Every Cream Studio Album, Ranked

Cream is one of the most influential bands to break out of the mid to late 60s. The power trio consisting of Jack Bruce on bass and vocals, Eric Clapton on guitar and vocals and Ginger Baker on the drums released just four albums during their very short time together. The group formed in 1966 in London and defined the psychedelic and blues-based rock music of the time with classic songs “Sunshine of Your Love,” “White Room,” “Strange Brew,” and the George Harrison and Clapton-penned “Badge.”

The group was a trailblazer at the time and is credited with inspiring many hard rock and heavy metal acts. Jack Bruce’s unique style and thumping bass attack inspired many players that followed. While Clapton was hitting his stride as a guitar god with his amazing and sought-after “woman tone,” created by using his 1964 Gibson SG guitar with the tone knob peeled back through a cranked Marshall amp. The warm and creamy distorted tone still has a sense of mystery as guitarists have been trying to emulate it since. Ginger Baker’s unorthodox drumming with his jazz and African polyrhythmic influences were far from straightforward and at times complicated the music. Together, the trio created a torrent of sounds ranging from psychedelic pop to dirty blues, encapsulating an incredible catalog of songs that will live on forever.

In the book, The Uncanny Origins & Unlikely Fortunes of Eric Clapton & Cream, Jack Bruce explains the magic behind the three-piece band. “Ginger had a rhythm element, Eric had a knowledge of the blues, but I had something else which took the band somewhere else. I think that’s the important thing. That’s what made the band different from a lot of other bands. We didn’t just do cover versions of the blues a la The Yardbirds. I love the blues, but I wanted to make my own statement to carry the thing further forward.”

Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2005, they reunited for a final run of shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London and Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ranked by the quality of the songs, overall sound and cultural impact, here are Cream’s studio albums.

4

‘Goodbye’ (1969)

Cream released its final album, Goodbye, after the group parted ways. The album features three studio tracks and three live cuts. The live tracks were recorded in Los Angeles in 1968 and showcase the band’s high-powered live show featuring improvisational elements and great jams. “I’m So Glad” and “Politician” are amazing takes that open the window into the live power of the trio.

“Badge” is the best studio cut on the album. It was co-written by Clapton and George Harrison of The Beatles. The band planned to have each member write a tune for their grand finale. Clapton and Harrison teamed up to write the esoteric song with the classic lines, “I told you not to wander around in the dark / I told you about the swans, that they live in the park,” inspired by Ringo Starr. The song features Clapton’s iconic chorus-driven guitar riff about a minute into the tune and a fantastic solo before diving back into the main theme. The final track “What a Bringdown”, written by Baker, rotates between a 6/4 verse and a 5/4 timing on the chorus, showcasing their progressive side. The intro sounds strikingly familiar to Blind Faith’s “Do What You Like,” both of which were released in 1969.

3

‘Fresh Cream’ (1966)

Fresh Cream is the debut album released in late 1966. The effort was recorded in just 10 days and put the power trio on the map with psychedelic pop songs “I Feel Free,” “N.S.U.,” “I’m So Glad.” Eric Clapton’s woman guitar tone is in full effect, especially on the blistering on bluesy songs “Sleepy Time Time,” and the covers “Spoonful” and, “Rollin’ and Tumblin’.”

The album dabbles into chaotic territory as the band fuses blues, hard rock and psychedelic improvisation, which helped propel a new sound to the masses. The bombastic nature of some of the performances on the album went on to inspire a bevy of hard rock and heavy metal musicians. “Toad” features a lengthy Ginger Baker drum solo that brings the album to a triumphant close.

2

‘Wheels of Fire’ (1968)

Cream released the classic Wheels of Fire in the summer of 68. The band’s third album embraced a more progressive and live sound than previous efforts. At the time, Cream was known for their epic and bombastic live show, taking songs like “Crossroads,” “I’m So Glad,” “Toad,” and “Sweet Wine” and stretching them out with improvisation and extended guitar solos. Songs like “White Room,” “Sitting on Top of the World,” and a cover of Albert King’s “Born Under a Bad Sign,” all showcase the group’s virtuosic musicianship.

Wheels of Fire is a double album that, along with a full studio album, contains four live tracks. The now classic version of “Crossroads” and epic live versions of “Spoonful” and “Toad,” were recorded in San Francisco in early 1968. The band shows off a different side with studio tracks like the spoken word “Pressed Rat and Warthog,” and the soft ballad “As You Said,” which features lyrics were written by Pete Brown, bringing a poetic depth to the album. Other fan favorites peeled off the double LP include “Politcian” and “Deserted Cities of the Heart.”

1

‘Disraeli Gears’ (1967)

Cream released its second album, Disraeli Gears, in November 1967. The group’s best album dives into a more psychedelic territory with the trippy songs “Strange Brew,” “Tales of Brave Ulysses,” “SWLABR,” an acronym for “She Walks Like a Bearded Rainbow,” and “World of Pain.” Eric Clapton uses a wah-wah pedal throughout the album brilliantly tapping into the counter culture vibe of the Summer of Love in 1967.

The album features the band’s biggest hit, “Sunshine of Your Love.” The main riff of the song was written by Jack Bruce after being inspired by seeing Jimi Hendrix live. The song features both Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton on vocals and features one of Clapton’s most famous studio guitar solos. Ginger Baker’s use of his tom-tom drumming gives the track a unique feel that makes it stand out. “Outside Woman Blues” is another classic from the album, really shining a light on Clapton’s “woman tone.”

On top of being Cream’s best album, Disraeli Gears is also one of the greatest album covers of all time. The psychedelic cover, created by Australian artist Martin Sharp, is a beautifully strange collage with a photo of the band surrounded by the most 60s-looking art. The album perfectly captures the vibe and energy of 1967 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.