The Very Best of Cream - Cream (CD 1995)

I do not think one can doubt that Cream was a musical powerhouse during the late 1960s, nor can they criticize their raw, energetic musical talent. On guitar is Eric Clapton, the legendary blues rock guitarist. On bass, Jack Bruce, whose powerful vocals and pulsating bass blow away most bass guitarists of this day and age. And last but not least, Ginger Baker is on the drums and his drumming has been praised by most music critics and musicians. Add these 3 legends together and you have created yourself a classic blues rock band. Want to listen to just how good they are? Purchase yourself a...

The period of time from 1964 to 1969 was an exciting period in rock 'n roll music--to kick things off, there was the British invasion, headed up by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, which more or less revolutionized music as we knew it. Out on the West coast, groups like Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, Iron Butterfly, and The Grateful Dead were exploring psychedelic themes, while in Seattle Jimi Hendrix was getting sounds out of his guitar that had never been heard before. In short, there was a lot going on musically during this period, which also just happened to be the years I was serving..

If one is a serious rock fan, they will more likely then not be aware of the famous early 1960s London graffiti which read "Clapton Is God". And while it is easy to forget why this was considered so, the 20 songs on The Very Best Of Cream are proof of why. Yes, in the years of Cream's existence (1966-1969), Eric Clapton proved that he truly was (along with Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck) a guitar god. Reaching back to the blues that was the foundation for rock and roll, Clapton helped move rock toward the heavier sound it would start to take in the years to come. But it wasn't just Clapton that...

Track number 15 of this 20-song greatest hits album is called, "Those Were the Days." Yes, they certainly were. For two glorious years in the late sixties, Cream produced some of the best and most influential music ever recorded. In my opinion, Cream is the greatest band ever assembled. Everyone knows that Eric Clapton's guitar playing is phenomenal (see my review on Eric himself), but Jack Bruce's bass and vocals and Ginger Baker's guitar playing are often overlooked. My dad was lucky enough to see Cream live when he was in college and marvels at Ginger Baker's drum solos. People don't even..