In 1966 the first real super group was formed and the trio took the name of “Cream” because they represented the “cream” of British musicianship. Eric Clapton, one of the premier blues guitarists of his day was already even at 21 a  highly revered guitarist from his days with The Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Jack Bruce was an outstanding bass player and vocalist who was a veteran of the Graham Bond Quartet, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (along with Clapton), and Manfred Mann. Ginger Baker who also was a veteran of the Bluesbreakers and the Graham Bond Organisation was one of the premier drummers of all time. Eric Clapton put the band together despite the fact that Bruce and Baker did not always get along and even though the band was together for little more than two years (they played their final concert in November 1968) – what an output they did! Along with lyricist/poet Pete Brown as a major songwriter contributor, they had one hit after another – “Sunshine of Your Love,” “White Room”, “I Feel Free”, “Tales of Brave Ulysses”, “I’m So Glad”, etc. Their iconic album is “Disraeli Gears” recorded and released in 1967. In 2003 the album was ranked number 112 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time . VH1 also named it their 87th greatest album of all time in 2001. Cream played blues rock, hard rock, and psychedelic rock and when the group had a reunion concert (they were elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993) at the Royal Albert Hall in 2005, they sold out within two hours of tickets going on sale. Unfortunately as previously noted, the bad blood between Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker prevented the band from being together for a much longer time and the world of music was the big loser.

Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton

“I Feel Free” – from the 1966 debut album “Fresh Cream” written by Pete Brown and sung by Jack Bruce blues and psychedelic rock at its best

“Strange Brew” from the 1967 “Disraeli Gears” album.  Eric Clapton and not Jack Bruce is the lead vocalist for this song which was written by Pete Brown.

“White Room” from the 1968 album”Wheels of Fire” was a song about a bad acid trip at London’s Paddington Station written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown. Jack Brudce sings the etnire song even though it sounds as if there are two singers.

“N.S.U.” is  a song written by Jack Bruce from the 1967 album “Fresh Cream”. The title N.S.U. means Non-Specific Urethritis, a “social disease” that Clapton allegedly  picked up  and has nothing to do with the lyrics.

“Sunshine of Your Love” from the 1967 album “Disraeli Gears”, written by Jack Bruce – one of the most recognizable riffs ever.