Cream was one of the most iconic rock supergroups of the 1960s, and it’s wild to think that they were only together for a handful of years. During those years, though, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce released some super memorable tunes in the psychedelic rock and blues rock genres. If you’re getting into Cream in the 21st century, these four songs are absolutely essential. Let’s dive in!
1. “Crossroads”
We’ll start off with a cover, since this cover is one of the best out there. Cream recorded “Crossroads” for their 1968 album Wheels Of Fire. It was originally a blues song by Robert Johnson.
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The creatives in Cream knew how to take something old (from the 1930s, specifically) and breathe new life into it. It’s a simple rendition with an amped-up tempo and features one of Clapton’s very best solos.
2. “Spoonful”
This track from the 1966 album Fresh Cream is kind of hamfisting the wordplay, but we’re not complaining. “Spoonful” is actually a cover of a Howlin’ Wolf song from 1960, and it’s a beautiful example of the band’s ability to revere the greats that came before them. It fuses rock and jazz together beautifully and in a way that sounded new at the time.
3. “Tales Of Brave Ulysses”
“Tales Of Brave Ulysses” has to be one of the best Cream songs out there. This track comes from the 1967 album Disraeli Gears and features Clapton’s first venture with a wah-wah pedal. It was a great creative choice, but the real value of this song comes down to its lyricism. “Tales Of Brave Ulysses” is a reimagining of the famed Greek tragedy The Odyssey.
4. “White Room”
Another great song from Wheels Of Fire, “White Room” features some of Bruce’s very best vocals. The lyrics come from a poem by Pete Brown, but the way the band incorporated it into the song makes it seem like a Cream original.
Clapton’s guitar playing on this track is otherworldly. And few who heard this song in the 1960s could forget that stellar, memorable outro. It’s an iconic piece of rock history. We’re not surprised that “White Room” charted so well on the Billboard Hot 100 back in the day.
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