Cream - The Very Best Of Cream (1995)

The Very Best Of Cream is the most inclusive, single disc compilation the psychedelic, blues-rock trio, Cream, has ever released. Earlier greatest hits collections were issued on LPs and contained only ten or twelve tracks, but this CD has twenty and would easily fill two 33 1/3 RPM records.

When the renowned supergroup was at their best few rock bands of any era could top them. Eric Clapton (guitar), Jack Bruce (bass), and drummer Ginger Baker were all virtuosos, and Bruce's excellent singing was a large heap of icing on the cake.

Cream played together for less than two years, but within that short span they released four LPs containing new studio material that included in-concert tracks on their last two albums, Wheels Of Fire and Goodbye.

Some of their stuff was overblown such as Baker's live, almost sixteen minute drum solo on "Toad," and there were goofy, seemingly nonsensical songs like "Pressed Rat And Warthog," both from Wheels. I love drums, but on the former Baker didn't know when to quit, and the latter piece - also "gifted" to us by the drummer - is completely unnecessary. Neither of them will be found on this CD, and that is probably fine with most listeners.

All of the band's great studio tracks ("Sunshine Of Your Love," "White Room," "Badge," "SWLABR," "Strange Brew," "Spoonful," "Born Under A Bad Sign," "I Feel Free," and "Tales Of Brave Ulysses") are here, and of course there is the explosive, live workout of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" with Clapton contributing the lead vocal.

Not every song on this set is a blues-rock barn burner. If you're hearing "Anyone For Tennis" or "Wrapping Paper" for the first time it's possible you'll be surprised that you're actually listening to Cream. The latter track is a reminder of one of those Paul McCartney tunes John Lennon famously described as his writing partner's "granny music."

The Very Best Of Cream is a great way of listening to one of the all-time great rock bands without all of their excesses.

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