Cream
In 1966, something very important happened in England. Three prototypical blues rock virtuosos left their respective groups (drummer Ginger Baker left the Graham Bond Organization; bassist Jack Bruce left Manfred Mann and guitarist Eric Clapton left John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers).
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Cream
In 1966, something very important happened in England. Three prototypical blues rock virtuosos left their respective groups (drummer Ginger Baker left the Graham Bond Organization; bassist Jack Bruce left Manfred Mann and guitarist Eric Clapton left John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers). Establishing an enduring legacy of full volume blues at the 1966 Windsor Festival in England, Cream proved to be a crazy quilt of jamming and extended live solos, while, in the studio, they tended toward a more high-class blend of rock and blues, often written by Bruce and lyricist Pete Brown.
Cream’s first hit in the United States, “Sunshine Of Your Love,” came in 1968, soon supported by “White Room.” In a mere three years, Cream sold over 15 million records and played to standing room only crowds all over the United States and Europe. Unfortunately, tension within the band led to a speedy break-up. A Goodbye Cream concert was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and the album of the same title featured the Clapton/George Harrison penned “Badge.” Eric and Ginger eventually formed another band that quickly went flooey (Blind Faith), while Jack Bruce went solo. By 1969, the first and best blues/rock power trio was defunct.
