Cream - Best of Cream

Best of Cream distils the brief, blazing career of rock's first great power trio onto one LP, a 1969 compilation released just after the band called it quits.

In little more than two years, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker rewired what a rock band could do, turning blues standards into improvised firestorms and bending psychedelic pop into strange new shapes. This collection pulls together the essential singles and album highlights from that whirlwind run, ranging from psychedelic pop to heavy blues workouts.

"Sunshine of Your Love" opens with one of the most famous riffs ever recorded, all thick tone and heavy swagger. "White Room" sweeps in on Baker's dramatic drums and Clapton's wah-wah guitar, while "Badge", co-written by Clapton and George Harrison, glows with melodic warmth.

"Crossroads" catches them live on stage, Clapton tearing through Robert Johnson's blues at full speed while Bruce and Baker push and pull underneath him like a gathering storm front.

Ten songs and no filler make this a crash course in why Cream still loom so large over blues rock. It is the ideal first Cream record, and a handy companion for anyone who already owns the studio albums and wants the essentials in one place.