The Classic Record Review 11.07.08: Cream - Disraeli Gears Posted by Rob Samuels on 11.07.2008
This week The Classic Record Review takes a look at the original power-trio, and the band that made Clapton famous.
The Introductory blurb bit
Hello both of you! Welcome to The Classic Record Review! 411mania's answer to the age-old question - ‘Do you remember that album my dad used to listen to? No? Me neither.' Self-deprecating humor aside, I humbly welcome you all to my little column. I am Rob Samuels - Music aficionado, bassist and your personal hero. Seen as though no one is commenting anyway, I've removed my little blurb about interpretations of the word ‘Classic' - you'll have to do without.
You may have guessed that I'm not feeling particularly talkative today, so the blurb shit has been kept to a minimum. If you would like to hear an uninteresting rambling intro please send me an email and my PA will send you an automated response.
What's on tap this week?
(Drum roll)
...
...
...
Disraeli Gears - Cream
Perhaps the ultimate supergroup, Cream made a massive impact in only a few years on the music scene. Their musical ability, temperament and massive ego's have made them Rock ‘n' Roll icons - but what of their albums? Does Disraeli Gears stand up to the test of time?
The stats
Release date: November 1967
Label: Polydor
Written by: Cream
Produced by: Felix Pappalardi
The line-up
Cream:
Eric Clapton: Guitar and Vocals
Jack Bruce: Bass, Harmonica, Keyboards and Vocals
Ginger Baker: Drums and Vocals
Additional Personnel:
None!
The background
Although the band is widely regarded as a supergroup, none of Cream's members were particularly well known outside of the UK. Although Eric Clapton had made his name with The Yardbirds, he had left the band before the band broke the States - leaving that honor to Jeff Beck. After The Yardbirds Clapton had enjoyed a stint with John Mayall's Blues Breakers, during which time he met bassist Jack Bruce.
Bruce had been a member of British R ‘n' B outfit ‘The Graham Bond Organization', who despite having an impressive cult following were not well-known in mainstream pop music. The Graham Bond Organization's drummer Ginger Baker had been playing Rock and R ‘n' B for years despite having a Jazz background.
The three musicians longed for a band with less musical restrictions, after growing weary of standard Rock, Blues and R ‘n' B. Drawing on their respective Jazz backgrounds the trio created a band largely based on live improvisation, much like the Bebop movement of the 40's. Although the band were renowned for their often overly excessive virtuoso stage shows, Cream were capable of putting together a good pop album. Early 1967 saw the release of their debut ‘Fresh Cream', which garnered the band some international attention. But it was ‘Disraeli Gears' that made them stars later that year.
Cream were not around for long, but their impact has had an everlasting effect on the industry. Was this album really that good? Let's give it a listen.
The music
First, the track listing:
1. Strange Brew
2. Sunshine of Your Love
3. World of Pain
4. Dance the Night Away
5. Blue Condition
6. Tales of Brave Ulysses
7. Swlabr
8. We're Going Wrong
9. Outside Woman Blues
10. Take It Back
11. Mother's Lament
Now, the music!
‘Strange Brew' kicks the album off in a Bluesy fashion. Backed by a solid rhythm section, the vocals and guitar swirl over the top giving the song a psychedelic edge. A typical Clapton solo punctuates the song nicely creating a solid opener.
The infamous ‘Sunshine of Your Love' follows on nicely, shifting Disraeli Gears away from Blues and more towards the Psychedelic side of their music. Obviously everyone knows this riff - it is surely one of the most famous of all time. I can't add much to that. Great song.
‘World of Pain' moves the album forward, giving us another solid blues backbone with a Donovan-esque vocal line. This song blends together aspects of Blues, Psychedelia, Folk and Hard Rock with unparalleled ease. Cream were masters of making anything look easy and this track is a prime example.
The heavy and Psych-laced ‘Dance the Night Away' (no, not that one - thank fuck) follows next. The guitar effect in the chorus gives us a sitar sound which fits in nicely with the song. This track is a top example of Cream at their edgy best. Amazing depth of sound for a three piece. This is the true meaning of the term ‘Power Trio'.
As the name would suggest ‘Blue Condition' takes the listener back down a blues road. A droning track sung with absolutely no passion, which is not an insult - it is an excellent track. The lyrics are ironically written - Perhaps a witty take on their own music? Who knows (I bet some anorak will tell me).
‘Tales of Brave Ulysses' is, as you may have guessed a psychedelic song. The wah-wah guitar is what makes this song, and you begin to understand why Clapton was the best of his day (until Hendrix came and pissed all over his bonfire). The lyrics were originally a poem by artist Martin Sharp who allegedly wrote them on the back of either a napkin or a beer mat (depending on what you read). Rock ‘n' Roll!
‘Swlabr' is a hard rock number, taking Disraeli Gears up a notch in terms of dynamics. A classic Jack Bruce bass line flows throughout the song giving the track some punch. A reversed cymbal sound (Psychedelic production 101) greets the listener next. A melancholic number that slowly builds throughout, ‘We're Going Wrong' adds some heartfelt depth to the album.
‘Outside Woman Blues' takes us back into a Blues-Rock mood. You can tell it's a Blues song ‘cause it has the word ‘Blues' in the title. That's an unwritten Blues rule y'know - ask Robert Johnson. Anyway, it's a good song I think - I wasn't really paying attention as I was writing that shit about Blues above. ‘Take It Back' keeps the album in a similar mood, with a straight up Rock ‘n' Roll track. A Harmonica line is well placed in the chorus, adding another style to the albums already diverse sound.
‘Mother's Lament' is the bizarre ending track, which sees the band playing cockney music. For those who don't know about cockney music, here's British Comedian Bill Bailey to explain:
Thanks Bill! Now to the sport...
The 411
Another great album, and one that establishes Cream as one of the true Psychedelic pioneers. Despite this, Disraeli Gears manages to stand the test of time as a hard rock classic - this is more than just a Psychedelic blues album. I'd recommend it, but don't buy it from FYE like I did, because my version is utter shit. It skips all the time and is much quieter than any other ‘remastered' CD I own.
Anyway, I'd like to warmly welcome back the ‘Bootsy Collins school of Funking good music' rating system. Last weeks brief experimentation with the I'm Donny Tourette and I dick on the Sex Pistols platinum award, has been shelved for now:
Below 5 = Smells Funky.
5-7 = Funkin' good.
7-9 = Funk me baby.
10 = Damn suck-ah, that shit be FUNK-AY!
Although this is a damn good record, it just isn't on the same level as the previous albums I have reviewed since the columns return. Therefore I award Disraeli Gears an admirable 9/10:
Funk me baby
Thank you for reading, I am of course back on Monday with Ask 411 music. If you have a question, query, quibble or quandary no matter how slight, send it to rob.samuels@yahoo.co.uk.. Until then have a great weekend, listen to some classic rock and spread the love. That was my token hippy message for this week.
