Often referred to as the first "Super Group", Cream, the blues/rock band, formed in 1966 of musical giants, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce.  Their debut album Fresh Cream was released in 1966 and went to #6 in the UK & #39 in the US.  This copy is a reissue from 1974 on RSO label, but the album itself is mislabelled as Disraeli Gears (a bit of an anomaly).  Although they had a short career as a band and produced only 4 studio albums, their influence on rock, hard rock, progressive rock and psychedelic rock music has been enduring.  Much of their music sounds as current today as it did almost 50 years ago.  Here is their cover of the great Willie Dixon song Spoonful:

So is this a psychedelic cover or what?  Disraeli Gears, is the second album by Cream, released in 1967 on Reaction Label in the UK and on Atco in the US.  I have both copies in my collection, but the picture and recording are from Reaction.  Considering that Reaction only released three LP during its brief time (2 by Cream and 1 by the Who) they are kind of rare.  This is by far my favourite Cream album, much more psychedelic and innovative, plus the cover is great!  Here is Swlabr (she walks like a bearded rainbow) followed by Sunshine of Your Love:

Wheels of Fire, released in 1968, is a double album with one album recorded in the studio and the other a live recording. The studio album has the bands new recordings including the huge hit White Room, and my pick As You Said. The live album is a great example of the group live and showcased each artist and their strength in different songs. Clapton's guitar work on Crossroads & Spoonful, Jack Bruce's harmonica solo on Traintime and Ginger Baker's drumming on Toad. Here is As You Said followed by clips from the live album.

Goodbye Cream, the farewell album by Cream is similar to Wheels of fire, in that part of this LP is recorded live from the farewell tour and part is recorded in the studio.  This album was released in early 1969, slightly over two years from their debut album! Considering they were breaking up at the time they were recording this album, I think it is very good.  I am not a huge fan of the song Politician, but I think the live version on this album is my favourite recording of this song.  My pick from this album is Badge: the only complaint is that it is too short.

I think that if you are a huge fan of Cream, then this is a worthwhile album to get, especially since they were really know as a "live" band. But, this is not a really well recorded album (although I believe the '98 remastered version is better) also, I think the live music on Wheels of Fire is superior.  Released in 1972, Live Cream Volume II, on Atco SD 7005, this is the US pressing; Canadian pressing is on Polydor. Here is Tales of Brave Ulysses:

This album is exactly as the title says, Strange Brew: The Very Best Of Cream.  All their hit singles from their four studio albums, as well as Anyone for Tennis (released as a single only).  A great collection of Cream musical greats! From 1983 on RSO/Polydor.