Cream
Disraeli Gears

THE REVIEW

"She's a witch of trouble in electric blue. In her own mad mind she's in love with you, With you. Now what you gonna do?"

Year: 1967 The Cream certainly represent, and rightly so, one of the fundamental building blocks in the "modern" creative-musical curve that still today feels, and not as a distant echo, the influences, styles, and solid foundations laid by the three musician members Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce (together in Blues Incorporated and the Graham Bond Organization) and the still very young but talented Eric Clapton, offspring of the Yardbirds and Mayall's Bluesbreakers.

"I've been waiting so long To be where I'm going In the sunshine of your love."

With such an exceptional lineup, Cream presents a very elaborate Rock-Blues and of complex execution that is enriched by the vast artistic and cultural influences of the individual members endowed, indeed, with an exceptional performing and compositional talent out of the ordinary. Although the true measure of Cream's evaluation finds greater response in the listening to a Live or having personally attended one of their performances on major stages around the globe (where endless and hallucinatory solos or personal improvisations play a fundamental role), it does not detract that their studio works are real remedies for the ear canals of those who listen to them and still allow for a clear idea of their greatness.

"Outside my window is a tree. Outside my window is a tree. There only for me. And it stands in the grey of the city, No time for pity, for the tree or me."

Disraeli Gears, Cream's second historic studio effort, was recorded way back in May 1967 in New York at the Atlantic studios, and is still today considered a milestone and symbol of reference for the cultists of not only Rock&Blues music. The album is produced by Felix Pappalardi, who actively participates in the group's activities collaborating in the writing of the songs and handling nearly all the production and post-production. The arrangements, on the other hand, are entrusted to the care of Robert Stigwood. Impossible not to affirm that what comes out is an absolute masterpiece.

"Goner build myself a castle High up in the clouds. There'll be skies outside my window, Lose these streets and crowds."

In the historic composition of Bass, Drums, and Guitar, the Disraeli Gears Cream move between rhythms and melodies of a classically inclined Blues with ingenious and exemplary inspirations of Rock and (at times) Jazz that will be so influential in the future. The entire album, which nonetheless stays distant from the acidic pessimism of most classic Blues, is consumed in one breath thanks to the relentless rhythms imposed by the trio's instruments. Tracks such as "Sunshine Of Your Love," among the most imitated of all time, "Strange Brew," or "Tales Of Brave Ulysses" are just some of the warhorses that the three will use to heat up the audiences in their psych-live performances, where spirits are easily heated and reach very high temperatures.

"And the colours of the sea bind your eyes with trembling mermaids, And you touch the distant beaches with tales of brave Ulysses, How his naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singing, For the sparkling waves are calling you to kiss their white laced lips."

Also, the lyrics proposed here, splendidly vocalized by the excellent bassist Jack Bruce, are well inspired and penetrate the neurons with impressive force, gifting the entire work, along with the musical parts, a unique, original sound. Brilliant. It's in the air. Disraeli Gears paves the way, creating a link with "Fresh Cream" (1966), to "Wheels Of Fire" (1968), considered by many to be the absolute masterpiece.

"Take it back, take it back, take that thing right outa here. Right away, far away, take that thing right outa here."

Even considering the decisive distance from any of their live performances, Disraeli Gears absolutely cannot be missing from the minimum musical dispensary. Indispensable.

"Are we wollin'? A one, a two, a free, a four..."