Recorded in only six days across two sessions, they were originally overseen by Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records. Ertegun apparently initially dismissed “Sunshine of Your Love” completely, instead thinking that the band's original takes of “Lawdy Mama” were more the way to go. It wasn't until producer Felix Pappalardi was brought in that “Lawdy Mama” morphed into “Strange Brew”, the band's more eccentric side was encouraged and songs such as “Sunshine of Your Love,” “Tales of Brave Ulysses” and “SWLBR” were embraced.
I find this especially interesting because Ertegun had already been instrumental in so many famous artists' careers and would go on to become a driving force behind getting Led Zeppelin into the market. Had he remained the sole producer of Cream though, one of the most well known classic rock songs of all time might never have been part of this album.
It's also interesting to note that as I mentioned earlier, many more people were involved than just the three musicians in the creation of these songs. Poet Pete Brown co-wrote four of the tracks, with Pappalardi and his wife co-writing two others. Along with that, it was actually Martin Sharp, who also had a hand in the album's psychedelic, Sgt. Pepper-esque cover art, who gave “Tales of Brave Ulysses” its lyrics.
The band sounds entirely comfortable in the songs though and plays them well with plenty of fire and passion. Although it may have been a number of different people who brought these songs to fruition, it is certainly the performances of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker that really make them great.
I really can't say enough about why I like this album so much. From open to close it's a fantastic complete work (even with the somewhat corny ending), capturing not only the great creativity of this band, but the atmosphere and time in which it was written. The songs certainly have a style and flair that puts them right in that Summer of Love period, but they don't necessarily sound dated.
Still, the amount they have been branded by the psychedelic era will differ to each person's ear. For me, these songs are such classics that it's hard to think of them as anything but just that...classic.
That's really how I feel about the entire album: it's a classic. I feel it's time for Cream fans to unite and celebrate Disraeli Gears this month, on its 40th anniversary. Let's turn it up and rock out to one of the best rock and roll albums of all time.
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