| Fresh Cream | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 9 December 1966 | |||
| Recorded | August–November 1966 | |||
| Studio | Rayrik & Ryemuse (London) | |||
| Genre | Blues rock [1] psychedelic rock [2] | |||
| Length | 37:48 (LP version), 40:39 (CD version) | |||
| Label | Reaction | |||
| Producer | Robert Stigwood | |||
| Cream chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Fresh Cream | ||||
| ||||
Fresh Cream is the debut studio album by the British rock band Cream, consisting of bassist Jack Bruce, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker.
Almost as soon as Cream were formed in July 1966, they entered Rayrik Studios at Chalk Farm, London, to begin work on their debut single and album with Robert Stigwood producing and John Timperley as engineer. Clapton later noted that the budget was miniscule, working with four track machines and basically running each song a few times through until they got a satisfactory take, with minimal overdubbing afterward. [3] The first sessions at Rayrik on August 3 produced the outtakes "Coffee Song", "You Make Me Feel" and "Beauty Queen", followed later in the month by the group's debut single "Wrapping Paper", [4] a music hall influenced piece designed to showcase the group's stylistic versatility, but which was received with puzzlement upon its October release by fans expecting a blues-oriented sound.
After the band moved to Ryemuse Studios (now known as Mayfair), the bulk of the album was recorded between September and November, [4] neatly divided between old blues covers ("Spoonful", "Cat's Squirrel", "Rollin' And Tumblin'", "I'm So Glad", "Four Until Late") and original material penned by bassist Jack Bruce, with two contributions by Ginger Baker ("Sweet Wine" and his groundbreaking extended drum solo "Toad") and two by Bruce's first wife Janet Godfrey, who co-wrote "Sleepy Time Time" with Jack and "Sweet Wine" with Ginger. A session in September also produced the single "I Feel Free" (included on the US version of the album), the first product of the songwriting team of Jack Bruce and bohemian poet Pete Brown which proved a more typical representation of their sound than "Wrapping Paper"; released on the same day as the album, it climbed to No. 11 in the UK charts. [5]
Bruce later said that the opening song "N.S.U." was written for the band's first rehearsal. "It was like an early punk song... the title meant "non-specific urethritis. It didn't mean an NSU Quickly – which was one of those little 1960s mopeds. I used to say it was about a member of the band who had this venereal disease. I can't tell you which one... except he played guitar." [6] The mellow pop of "Dreaming" showcased Bruce's ghostly falsetto vocal style, which was also used on "I Feel Free" and would become more prominent on later releases. Clapton's lengthy, swirling solos on "Sweet Wine" and "Spoonful" pointed toward psychedelia and heavy metal, with Clapton employing much echo, fuzz and feedback, [7] which had been directly inspired by his first meeting with Jimi Hendrix on October 1. [5] Overall, the group's fusion of blues with hard rock and improvisational jazz on this record proved seminal on the development of rock music from that point forward.
Fresh Cream was released in the UK on 9 December 1966, as the first LP on the Reaction Records label, owned by producer Robert Stigwood. It was released in both mono and stereo versions, at the same time as the release of the single "I Feel Free". [8] Interest in the supergroup's first album was intense, and it peaked at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart. Over two years later, around the time of the band's final album Goodbye in February 1969, the album saw another surge in the charts that placed it as high as No. 7. [9] The album was released in a slightly different form in January 1967 by Atco Records in the US, also in mono and stereo versions, where it peaked at No. 39. [10]
The mono versions were deleted not long after release and for many years only the stereo recordings were available. The UK mono album was reissued on CD for the first time in Japan, by Universal Music, in late 2013 as part of a deluxe SHM-CD and SHM-SACD sets (both editions also contain the UK stereo counterpart). [11]
In January 2017, the album was again reissued, by Polydor, in a 4-CD box-set containing mono and stereo versions of the original UK and US release along with singles and B-sides. [12]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| BBC Music | (Highly Positive) [13] |
| Robert Christgau | A− [14] |
| Uncut | [15] |
| Daily Express | (Positive) [16] |
| The 1000 Best Pop-Rock Albums |  [ citation needed ] |
| Ultimate Classic Rock | (Positive) [17] |
| MusicHound | [18] |
Upon release, critical reaction in the UK was largely positive. While Melody Maker opened its review opining "not quite as fresh as it could have been", they said "it's still a great record. Clapton, Baker and Bruce, working like trojans to construct exciting, free, wild music of life, love and soul", concluding sensational things to come from the group. [19] Record Mirror noted "their style on this LP is a very mellow and relaxed sort of music, which oozes confidence...sort of progressive British Rhythm and Blues". [20] Disc & Music Echo claimed "it's good, although not as good, one feels, as it might have been, not enough Eric Clapton for one thing" before picking "Dreaming" as the best track. [21]
One person not happy with the album was Clapton himself, who felt its sound was already outdated. In an interview not long after the album's release, he stated "it could have been better. We were working on it so long ago, and we have greatly improved since then. I'm also not completely happy with the production". [5]
Retrospectively, Uncut describes the songs as "all about playing in a band and relaxing, the joy of being young, and they walk it like they talk it, being jumping-off points for wonderful spur-of-the moment improvisations". [22] Writing for the BBC, Sid Smith notes that "blues, pop and rock magically starts to coalesce to create something brand new". [13] Michael Galluci of Ultimate Classic Rock concluded the album "helped spur a bigger, louder and heavier way of playing rock 'n' roll...the amount of power the band manages to generate on this album is remarkable. It's safe to assume groups like Led Zeppelin and The Who would never have traveled in a similar direction without Cream leading the way." [2] Similarly, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic opined that the album was "instrumental in the birth of heavy metal and jam rock". [7]
In 2012, the album was ranked number 102 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of all time (the highest-ranking album by Cream on the list, calling it "tight and concise, a blueprint for the band's onstage jams"). [23]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "N.S.U." | Jack Bruce | Bruce | 2:43 |
| 2. | "Sleepy Time Time" | Bruce, Janet Godfrey | Bruce | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Dreaming" | Bruce | Bruce | 1:58 |
| 4. | "Sweet Wine" | Ginger Baker, Godfrey | Bruce | 3:17 |
| 5. | "Spoonful" | Willie Dixon | Bruce | 6:30 |
| Total length: | 18:48 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cat's Squirrel" | Doctor Ross, arr. Bruce, Baker, Eric Clapton | Instrumental | 3:04 |
| 2. | "Four Until Late" | Robert Johnson, arr. Clapton | Clapton | 2:07 |
| 3. | "Rollin' and Tumblin'" | Hambone Willie Newbern | Bruce | 4:42 |
| 4. | "I'm So Glad" | Skip James | Bruce | 3:58 |
| 5. | "Toad" | Baker | Instrumental | 5:09 |
| Total length: | 19:00 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Feel Free" | Bruce, Pete Brown | Bruce | 2:52 |
| 2. | "N.S.U." | Bruce | Bruce | 2:43 |
| 3. | "Sleepy Time Time" | Bruce, Janet Godfrey | Bruce | 4:20 |
| 4. | "Dreaming" | Bruce | Bruce | 1:58 |
| 5. | "Sweet Wine" | Baker, Godfrey | Bruce | 3:17 |
| Total length: | 15:10 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cat's Squirrel" | Ross, arr. Bruce, Baker, Clapton | Instrumental | 3:03 |
| 2. | "Four Until Late" | Johnson, arr. Clapton | Clapton | 2:07 |
| 3. | "Rollin' and Tumblin'" | Newbern | Bruce | 4:42 |
| 4. | "I'm So Glad" | James | Bruce | 3:57 |
| 5. | "Toad" | Baker | Instrumental | 5:09 |
| Total length: | 18:58 | |||
Original reissues in the U.S. on RSO/Polydor use the same track listing as the original UK edition given above in which "I Feel Free" is replaced with "Spoonful" on Side 1. Polydor's original CD release from the 1980s combines the UK and US track lists but also includes "The Coffee Song" and "Wrapping Paper," which were removed from subsequent CD releases starting in the 1990s. [24] [25]
 |
An edition released originally only in Scandinavia was a 12-track release, It had the same ten tracks as the UK version plus added two tracks: "Wrapping Paper", written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown, and "The Coffee Song", written by Tony Colton and Ray Smith. Both vinyl and cover were made in Germany and exported to the Swedish market only – the German original had the same 10 tracks as the UK. The group didn't want "Coffee Song" to be issued at all, but a mono version was mixed and coupled with "Wrapping Paper" as a single. There were no plans at this stage to release it in stereo, so for the Swedish issue, a crude stereo mix was used. This was made during the sessions in early August 1966 for instructive purpose – the whole track as basic mono is mixed far right and a solo guitar overdub far left. Never intended for release, this mix was soon lost and for later stereo issues a new one was made.
The front cover and record no. (623 031) are the same as the German issue, but three different back covers exist. The first listed the correct 12 tracks, the second listed 10 tracks, and a third where the 12 track listing has been "glued" over the 10 track listing.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "N.S.U." | Jack Bruce | Bruce | 2:43 |
| 2. | "Sleepy Time Time" | Bruce; Janet Godfrey | Bruce | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Dreaming" | Bruce | Bruce | 1:58 |
| 4. | "Sweet Wine" | Ginger Baker; Godfrey | Bruce | 3:17 |
| 5. | "Spoonful" | Willie Dixon | Bruce | 6:30 |
| 6. | "Wrapping Paper" | Bruce, Brown | Bruce | 2:24 |
| Total length: | 21:12 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cat's Squirrel" | Doctor Ross, arr. Bruce, Baker, Clapton | Instrumental | 3:03 |
| 2. | "Four Until Late" | Robert Johnson, arr. Clapton | Clapton | 2:07 |
| 3. | "The Coffee Song" | Ray Smith, Tony Colton | Bruce | 2:45 |
| 4. | "Rollin' and Tumblin'" | Hambone Willie Newbern | Bruce | 4:42 |
| 5. | "I'm So Glad" | Skip James | Bruce | 3:57 |
| 6. | "Toad" | Baker | Instrumental | 5:09 |
| Total length: | 21:43 | |||
This version of Fresh Cream was also released by Polydor (2384 067) in the UK in 1974 under the title "Cream".
This version of Fresh Cream was released by RSO (2658 142) & Polydor (2658 142) in Germany during 1981 as a boxset under the title "Cream". [26]
Cream
Technical
| Chart (1966–1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [28] | 10 |
| Finnish Albums (Soumen Virallinen) [29] | 4 |
| French Albums (SNEP) [30] | 20 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [31] | 6 |
| US Billboard 200 [32] | 39 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) [33] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) [34] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) [35] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Cream were a British rock supergroup formed in London in 1966. The group consisted of bassist Jack Bruce, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker. Bruce was the primary songwriter and vocalist, although Clapton and Baker contributed to songs. Formed by members of previously successful bands, they are widely considered the first supergroup. Cream were highly regarded for the instrumental proficiency of each of their members.
John Symon Asher Bruce was a Scottish musician. He gained popularity as the primary lead vocalist and bassist of rock band Cream. After the group disbanded in 1968, he pursued a solo career and also played with several bands.
Blind Faith were an English rock supergroup that consisted of Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech. They followed the success of each of the member's former bands, including Clapton and Baker's former group Cream and Winwood's former group Traffic, but they split after a few months, producing only one album and a three-month summer tour.
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is the only studio album by the English–American rock band Derek and the Dominos, released on 9 November 1970 as a double album by Polydor Records and Atco Records. It is best known for its title track, "Layla", which is often regarded as Eric Clapton's greatest musical achievement. The other band members were Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon, and Carl Radle (bass). Duane Allman played lead and slide guitar on 11 of the 14 songs.
Wheels of Fire is the third album by the British rock band Cream. It was released in the US in June 1968 as a two-disc vinyl LP, with one disc recorded in the studio and the other recorded live. It was released in the UK in the same format on August 9.
Goodbye is the fourth and final studio album by Cream, with three tracks recorded live, and three recorded in the studio. The album was released after Cream disbanded in November 1968.
Robert Colin Stigwood was an Australian-born British-resident music entrepreneur, film producer and impresario, best known for managing Cream, Andy Gibb and the Bee Gees, theatrical productions like Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, and film productions including Grease and Saturday Night Fever. On his death, one obituary judged that he had been for a time the most powerful tycoon in the entertainment industry: "Stigwood owned the record label that issued his artists’ albums and film soundtracks, and he also controlled publishing rights – not since Hollywood's golden days had so much power and wealth been concentrated in the hands of one mogul."
Disraeli Gears is the second studio album by the British rock band Cream. The album features the singles "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine of Your Love", as well as their respective B-sides "Tales of Brave Ulysses" and "SWLABR".
Reaction Records was an independent British record label, run by music executive Robert Stigwood in 1966 and 1967. Although Reaction released only three albums, one EP and eighteen singles in its brief existence, its roster included two of the most popular British bands of the time, The Who and Cream.
"Sunshine of Your Love" is a 1967 song by the British rock band Cream. With elements of hard rock and psychedelia, it is one of Cream's best known and most popular songs. Cream bassist and vocalist Jack Bruce based it on a distinctive bass riff he developed after attending a Jimi Hendrix concert. Guitarist Eric Clapton and lyricist Pete Brown later contributed to the song and drummer Ginger Baker plays a distinctive tom-tom drum rhythm.
"White Room" is a song by British rock band Cream, composed by bassist Jack Bruce with lyrics by poet Pete Brown. They recorded it for the studio half of the 1968 double album Wheels of Fire. In September, a shorter US single edit was released for AM radio stations, although album-oriented FM radio stations played the full album version. The subsequent UK single release in January 1969 used the full-length album version of the track.
"I Feel Free" is a song first recorded by the British rock band Cream. The lyrics were written by Pete Brown, with the music by Jack Bruce. The song showcases the band's musical diversity, effectively combining blues rock with psychedelic pop.
"Badge" is a song written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison, and recorded by British rock music group Cream on their final album, Goodbye. Also issued as a single in March 1969, "Badge" peaked at number 18 in the UK Singles Chart and number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Live Cream is a live compilation album by the British rock band Cream, released in 1970. This album comprises four live tracks recorded in 1968 and one studio track "Lawdy Mama" from 1967. The instrumental track for "Lawdy Mama" is the same as heard on "Strange Brew" with a different vocal and guitar solo by Eric Clapton.
Heavy Cream is a compilation album of material recorded by the British rock band Cream from 1966 to 1969.
Eric Clapton at His Best is a two-LP compilation of Eric Clapton's work after he left his earlier band Cream, released in September 1972. It was concurrently released with a two-LP compilation of Cream tracks, Heavy Cream, along with "at His Best" solo retrospectives by Cream's other members Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker.
Richard Roman Grechko, better known as Ric Grech, was a British rock musician. He is best known for playing bass guitar and violin with the rock band Family as well as in the supergroups Blind Faith and Traffic. He also played with ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker.
Best of Cream is a compilation album of material recorded from 1966 to 1968 by the rock band Cream, and released shortly after their disbanding. The album was originally released by Cream's U.S. label Atco (Atlantic) Records, and was available on that label during the years 1969–1972. The album was briefly reissued in the U.S. in 1977 by RSO/Polydor Records, to whom U.S. distribution rights for Cream's recordings had reverted by that time. A re-release was pressed in 2014 by Polydor on 180g vinyl.
Things We Like is an instrumental jazz album by Scottish musician Jack Bruce.
"Strange Brew" is a song by the British rock band Cream. First released as a single in May 1967 in the UK and July 1967 in the US, it was later added to their second studio album Disraeli Gears. The song features Eric Clapton on lead vocals rather than the usual lead by Jack Bruce. The single peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart in July of that same year. In the UK, it was the last Cream single to be released by Reaction Records.
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Live albums | |
| Compilations | |
| Singles | |
| Other songs | |
| Film | |
| Collaborators | |
| Related articles | |
