of the year,
Cream released the follow-up Disraeli Gears, its distinctive Day-Glo
psychedelic cover designed by underground illustrator Martin Sharp. Recorded in
May in New York during their first American tour, it includes landmark songs
such as ‘Strange Brew,’ the melodic but heavy-riffing ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’
and more surrealistic, wah-wah drenched ‘Tales Of Brave Ulysses’; in all a
brilliant, textured, multi-dubbed sound that went beyond blues.
Non-stop touring soon saw
Cream break through in America where Wheels of Fire, released in August 1968,
topped the US charts for a month and was the world’s first platinum-selling
double album. It comprised one album ‘in the studio’ — including the Jack Bruce
and Pete Brown penned classics ‘White Room’ and ‘Politician’ — while the other
side was recorded at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, highlighted by
expansive readings of ‘Crossroads’ and ‘Spoonful.’
By the end of 1968, however,
Cream had disbanded after less than two and a half years during which time they
set new standards in rock musicianship and generally raised the bar for rock
music as a credible and critical form. Cream bowed out with dates at Madison
Square Gardens in New York and at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November
1968.
The group’s post-breakup
farewell album, Goodbye, released the following March, again mixed live and
studio recordings including the single ‘Badge’ written by Clapton and George
Harrison, who played rhythm guitar under the name L’Angelo Misterioso.
Two further live albums Live
Cream and Live Cream Volume 2 followed in 1970 and 1972, both recorded on tour
in America during 1967 and 1968. Live Cream also included the unreleased studio
cut ‘Lawdy Mama’ recorded in May 1967 during the Disraeli Gears sessions.
In 2006, they received a
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their contribution to, and
influence, on, modern music, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 1993. Their worldwide album sales are estimated at 17 million.
LP1: Fresh Cream (1966)
A1 N.S.U.
A2 Sleepy Time Time
A3 Dreaming
A4 Sweet Wine
A5 Spoonful
B1 Cat’s Squirrel
B2 Four Until Late
B3 Rollin’ And Tumblin’
B4 I’m So Glad
B5 Toad
LP2: Disraeli Gears (1967)
A1 Strange Brew
A2 Sunshine Of Your Love
A3 World Of Pain
A4 Dance The Night Away
A5 Blue Condition
B1 Tales Of Brave Ulysses
B2 SWLABR
B3 We’re Going Wrong
B4 Outside Woman Blues
B5 Take It Back
B6 Mother’s Lament
LP3: Wheels Of Fire (1968)
A1 White Room
A2 Sitting On Top Of The
World
A3 Passing The Time
A4 As You Said
B1 Pressed Rat And Warthog
B2 Politician
B3 Those Were The Days
B4 Born Under A Bad Sign
B5 Deserted Cities Of The
Heart
C1 Crossroads – Live At The
Fillmore
C2 Spoonful – Live At The
Fillmore
D1 Traintime – Live At The
Fillmore
D2 Toad – Live At The
Fillmore
LP4: Goodbye (1969)
A1 I’m So Glad
A2 Politician
B1 Sitting On Top Of The
World
B2 Badge
B3 Doing That Scrapyard Thing
B4 What A Bringdown
LP5: Live Cream (1970)
A1 N.S.U.
A2 Sleepy Time Time
A3 Lawdy Mama
B1 Sweet Wine
B2 Rollin’ And Tumblin’
LP6: Live Cream Volume II
(1972)
A1 Deserted Cities Of The
Heart
A2 White Room
A3 Politician
A4 Tales Of Brave Ulysses
B1 Sunshine Of Your Love
B2 Steppin’ Out
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