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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Fresh Cream, the album that introduced this seminal super-blues trio to America, was perhaps a bit too blues-based to do the advance hype ("Clapton is God!") justice. Two of its three best-known tracks, after all, were blues covers; it was Disraeli Gears that turned Cream into a "supergroup." Here they pursue the psychedelic ideals of the era with total abandon (the LP cover art still stands as one of the 1960s' most striking designs), merging these ideals with their take on the blues and adorning the amalgamation with some superb pop craftsmanship. Of the 11 originals here, four--"Tales of Brave Ulysses", "SWLABR", "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine of Your Love"--earned major airplay. This, their excess-free greatest moment, does the Cream legend proud. --Bill Holdship
Review
It started as a joke. Mick Turner one of Cream’s roadies was discussing with drummer, Ginger Baker, how he fancied one of those bikes with’ Disraeli gears’. He meant, of course, derailleur gears, but the band found the mistake hilarious and so the name of one of one of the UK’s premier psychedelic albums was born.
By 1967 Cream had had one rather false start. Fresh Cream, their first album had been a rushed and rather too purist collection of blues standards and curios, and as such was already by 1966 considered out of step with what was occurring around them. “I Feel Free” had hinted at the wild lysergic undercurrent, but they’d yet to find their heartland in the London underground. One reason this had happened was because of the band’s backgrounds, not only in the blues (as Eric Clapton defected from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers) but also in Jazz; both Jack Bruce and Baker having served time with Graham Bond. Luckily this wide-ranging set of backgrounds was invaluable in their next step.
Second time around it was far different. Chemicals had been imbibed, Clapton had struck up a friendship with Australian artist Martin Sharp who not only provided the lyrics of “Tales Of Brave Ulysses” but also came up with the splendidly baroque cover. Meanwhile Jack Bruce was now working with underground poet, Pete Brown, whose lyrics were equally trippy. “SWLABR” (it stands for ‘She walks like a bearded rainbow’), “Dance The Night Away” and “Sunshine Of Your Love” were perfect encapsulations of the point where the blues got psychedelic and in turn got heavy. “Sunshine…”’s riff is at once iconic and defines the power trio aesthetic that was to prove so popular with the band’s many disciples.
The other creative catalyst was producer Felix Pappalardi. Co-writing both "World Of Pain" he also helped transform the blueswailing “Lawdy Mama” into the slinky “Strange Brew” – a contender for best album opener of all time. Clapton’s guitar had by now been exposed to the effects heavy stylings of Jimi Hendrix and his heavy use of wah-wah gives Disraeli Gears just the right amount of weirdness, making this probably the most experimental album he ever made. The modish inclusion of Ginger Baker’s rendition of “A Mother’s lament” was the edwardiana icing on the cake. By the band’s demise, two years later Clapton had returned to his first love – straight blues and the band had become the barnstorming power trio hinted at here. For a short time they were bringers of peace and love. --Chris Jones
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the very few classic rock albums that are actually classics.,
By MrMetalheadO'Hagan "TRUE METAL" (Ireland(sadly)) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Disraeli Gears (Audio CD)
I am 17 year old and i'm a massive fan of heavy metal, I love most types of music from Heavy Metal to Blues to abit of Indie to Instrumental rock and all types of rock from 60s 70s and 80s. 2 of my friends who have similar taste in music as me really like Eric Clapton so I checked his greatest hits and that was brilliant. Then I decided to start my Cream selection and bought this and i love it.
This awesome rock/blues album was made famous by the song Sunshine Of Your Love, which is a brilliant song but there is more to this album then that song. The best song for me here is World Of Pain it's amazing and the vocals on this album are brilliant. In conclusion, this album is brilliant and should any music lovers collection whatever music you like buy it.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The quintessential Cream.,
By
This review is from: Disraeli Gears (Audio CD)
Yes there are other albums and singles that may strike your fancy. But this one is the first to come to mind when mentioning Cream. It is too bad that the samples stop before "Tales Of Brave Ulysses" as each track is unique. Therefor you have to listen to them all to get a more complete picture of this group.Warning this album is addictive I find my self singing, " Sunshine Of Your Love" a little too loud at work and then I hear others completing the words from other cubes
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Know what to expect or you'll be disappointed,
By Michael "Michael" (Hamburg, Germany) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Disraeli Gears (Audio CD)
Looking at the reviews of this album, it's interesting to note that the vast majority of those who rave about this album got into it in the 60s, or roughly at the time it came out. There is always a danger in such a case of not rating something objectively, as the emotional connection often overrides the actual quality of the music. I too feel the same way about some of the albums I grew up with. Now I have all the albums from the name bands of the 60s, and a vast amount of psych, blues and 60s/70s rock in my collection, so although I expect some negative comments on my review, please understand this is not the criticism of a novice, newbie or metalhead.
If you're expecting the following, you're going to be very disappointed with this album: (1) Mind-blowing guitar-playing: compare the guitar-playing on this to Hendrix' 'Are You Experienced' (1967) and 'Axis:Bold As Love' (1968), to Johnny Winter's first album recorded in 1968, or Jimmy Page's playing on the first Led Zeppelin album (recorded late '68), and there's a vast, vast difference in the level of guitar-playing. It's like comparing someone reciting the alphabet with someone reading Shakespeare. If you're an electric guitar-player, you may spend years with your guitar, the sheet-music to Axis:Bold As Love, and the album itself without being able to duplicate much of what Hendrix does, especially on the rhythm side. But the advantage of being a Cream fan is that Clapton's licks, solos, and rhythm on this album are well within the reach of any amateur who sets his mind to it. Note that I don't say Clapton can't play well, but ability on this album is downplayed in favour of effects and attempts at psychedelia. Which brings me to the next thing not to expect... (2) Mind-blowing psychedelia: One of the best things about Disraeli Gears is no doubt the album cover, and that alone has led to many mistaken purchases of this album in my experience. Some of these songs are borderline psychedelia, but generally it's more like pop-blues with some psych elements coming from the use of fuzz and wah. Finally, don't expect... (3) Excellent blues: listen to Hendrix' 'Red House' (the original version from Oct 1966 found on the newer versions of 'Are You Experienced' or on the 'Blues' album), or Johnny Winter's 'Be Careful With A Fool' from his first album. As I've stated above, to anyone who knows anything about good guitar-playing, who actually plays themselves, or who've tried to work on songs by these guys and Clapton, there's just no comparison. Winter and Hendrix still make the mouth drop with their playing, while Clapton's playing sounds tired and cliched today, and generally relies on effects on this album. I'm not writing this review to irritate Clapton fans, although that is bound to happen, but I'm also not writing it just to collect positive votes. Instead, if I can warn one person away from a mistaken purchase for every ten who give me a negative vote, then I consider my job done. As a consolation to Eric's fans, let me just say that I recently saw that all-star concert from a couple years ago where he plays live with Stevie Winwood, etc, and was pretty much blown away by Eric's playing. The man can play! And better than he ever did in the 60s! While poor old Johnny Winter can't hold a straw to him now... If you absolutely must have some Cream in your music collection rather go for the old Best of Cream compilation. That has most of the best songs on this album, and you're not forced to listen to the weak tracks like World of Pain or Dance the Night Away, or the embarrassing ones like Blue Condition or Mother's Lament.
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