#170 Cream, 'Disraeli Gears' (1967)

Previously #114

Cream’s second album was a departure from their Blues-Rock sound and saw the band exploring more Psychedelic sounds. Clapton emerged as a more confident vocalist than he’d ever been, sharing lead with Jack Bruce on 3 of the 11 songs, and singing solo on 2 more. The final track on the album features all three members on vocals, meaning that Clapton sang on more than half of the record. This is in stark contrast to the band’s debut album, on which he only sang 1 song.

‘Sunshine Of Your Love,’ one of the band’s signature songs, was inspired by Jimi Hendrix following a concert of his that the band attended in January 1967 at the Saville Theatre in London. Coming completely full circle, Hendrix would often perform the song live unaware that he was actually its inspiration. Ginger Baker’s drumming is pioneering on this record. His style was so completely unique and innovative incorporating unconventional rhythms to the band’s songs. The songs, and indeed this album, wouldn’t be as great without Baker’s contribution. The album peaked at the top of the charts in Australia, while it saw top 5 positions in the UK and US. It remains the band’s highest selling record, with over a million copies sold. ‘Disraeli Gears’ is one of the truly great records of the 1960s and paved the way for Rock in the ‘70s.

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