HELLO - CREAM

On this day in music history: December 9, 1966 - “Fresh Cream”, the debut album by Cream is released. Produced by Robert Stigwood, it is recorded at Rayrik Studios and Ryemuse Studios in London from July - October 1966. The first release by the British rock super group is the first release on manager/producer Stigwood’s newly formed Reaction Records in the UK, and will be released by Atlantic Records subsidiary Atco in the US. Featuring a mixture of covers and original material, it includes some of the bands’ signature songs including their first single “I Feel Free” and the blues standards “I’m So Glad”, “Spoonful” and “Rollin’ And Tumblin’”. The US version of the album differs from its UK counterpart by deleting “Spoonful”, replacing it with “I Feel Free” and moving the latter to the start of the first side. When the album is reissued by RSO Records in 1977, it is restored to its original UK track listing. A later LP reissue in 1985 reinstates “I Feel Free” to the track listing, with all subsequent CD releases containing both songs. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the album’s original release, it is releases a three CD + Blu-ray audio disc box set in January of 2017. The first three CD’s feature remastered versions of the original mono and stereo mixes of the album, single versions, alternate takes, and BBC radio broadcast recordings. The Blu-ray disc features high definition audio (24 bit/96k) of the mono stereo mixes, B-sides. It is also issued as a limited edition six LP vinyl set. “Fresh Cream” peaks at number six on the UK album chart,  number thirty nine on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

I have said before what Cream meant and I followed them from the beginning (and yes I did buy this when it came out and still have it on vinyl ) and right through to the end. Followed Eric throughout his career and to the re-eunion, Jack Bruce less so and Ginger not really at all though appreciated his place in Rock n Roll and his importance as a drummer. This is of interest however because of how early it is. Check out Eric's perm! They look really gauche somehow and the 'awakening' that many of us had where fashion and hairstyles [and attitude to a lesser extent] was about to be unleashed!

Amazing piece of documentary  . . . . . . . . Enjoy!!