Zack: Behold: The first Clapton-related album I ever
listened to. And it is indeed a marvel. For those of you curious about the
exact path I took into Clapton fan-dom, I started, as I think many must do, by
hearing Sunshine of Your Love. That is one killer of a song. So I tracked down
the album it originated from and gave that a listen. I guess I was probably 16
or 17 at the time. Mind, meet blown. So then I went through Fresh Cream and
Wheels of Fire (I skipped over Goodbye. Not sure why. It’s not particularly
great, but Badge is a good song). From there I just grabbed whatever Clapton
solo stuff my Dad had – August and Journeyman were the two that stuck out – and
checked that out. They’re both kind of hit or miss, but Miss You (off August)
remains one of my all-time favorite Clapton jams, no matter what Rolling Stone
says. I located Riding with the King and Unplugged to vary it up as well. Both
are awesome. I never made it to Derek and the Dominoes, other than Layla of
course, or Bluesbreakers, but both are represented on the list and I eagerly
await the opportunity. But to return to what launched my exploration, Disraeli
Gears just has a bit of something for everyone. It’s kind of psychedelic, but
there’s a real hard rock vibe as well. Of course there’s Clapton’s signature
bluesy guitar and Ginger Baker’s jazz drums. All of these different components
meld together perfectly to create a spinning sea of virtuoso musicianship.
Besides for being my first Clapton exposure, it remains to this day my favorite
example of his work.
Favorite Tracks: Sunshine of Your Love; Tales of Brave
Ulysses; SWLABR
Emily: Unlike Zack, I know next to nothing about Cream. I first heard Sunshine of Your Love on Guitar Hero back in the day, and that song is fucking awesome. Also really easy to play on Guitar Hero. I don't know much beyond that. Oh, also that Eric Clapton is in the band. Yeah, I don't know all that much. I'm glad I got a bit more exposure to Cream by listening to this album in its entirety. You can clearly hear the late-'60s influence swirling around through a blend of blues guitar with psychedelic ambiance. Sunshine of Your Love still embodies this best with one of the best basslines and guitar riffs in all of rock music. So whether you're a Clapton expert like Zack or just a former Guitar Hero player like me, Disraeli Gears is a classic album worth listening to.
Favorite Tracks: Sunshine of Your Love; Strange Brew; Tales of Brave Ulysses
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