Cream

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Cream was a British rock group that came into being in London in 1966 from three celebrated musicians: the bassist Jack Bruce, the guitarist Eric Clapton and the drummer Ginger Baker. Clapton had made a name with the Yardbirds and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers; Baker and Bruce came from Graham Bond's band. Because they were already considered the cream of the British blues and jazz scene, they called themselves Cream. They are often regarded as the first supergroup in rock history.

Music and breakthrough

In three years the group released four albums: Fresh Cream in 1966, Disraeli Gears in 1967, Wheels of Fire in 1968 and Goodbye in 1969. From Disraeli Gears the producer Felix Pappalardi worked with them. That album contained Sunshine of Your Love, their biggest American hit. Wheels of Fire was the first double album to go platinum. Bruce wrote most of the songs and sang; Clapton and Baker also contributed. There was always tension between Bruce and Baker, and in 1968 they decided to stop. In November of that year they gave two farewell concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

Influence

The music moved between blues rock, psychedelia and hard rock. Live, the band stretched songs into long improvisations, and on Toad Baker played one of the first drum solos in rock. The trio showed what three virtuoso instrumentalists could do in a line-up without a second guitarist. In 1993 Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Listening

• 
  White Room · Cream, 1968
  Apple Music ↗

Discography

Studio albums

• 1966Fresh Cream
• 1967Disraeli Gears
• 1968Wheels of Fire
• 1968Wheels of Fire: In the Studio
• 1969Goodbye