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Disraeli Gears

Cream

1967
Disraeli Gears
Album Summary

Disraeli Gears is the second studio album by the British rock band Cream. It was released in November 1967 and went on to reach No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart. and No. 1 on the Swedish and Finnish charts. The album was also No. 1 for two weeks on the Australian album chart and was listed as the No. 1 album of 1968 by Cash Box in the year-end album chart in the United States. The album is considered by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. 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". The original 11-track album was remastered in 1998, and then subsequently released as a two-disc Deluxe Edition in 2004.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.48

Votes

8360
Genres
Rock
Hard Rock
Psychedelic Rock

Reviews

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Mon Aug 02 2021
2

I was relived that this didn't include racist or anti-vax conspiracy theory themes, despite Eric Clapton's involvement. I don't know if we should separate the art from the artist, but for the purpose of this exercise I will try. Bluesy and psychedelic garage rock. It seems the Beatles weren't the only band doing interesting things in 1967. However, the interesting bits are relatively sparse here and there are several weak tracks, some of which are really quite annoying. The performance and musicianship maybe also disguises fairly nothingy song writing. Overall, about half of the album was enjoyable and it is easy to hear how this would have been influential. Sunshine of your Love the stand out track. 2/5.

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Fri Oct 29 2021
5

Even in a release year crowded with banger albums (Jimi Hendrix, "Are You Experienced" and Beatles, "Magical Mystery Tour" among them), Cream's "Disraeli Gears" stands out among the very best of the year or even the decade. It's got everything you want form a 60s rock album (self-aware lyrics, social commentary, a bit of psychedelic juju, driving rhythms, the works) but with that extra dose of face-melting blues guitar from the the one and only Eric Clapton. The man's a guitar legend for a reason. Clapton's guitars, Baker's rhythms, and Jack Bruce's vocal performances combine to push out such a great vibe I can't help but love every minute of it.

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Wed Jan 05 2022
4

I can't believe I hadn't heard this album before. Sunshine of Your Love didn't even sound all that familiar to me. Anyway, this was bluesy and psychedelic in perfect amounts. It worked well. I hate Eric Clapton.

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Sun Jun 06 2021
5

Quintessential psychedelic rock. Clatpon, Bruce, and Baker are all insanely talented, and each track managed to impress me. Lots of blues influence from Clapton's previous work in the Yardbirds. I love how the album goes from full psychedelia to blues near the end. Not a single bad track (ok Mother's Lament is just them having fun), and it becomes an enjoyable listen from start to end you can't get tired of.

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Fri Apr 30 2021
5

THIS ALBUM FUCKS! I actually remember linking this to Giulietti like a year ago, when i was on a 60's kick. this album is so far out there, but in the best way, and just makes you feel like you are drugs on points, lol. there are some weird fucking songs like "Mother's Lament" was fucking morbid, but the rest of the album is fucking genius.

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Thu Apr 08 2021
4

Tales of Brave Ulysses and SWLBR are underrated gems. Classic album. Mother's Lament is weirdddd. Slightly repetitive at some points but a great listen. 4.5.

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Thu Jan 14 2021
5

Big Cream fan right here. I had already heard a lot of the big tracks on here but never the full album. Had a lot of fun jamming to this one. I enjoy a little more heavy, bluesy psych rock as opposed to the more pop/folksy stylings of Love. Wouldn't say Cream is an underrated band because they are very well respected, but I feel like the heavy psych rock discussion of that era is pretty dominated by Led Zeppelin. It was just cool to hear another laudable take on the genre.

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Fri Aug 27 2021
5

Yes, it's possible to separate Clapton's current tendencies to be an A-hole from the genius of CREAM. This album is a good reason. Nevermind the genius of Clapton's playing but listening to one of the greatest drummers Ginger Baker and the masterful bass playing of Jack Bruce makes this album such a sonic explosion that they only needed three members to do it.

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Wed Feb 16 2022
5

Anybody who has read any of my previous reviews knows that I am not a lover of Psychedelia but beware because whilst this nods to then custom of filling yourself with mind-altering substances (and I am sure that at least two of this trio, Ginger & Eric, where stoned for the whole of the sessions) do not be fooled by the cover. this is a Jazz/Blues album of the highest quality. Classics like "Sunshine of Your Love" and "Strange Brew" and the Jack Bruce Composed "Take It Back" with some lovely R & B Mouth Organ from Jack are all classics. Love it as it is still Blues before they got "Heavy"... But probably one album that is the reason we had Led Zep Dominating the 70's. Love it and rightfully on the list. P.S. Mothers Lament is a music Hall classic too!

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Thu Nov 18 2021
2

This album should be a lot better for the hype it gets

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Tue Nov 23 2021
2

What a trip! A grooveless blues rock pissabout with mildly funny jokes. At least the half-arsed Dylan impression was funny, regardless of whether it was intended to be.

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Thu Oct 08 2020
5

This album makes me want to drop acid. Best track: Sunshine Of Your Love.

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Tue Feb 02 2021
4

Nice steady late 60s vibes. And shout out to guitar hero with Sunshine on Your Love, classiccc. Would listen to chill and hang out with some upbeatness. Good high too

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Fri Jan 15 2021
4

I enjoyed this. It was a different take on psych rock than the Love album. That one seemed very very 60s-70s to me. This one I think translates better today without seeming of an era (though it still is). I enjoyed Strange Brew immediately. Clapton was kind of a shitty dude.

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Wed Aug 11 2021
4

Cream is always at their best when they lean harder into their psychedelia than leaning into blues. Also, I am convinced Cream is good in spite of Clapton rather than because of him.

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Wed Dec 29 2021
4

Wow okay so I guess I know a lot more Cream than I thought. I get it now. The fuzz, chunky low sounds, the voice. It’s every movie soundtrack set in the late 60s/early 70s. A couple of weaker tunes, but just a solid rock album.

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Sat Mar 06 2021
1

Sorry Eric Clapton, really not doing anything for me. I can understand the significance of this record, but it was 30 mins long and felt like an hour. Not a winner chicken dinner.

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Fri Jan 22 2021
5

Another classic, not much more I need to say

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Wed Mar 10 2021
5

Una obra cumbre de la Blues Rock/Psicodelia

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Tue Jun 01 2021
5

A power trio if there ever was one. Clapton has the coolest guitar tone of all time here, and he shows it off on just about every track. The bass makes some wild moves all throughout the record. And Ginger Baker’s drums thunder on every track.

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Fri May 14 2021
5

Such a good album. Cream at their best.

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Thu Jul 29 2021
5

Really psychedelic of course, I loved it alot! Probably won’t be in my rotation save for a few songs in the back on my mind since It’s not necessarily my genre, but it’a amazing nontheless!

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Thu Jan 27 2022
5

Strange brew Killing what’s inside of you She’s a witch of trouble in Elle tric blue She walks like a bearded rainbow

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Sat Feb 26 2022
5

Some lovely, lovely psychedelic rock. This is the album I think of when I think of Cream. It's just a joy to listen to. Calming at some points, rocking at others, Eric Clapton's guitar work is superb. I don't think there's a bad song on this album. The last song, 'Mother's Lament' is a bit weird and dark, but its an... interesting way to end the album? Nevertheless, a fantastic album that I will be listening to again soon.

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Tue Mar 08 2022
5

Inject this straight into my veins

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Tue Mar 08 2022
5

YA BABY YA!! Great guitar riffs

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Tue Mar 22 2022
5

"Oh, your baby has gone down the plug hole Oh, your baby has gone down the plug The poor little thing was so skinny and thin He should have been washed in a jug... ............. in a jug"

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Wed Mar 23 2022
5

4.7 - So far this is the only Eric Clapton project I've heard that I wouldn't consider completely overrated. In fact, the intersection of blues, psychedelic and early heavy metal is truly special. "Strange Brew" starts us off with a perfect sample of all the colors within this record's palette - there's fuzzy squealing guitar, evocative lyrics and 12-bar blues. "Sunshine of Your Love" a rock mainstay invokes early elements of heavy metal. "Tales of Brave Ulysses", arguably the record's psychedelic apex, starts side B bringing together all of these elements. "We're Going Wrong" reminds us that in addition to being a world class guitarist, Clapton also has some impressive vocal chops. I also love the drumming on that song. "Mother's Lament" closes out the record with a dark little nursery melody.

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Fri Feb 11 2022
5

Jace Bruce is perhaps one of the most overshadow music of all time. He shines on this album. Some really songs, Strange Brew, Sunshine, Tales of Brave Ulysses, SWLABR, couple stinkers like blue condition.

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Thu Mar 31 2022
5

Big Kinks energy all over this but especially Blue Condition.

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Wed May 04 2022
5

fuck Clapton. this album is great but I hope its the last Clapton album I have to listen to.

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Mon Jul 11 2022
5

this is a great album, don’t love “we’re going wrong” and “mothers lament” (wtf?) but the rest are electric guitar bliss

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Wed Jul 20 2022
5

this album will never get old for me. CLAPTON IS GOD

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Tue Aug 09 2022
5

My dad had this record in his collection and I spent some serious time working this cream into a foamy lather when I was growing up. From the album art to the primitive distorted riffs that go on and on, to the trippy lyrics (bearded rainbow, anyone?) this transitional album embodies what I had always thought the late 60's to be. Iron Butterfly's album sputtered after In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, but Disraeli Gears continues to crank out great tracks SWLBR, Strange Brew, Sunshine etc., (I can do without Mother's Lament and Dance the Night Away). It's hard to discount this album as it marks the beginning of the most important period of rock ... the early 70's.

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Mon Aug 15 2022
5

If the remainder of Disraeli Gears had been a shambolic shitshow following the colossal one-two punch of Strange Brew and Sunshine of Your Love, it wouldn't be remembered as fondly as it is now. Thankfully the eight songs (nine if you want to count Mother's Lament) that follow Sunshine does more than what's required to uphold its weight and become equally memorable and quality songs that justify its position as the absolute peak of the sweet yet sour, shortlived lather of guitar/bass/drum combo that was Cream.

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Tue Aug 16 2022
5

This is brilliant up there with the best rock from the 60’s cream is by far the best thing Clapton was involved in and this is their best album. 5 stars.

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Thu Aug 18 2022
5

I have not listened to this in a while but it still resonates as a breakthrough album by three rock legends, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker. Most people have at least heard "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine of Your Love". There are many other great songs on this album that move seamlessly from the band's blues roots to more psychedelic rock. Love "Tales of Brave Ulysses." It was a pleasure listening to this again as it is an all time classic for me.

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Tue Sep 06 2022
5

This is probably Cream’s best album. Half of it can be found on a greatest hits compilation. This album is primarily blues rock tinged with psychedelia. Unlike a lot of bands of the time, Cream does not let the psychedelic overrun the album and those elements are used tastefully and never at the expense of the blues core. The musicianship is of course top notch. With Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce having jazz backgrounds and Eric Clapton having a deep blues background, the quality of the music and arrangement takes priority. Luckily, both Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton have great voices which blend well. It’s almost unfair how good this band is. This album suffers only from the fact that it does contain some filler, though the short length of the album makes even that much more palatable.

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Fri Sep 23 2022
5

Sometimes I thought I heard some licks from Layla, then I found out Eric Clapton was in this band

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Tue Oct 04 2022
5

Excellent album - shame about the last track. I guess they were trying to demonstrate a sense of humour!

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Fri Oct 07 2022
5

Super group comprised of Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, and Eric Clapton. This is a fantastic album. If I recall correctly, Tales of Brave Ullyses was one of the first song to feature a wah-wha pedal.

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Tue Oct 18 2022
5

Well that album was a trip, I'd expect deliberately so. Bit odd that it opens referencing "Strange fruit" as it's a British Rock album. However felt like a true global album pushing boundaries for the time (and still now considering the blandness which permeates now)

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Mon Oct 24 2022
5

This album was one of my undisputed favorites in high school, and it continues to be captivating. The lyrics come through crystal clear, and the guitar has some of the best riffs of all time. Despite the guitarist being a bit of dick, I thoroughly enjoy his work from the sixties. Of course the drums and bass are fantastic as well, but it's clear who they thought the stars of the show were in the mix. "Strange Brew," "Sunshine of Your Love," and "Tales of Brave Ulysses" are some of my favorite songs of all time, so I feel obliged to give this one a five. Bruce's voice is incredibly elegant, especially for other contemporary psychedelic rock (love Syd, and his voice, but Bruce definitely takes the cake). It's unfortunate that they only had a few albums, but they were all really solid. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, and 11.

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Wed Nov 09 2022
5

this album is such a great example of the british psych rock genre. in my opinion such a classic - it definitely deserves to be on this list. my favourites: sunshine (obviously but its a classic for a reason), outside woman blues, strange brew

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Tue Nov 29 2022
5

I don’t know how many of Cream’s albums are on this list considering they only have four, at least one or two more of them should be here anyway, this album is an easy 10/10, no complaints whatsoever my favorite album is Wheels of Fire, but their entire (depressingly short) discography is awesome

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Tue Nov 29 2022
5

Classic. Some familiar songs and new ones too. I enjoyed it. 33 minutes was shirt and sweet.

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Tue Dec 13 2022
5

I've been waiting to get this one. It's a record I couldn't possibly give a "first reaction" to. It's one of my dad's favorites and I've listened to it so much on my own, it's kind of become one of mine as well (though I admittedly think the follow-up "Wheels of Fire" is the stronger record). The vocal trade-offs are great, the playing is tight (especially the drums, beware Mr. Baker indeed). I don't know what someone hearing it for the first time might think but damnit, it's my list. Favorite tracks: "Outside Woman Blues", "Tales of Brave Ulysses", "She Walks Like A Bearded Rainbow"

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Sun Dec 25 2022
5

I love me some Cream. All four of their albums are fantastic and this is no exception. Some brilliant late 60s British blues rock. Can't get any better than this.

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Wed Jan 04 2023
5

Despite a few songs not aging so well, too many classics not to give 5 stars.

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Mon Feb 06 2023
5

Psych rock and blues rock with Clapton on the guitar, it doens't get much better. Strangeeee brewww. Kill what's inside of youu.

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Wed Feb 15 2023
5

This is one of the seminal blues-rock albums of all time. It''s slightly dated but stands the test of time.

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Sun Feb 19 2023
5

One of the best albums ever. not CREAMS strongest, but an all time classic, has influences probably every Rock musician since...

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Tue Feb 21 2023
5

A classic Cream album with two of their most famous tracks "Sunshone Of Your Love" and "Tales of Brave Ulysses", but also with the totally weird "Mother's Lament".

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Wed Mar 01 2023
5

Starting the record off with “Strange Brew”, ignoring the sleep inducing “Blue Condition”, and ending the streak of perfect songs on “We’re Going Wrong”. This album is almost pure perfection. I really enjoy “Take It Back” as well and the runtime is remarkably short. Had it been 2-3 tracks longer the more purebred blues songs would’ve annoyed me a bit. But this still stands out as one of my favorite 60’s releases. And that’s saying something.

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Wed Mar 01 2023
5

This is not a perfect record, but it's a goddamn great one. What a group of musicians. Jack Bruce's vocals are legendary. 'Strange Brew', 'Sunshine of Your Love', 'World of Pain', 'Tales of Brave Ulysses', 'SWLABR' and 'We're Going Wrong' are all perfect tracks. And that's more than half the album! I generally prefer the psychedelic and heavy tracks to the more pure bluesy ones, so the end of side 1 is a bit of a slump after an incredible start. But who cares, it's still a collection of some of the best songs from the 60's.

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Fri Mar 03 2023
5

This is a slapper album, and the album that completely changed the way people play lead guitar. Fuzz pedals, wahs, classic style. Clapton's finest work. I've listened to this album a lot over the years and I think all songs are quite good

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Mon Mar 27 2023
5

Absolutely banging album. My favourite Cream song is White Room, on their next album, but I think this album is better overall, with Strange Brew, Sunshine of Your Love, and Tales of Brave Ulysses being obvious highlights. What makes this album stand out for me is that it knows what it wants to achieve and achieves it. Incredibly competent psychedelic rock, laser-focussed songwriting, and fun melodies. It naturally gets the +1 bad boy boost for Clapton's controversial comments, but would have given it 5 stars anyway.

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Tue Mar 28 2023
5

Pumped to see this pop up! Obviously a legendary classic album, but I had never actually listened to the whole thing, only a few songs. I was not disappointed! Listen again: Yes, for sure! Purchase for my collection: Yep, especially if I can find an original vinyl! Favourite Song: Strange Brew Worst Song: Mothers Lament (what in the eff???)

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Sat May 13 2023
5

An absolute classic. Great start

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Mon May 15 2023
5

A little too psychedelic for me but some great musicianship.

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Thu May 25 2023
5

Such a classic album that epitomizes so much of its time. Bluesy, psychedelic brilliance that never gets overwrought or jammy. Stunning bass work and authoritative vocals from Jack Bruce. Powerful drumming by Ginger Baker. Some of Eric Clapton's best guitar work ever. Mind blowing stuff, even today. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Sunshine of Your Love, Strange Brew, Tales of Brave Ulysses, SWLABR, Outside Woman Blues, We're Going Wrong, Take It Back, World of Pain, Dance the Night Away, Blue Condition, Mother's Lament

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Tue Jun 06 2023
5

Probably my favorite Cream album. So many great songs and it's a record I'm glad to have in my collection.

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Wed Jun 14 2023
5

A very formative album for me that i haven’t listened to in over a decade. Despite my Clapton-hate, I’m not sure the second British Invasion got much better than this…maybe a Zeppelin album or the JB Group, but this is the seminal album of the british blues genre imo

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Tue Jul 04 2023
5

Excellent. Could listen a lot.

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Sat Jul 08 2023
5

Having "Sunshine of Your Love" on it almost makes it a 5/5 album by itself. Luckily, most of the other songs are pretty good too. Good that they put the novelty song at the very end so it doesn't throw off the tone of the album.

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Tue Jul 25 2023
5

A quintessential pyschedelic rock album with lot of blues guitar influences. It's among the best albums of the 1960s, in the decade that produced the finest albums in the history of pop-rock.

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Wed Jul 26 2023
5

One of my favorite album ever. It's the best work of every musician of this group. The drumming of Ginger Baker on this has always been a strong inspiration for me as a drummer.

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Wed Jul 26 2023
5

Pour some Cream on me, in the name of love!

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Tue Aug 22 2023
5

Damn this is really good. Its psychedelic in all the right ways funky to boot and super catchy. Sunshine of your love sounds like a song I've heard a million times but had no idea who did it. Only just read its Mr Clapton. Its fabulous

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Sat Aug 26 2023
5

Really liked it. Cream is a band I’ve been meaning to check out more from for a couple years. I do prefer the other stuff I’ve heard from them and so I have a feeling I’ll like their later albums more, but it’s an album I’ll definitely listen to again. Probably going to add Strange Brew to the halloween playlist and my favourite song was We’re Going Wrong. May raise criteria for a 5* later down the line, but,

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Mon Sep 04 2023
5

I came into knowing that Clapton is god and while I hate hippies, the music is just oh-so-spot on. 5/5, would listen to while not doing LSD.

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Wed Sep 13 2023
5

If Clapton is "God", I guess I'm an atheist. That being said, if one album in his discography could turn me into an agnostic, it's this one. 4.5/5 stars for the purposes of this list (rounded up to 5 here). Which translates to a 9.5/10 grade for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: 442 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 261 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 133 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 168

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Fri Sep 22 2023
5

Excellent album, I had the ‘Best of’ Cream CD which got a lot of play. Only listened to this album about 4-5 times in full. Decided to listen to the Deluxe Edition which was cool. Favourite tracks Swlabr and Tales of Brave Ulysses

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Mon Oct 05 2020
4

amazing perfect legendary....

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Wed Jun 16 2021
4

I really enjoyed listening to this album. Including the strange brew, sunshine of your love, tales of brave ulysses. No overall theme, but contains good lyrics and great guitar playing.

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Fri Feb 19 2021
4

Where's the opium den? Good jams, mellow mood.

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Thu Jan 14 2021
4

Great riffage and poppier overall than I expected. Will revisit with more time.

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Fri Jan 15 2021
4

Mother's Lament might be the best song ever.

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Tue Feb 16 2021
4

Good album. A few standouts and a bunch of kind of “generic” psych-rock songs (that were probably no generic at all at the time).

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Mon Feb 08 2021
4

Sunshine of your love is just iconic

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Tue Mar 09 2021
4

Pretty decent Beatles-esque psychedelic rock.

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Tue Mar 23 2021
4

They 're good moments are very good, but feel there's too much filler in their work.

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Tue Feb 02 2021
4

Brilliant guitar. Blues is lit.

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Fri Jan 15 2021
4

Iconic 60s psychodelic rock.. Several very recognizable tracks like Sunshine Of Your Love.

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