1967 - February: Cream ”Fresh Cream”

British rock supergroup Cream debuted their first studio album entitled Fresh Cream in January 1967 in the United States, following the December 1966 British release.  Eric Clapton was on guitar and vocals, Jack Bruce was on bass, harmonica, piano, and vocals, and Ginger Baker was on percussion and vocals.  

Clapton had come out of the Yardbirds, and both Baker and Bruce had been in the Graham Bond Organisation together.  Ginger Baker approached Clapton about joining a new band, and Clapton agreed with the condition that Bruce be used as the bassist.  Baker and Bruce had a tumultuous relationship, with Baker at one point threatening Bruce at knifepoint.  However, the two patched things up for the sake of the new group.

The result of the collaboration was a success from the beginning.  Fresh Cream consisted of a mix of original compositions and blues covers, with Jack Bruce writing many of the original songs.  The band would cross rock, blues, and psychedelic genres.

Cream would produce four studio albums before internal tensions would break up the band.

Brian Dickhute takes us on our journey into this supergroup, and fan of the show Joe Davis joins us while Wayne is away.

 

N.S.U. The starting track to the album was written by Jack Bruce, and gets its name from the medical condition "non-specific urethritis," a type of venereal disease.  Supposedly Eric Clapton was suffering from N.S.U. at the time the song was written, and Bruce was poking a little fun at him. 

Sweet Wine  This is a deeper cut that encourages folks to slow down and enjoy life.  "Sweet wine, hay making, sunshine day breaking, we can wait till tomorrow."

Rollin' and Tumblin'  This fast blues number highlights Eric Clapton's guitar virtuosity.  The song was originally performed by Hambone Willie Newbern in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia.  It was originally called "Roll and Tumble Blues."  Cream's version is largely based on a version performed by Muddy Waters.

I'm So Glad  This song is the most recognizable hit from the album, and continues to be played today.  Skip James originally recorded this in 1931, and the band made sure to give James credit for his work.  

 

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

It's Been Nice (from the television film "Jack and the Beanstalk")  This mixed live action and animated film starring Gene Kelly was broadcast on NBC in February of 1967.

 

STAFF PICKS:

98.6 by Keith Bruce kicks off the staff picks with a celebration of the joys of love.  Barry James Keefer was called Keif when he was in a group called The Admirations, but changed to Keith to avoid having a name that sounded like the Moroccan word for cannabis.  This song his number 7 on the Billboard chart. 

You Got to Me  by Neil Diamond Rob brings us an early hit from Diamond's second studio album.  Diamond has sold more than 100 million records, and is one of the best selling musicians of all time.  Neil Diamond had ten number 1 singles.  He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 2011.

Ruby Tuesday by the Rolling Stones Joe Davis' staff pick is a softer song from the Rolling Stones, and their fourth #1 hit in the United States.  It was supposedly written about one of Keith Richard's ex-girlfriends.  "Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday.  Who could hang a name on you?  When you change with every new day.  Still, I'm gonna miss you."

Words of Love by The Mamas and The Papas Brian closes out the staff picks with a little honkytonk cabaret number sung by Mama Cass.  This song helped put The Mamas and The Papas back on the charts, and encourages boys to demonstrate love, not rely on words of love to win a girl's heart.

   

COMEDY TRACK:

Wild Thing by Senator Bobby This novelty song channels the distinct accent of Bobby Kennedy into the garage band hit by the Zombies for comedic effect.

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