Best of Cream


Best of Cream is a compilation album of material recorded from 1966 to 1968 by the rock band Cream, and released shortly after their disbanding. The album was originally released by Cream's U.S. label Atco Records, and was available on that label during the years 1969–72. The album was briefly reissued in the U.S. in 1977 by RSO/Polydor Records, to whom U.S. distribution rights for Cream's recordings had reverted by that time. A re-release was pressed in 2014 by Polydor on 180g vinyl.
Best of Cream was noteworthy upon its release as the first American album to contain Cream's studio recording of "Spoonful". Although included in international versions of Cream's 1966 debut album Fresh Cream, the song was deleted from Atco's initial U.S. release of the album, and replaced with the band's first hit single "I Feel Free". U.S. reissues of Fresh Cream contain both songs.
The album peaked at on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart in July 1969. The album reached on the UK album charts. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA.

Track listing

Side 1

  1. "Sunshine of Your Love" – 4:08
  2. * Uncut version, from Cream's second album Disraeli Gears, produced by Felix Pappalardi. Vocals: Jack Bruce/Eric Clapton.
  3. "Badge" – 2:45
  4. * From Cream's fourth album Goodbye, produced by Felix Pappalardi. Vocal: Eric Clapton.
  5. "Crossroads" – 4:13
  6. * From Cream's third album Wheels of Fire, produced by Felix Pappalardi. Recorded live at Winterland, San Francisco, California, 10 March 1968. Vocal: Eric Clapton.
  7. "White Room" – 3:04
  8. * 45 RPM single edit; uncut version appears on Wheels of Fire. Produced by Felix Pappalardi. Vocal: Jack Bruce.
  9. * Early Spanish Polydor issues of the album include the uncut version of the song, running time 4:58.
  10. "SWLABR" – 2:31
  11. * From Disraeli Gears. Produced by Felix Pappalardi. Vocal: Jack Bruce.

    Side 2

  12. "Born Under a Bad Sign" – 3:08
  13. * From Wheels of Fire. Produced by Felix Pappalardi. Vocal: Jack Bruce.
  14. "Spoonful" – 6:30
  15. * From the international version of Cream's first album Fresh Cream. Produced by Robert Stigwood. Vocal: Jack Bruce.
  16. "Tales of Brave Ulysses" – 2:50
  17. * From Disraeli Gears. Produced by Felix Pappalardi. Vocal: Jack Bruce.
  18. "Strange Brew" – 2:45
  19. * From Disraeli Gears. Produced by Felix Pappalardi. Vocal: Eric Clapton.
  20. "I Feel Free" – 2:51
  21. * From the U.S. version of Fresh Cream. Produced by Robert Stigwood. Vocals: Jack Bruce/Eric Clapton.

    Personnel

Cream