Band
Jack Bruce - Bass
Eric Clapton - Guita
Ginger Baker - Drums
Cream's second offering,
Disraeli Gears, is said by many to be their finest. In my opinion that is not so, but there is no doubt that it is a great album. On this album Cream has managed to clean up their music, make more technical songs, and catchy songs. Four hits have came out of
Disraeli Gears. Those four would be "Sunshine of your Love", "Strange Brew", "Swlabr", and "Tales of the Brave Ulysses". Each one of them became Cream classics, but "Sunshine of your Love" became one of the most remembered, popular, and catchy Rock 'n' Roll songs ever. I highly recomend this album.
1. Strange Brew: Cream couldn't have picked a better opener than they did. "Strange Brew" is a rythm guitar led blues influenced recording, with some nice singing and lead guitar playing. Eric really shows off some great rythm. Well enough to say that the song is secondary to Clapton's playing. Of coures Bruce's and Baker's playing is fanominal, but this definatley wasn't their song to shine. 5/5
2. Sunshine of your Love: Probably one of the most hummed, sang, played, used, catchy, and memorable songs ever. "S.O.Y.L" isn't the most technical song, nor does it really show off great writing skills, but it is extremely catchy, and in some cases, that is what matters most. Ginger and Jack keep a simple rythm, and Clapton gives off an okay solo. None of the playing is that special, but special enough to make a classic. I do not believe there is any reason for me to explain this song, because all who are viewing this review, probably have already heard it a million times. Just an overall great and catchy song. 5/5
3. World of Pain: Here is a great rythmic that shows of each members great rythm, I believe Ginger shows it best. He doesn't use many polyrythms which he is famous for. He does show enough for most to determine that he is a great drummer. The song also has some very smooth vocals. 4/5
4. Dance the Night Away: I do not really care too much for this song. There is just nothing special, or anything that stands out about it. It does have some nice lead guitar playing that comes out of no where. Other than that, there is not much more to add. 2.5/5
5. Blue Condition: "Blue Condition", is a very smooth song, with some nice backup piano playing. The lyrics aren't that great, they're okay, I guess. The drumming is done nicely with some great playing of the toms. 3/5
6. Tales of the Brave Ulysses: Definatley a Cream classic. Resembles "White Room" to a huge degree, and has a great amount of mystique to it, which always give off a strange, yet great vibe. Ginger really seems to standout in this recording, and Clapton gives a fabulous solo. Just a great song. 5/5
7. Swlabr: Here is an overall great song, and a Cream classic. Everything in the song is extrodinarily done. The drumming is fantastic, the guitar playing shows a great amount of blues, and the bass flows so well, and is so buisey. There is also a pretty good solo, which just adds greatness to the song. 5/5
8. We're going Wrong: "We're going Wrong" is basically a nice slow song, with some amazing drumming, that just gets better throughout the song. The guitar playing, and bass playing are okay, nothing that special, but the drumming steals the show. 4/5
9. Outside Woman Blues: Clapton sings this recording, and does it pretty good, and in the traditional blues form. Clapton's guitar playing very much resembles his style when he was with Blind Faith, which is extremely good, and includes a lot of hammers. Both Ginger and Jack play great rythm and backup to Cream's guitar led song. So overall, the song is pretty good. 3.9/5
10. Take it Back: Each instrument, including the harmonica, flow better in this song than any Cream song I have heard, and I have heard most, if not all of them. There is some fantastic backing vocals, and a great harmonica solo, that shows great passion and emotion. 5/5
11. Mother's Lament: This would probably the oddest song ever to close an album. It resembles a barber shop tune, done by a class of autistic teenagers. It is only 1:47 long, and only includes a piano. It's a joke, and it is hilarious, so how can I give a bad rating to a song that was crappy on purpose? 3/5
I'll give this album a 4/5, because it is a huge step from
Fresh Cream, and it includes a good amount of fabulous songs.
