Book Review: Cream by Chris Welch

August 2001

The first impression is that the book is very well designed. The layout and use of different photographs and illustrations make the the book easy to read and a pleasure. There are plenty of photographs as well as pictures of different album and single covers.

However, it is the text that is the most important. The band has a relatively short career. Short biographies of the members' musical lives prior to forming Cream set the context. Both Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce has been in the Graham Bond Organisation although Bruce was in Manfred Mann when the chance came to join Cream. Eric Clapton had made his name in the Yardbirds before moving to John Mayall's Bluesbreakers where he helped to produce the classic "Beano" album." 

Cream was named because the three members represented the "cream." It was a marriage of equal parts although some believed that Clapton should have been the star. However, a few other individuals had a major impact on Cream. Pete Brown co-wrote some of the classic tracks with Jack Bruce, Martin Sharp (Clapton's flatmate) designed the Disraeli Gears sleeve and they were managed by Robert Stigwood.

But it was not all peace and love. Bruce had left Graham Bond following arguments with Baker. Stigwood was seen to be more interested in promoting the Bee Gees than Cream. There was also some resentment that Bruce was taking songwriting credits (and royalties) for collaborations with the poet Brown when they were really group compositions. Above all, they were all highly individual and virtuoso musicians and there may have been an element of trying to outdo each other much of the time. This led to some of the greatest music of all time (I Feel Free, White Room, Sunshine of Your Love, Tales of Brave Ulysees) but it was also a major source of friction.

This is an easy-to-read book that does not lack detail. It even includes a Cream diary at the end that shows all the gigs and recording sessions. Recommended reading.

mp, July 2001

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Details

First published in 2000 by Balafon

ISBN: 0-87930-624-6

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