Review #170: Disraeli Gears, Cream
#170: Disraeli Gears, Cream
Wow, I can’t imagine a worse time to review an Eric Clapton album. Oh well, it’s not like I have a choice. Besides, this isn’t quite Eric Clapton. This is Cream!
Cream was Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker (who, fun fact, died exactly one year before Eddie Van Halen passed away — they died on October 6 2019 and 2020, respectively). They were only together for three years and yet somehow released four albums.
Note that there are no Clapton solo albums on this list. He does reappear on #226, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs with Derek & the Dominoes. I guess the whole really is greater than the sum of its parts.
See you soon, Eric!
FAVORITE SONGS:
“Strange Brew” — Hit me with those great guitar riffs.
“Sunshine of Your Love” — According to the RS blurb, this song nearly wasn’t even on the album! This was another one of the first riffs I ever learned on the guitar, along with like 90% of the rest of the guitar-playing population.
“World Of Pain” — If he’s living in a world of pain, perhaps he should go visit the king of pain, Sting.
“Tales of Brave Ulysses” — Clapton wrote this one with Martin Sharp, who also designed their groovy cover art!
“SWLABR” — Stands for “She Walks Like a Bearded Rainbow.” What an insane sentence.
“Outside Woman Blues” — Eric Clapton is singing on this song! I know he’s a singer with a solo career that eclipsed Cream eventually, but it was still a delight to hear his voice.
“Take It Back” — I’m a sucker for a good 12-bar blues.
“Mother’s Lament” — LOL. They sound so cockney! A-one-a! A-two-a! A-three-a!
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“Dance The Night Away” — Nope. It’s the Van Halen song or nothing, for me.
“Blue Condition” — I guess Ginger Baker is singing here? Good God.
IS ERIC CLAPTON FULL OF IT?
Yup.
