Cream – Wheels of Fire (1968)
Release Date: July 24, 1968
Label: Atco Records / Polydor (UK)
Type: Studio / Live Album
Genre: Blues Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Hard Rock
Length: 70:35
Producer: Felix Pappalardi
Overview
Wheels of Fire is Cream’s third album and the first double album by a rock band, featuring one disc of studio recordings and one disc of live performances. The album captures Cream at the peak of their powers, blending blistering blues, psychedelic experimentation, and extended improvisation.
The studio disc highlights tight songwriting and production, with classics like “White Room,” “Politician,” and “Sitting on Top of the World”, while the live disc—recorded at the Fillmore West and Winterland in San Francisco—demonstrates the band’s explosive improvisational skills, especially on tracks like “Crossroads” and “Spoonful.”
Produced by Felix Pappalardi, Wheels of Fire solidified Cream’s reputation as one of the first supergroups, showcasing the synergy of Eric Clapton’s virtuosic guitar, Jack Bruce’s melodic bass and expressive vocals, and Ginger Baker’s dynamic, jazz-influenced drumming. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and is widely considered a definitive statement of 1960s blues-rock and psychedelic music.
Tracklist
Studio Disc
-
White Room – 4:58
-
Sitting on Top of the World – 3:38
-
Passing the Time – 4:07
-
As You Said – 4:00
-
Pressed Rat and Warthog – 3:23
-
Politician – 4:10
-
Those Were the Days – 4:44
Live Disc
-
Crossroads – 4:11
-
Sunshine of Your Love – 7:05
-
Tale of Brave Ulysses – 2:55
-
Spoonful – 16:30
-
Toad – 16:30
Fun Facts, Trivia & Did You Know?
-
Did You Know? “Crossroads” live version became one of the most famous renditions of a Robert Johnson blues classic.
-
First Double Album: Wheels of Fire was one of the first double albums in rock history.
-
Live Improvisation: “Spoonful” and “Toad” feature extended solos, showcasing the band’s jazz and blues influences.
-
Grammy Recognition: The album helped earn Cream recognition as pioneers of hard rock and power trio formats.
-
Psychedelic Imagery: The studio tracks feature experimental studio effects, including phasing, echo, and reverb.
-
Iconic Riff: “White Room” opens with one of Clapton’s most recognizable guitar riffs, a hallmark of psychedelic rock.
-
Supergroup Chemistry: Cream were one of the first bands to achieve commercial success based on musicianship alone rather than sheer image.
-
Legacy: The album influenced Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and later hard rock and heavy metal acts.
Album Credits
Cream:
-
Eric Clapton – Guitar, vocals
-
Jack Bruce – Bass, vocals, piano, harmonica
-
Ginger Baker – Drums, percussion
Production Team:
-
Producer: Felix Pappalardi
-
Engineer: Tom Dowd
-
Cover Art: Martin Sharp
-
Live Recording Locations: Fillmore West & Winterland, San Francisco
Mini Review
Wheels of Fire is Cream at their peak, combining studio precision with live improvisational firepower. Studio tracks like “White Room” and “Politician” reveal polished songwriting and psychedelic flair, while live renditions of “Crossroads” and “Spoonful” showcase the band’s blistering technical prowess. This double album captures the intensity, creativity, and virtuosity of one of the 1960s’ greatest power trios, making it an essential milestone in rock history.
