In 1967, Cream released the legendary "Disraeli Gears", their second full-length album, which already hinted at a shift towards more avant-garde sounds, while still remaining within the band's psychedelic style. The subsequent success of this album led to their worldwide adoration and one of the most triumphant tours in history.
It was during this tour that their next recording project, "Wheels of Fire", was conceived. This album is considered one of the greatest double albums ever made and the band's swan song.
In this magnificent work, divided into a studio disc and a live disc, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce reached their creative peak and simultaneously established themselves as the leading figures on their respective instruments.
Produced by Felix Pappalardi and with arrangements by Robert Stigwood, the studio sessions were recorded in London and New York over several months in 1967 and 1968. Among the new tracks on the first disc, titled "In The Studio", are the bluesy "Politician" and "Sitting On Top The World", the psychedelic "Those Were The Days" and "Pressed Rat And Warthog", the timeless classics "Born Under A Bad Sign" and "White Room", and the acoustic "As You Said".
The second disc, subtitled "Live At Fillmore West", was recorded in March 1968 at the Fillmore West and the Winterland in San Francisco and contains four superb pieces masterfully performed by the trio, including the legendary version of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads", where Eric Clapton showcases his fantastic talent on the guitar.
Another version, this time by Willie Dixon, is "Spoonful", which showcases the band's jamming side, brimming with improvisation and great feeling from all three musicians. The final two tracks are the frenetic rural blues "Traintime" and the experimental "Toad", featuring a spectacular drum solo by the great Ginger Baker.
"Wheels of Fire" is a seminal and fundamental album in the history of rock and a clear example of why Cream is considered the first supergroup and, at the same time, one of the greatest bands of all time.
