Although a compilation released decades after this band was active seems like a bit of an afterthought, this is the first major compilation with a total of 20 songs by the legendary Rock group Cream. Cream was dubbed a Rock “supergroup” during their heyday, with a theory of being absolutely phenomenal as a band if some already established musical talents decided to make music together. Cream only lasted a few short years in the late 1960s but to deny their musical presence and impact on the music of the time and years into the future would be criminal. The group was a trio of Eric Clapton (guitars), Jack Bruce (bass guitar and vocals) and Ginger Baker (drums). Together, they made some of the best and most interesting music of the era and are cemented into Rock and Roll fame. Let’s take a listen to this compilation and we shall hear if it holds up well enough today.

Wrapping Paper begins with some fluttering piano and some excellent and smooth vocals by Jack Bruce. This genuinely sounds fresh, wonderful and melodically awesome to this day. This is a golden oldie by Cream that is often overlooked. Soon enough, towards the middle are some excellent electric guitar work and string sections to match. A really, really great listening experience that pines for the simple life. A great start to the compilation, and this is superb and classy. Fans of 1960s music will dig this. A great listen. It fades out sweetly.

I Feel Free begins with crunchy electric guitar, and follows with an excellently sung section with harmonies and hand claps. Super cool. It quickly launches into an awesome 1960s Classic Rock piece that sounds irresistibly loveable. Cream could make music that sounds great. With some simple storytelling style lyrics and some excellent Gibson Les Paul and Marshall Amplifier guitar playing and tone by Eric Clapton, this is a sensationally top-notch listen. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker also prove their worth magnificently and wonderfully. A very good listen from start to finish. Well done. The harmonies throughout are sweet.

N.S.U. begins with some pounding drums and launches into a joyous song with some very nice opening lyrical lines and a pounding musical rhythm section. Very, very nice to hear. The harmonies throughout this tune are very wild. A cool, cool listening experience to hear. This is Classic Rock that is as good as it gets for the time. Period. In the second half, Eric Clapton rips some amazing lead guitar lines throughout that prove that, indeed, he is a Guitar God. His playing and vibrato are really excellent to hear. A super cool tune, this is a must-listen from this compilation. Great, great song.

Sweet Wine is fantastic from the start, with some sweet harmonies and playing by Cream that is nicely done. This is a great song about enjoying the fruits of one’s labour and enjoying life to the full. A really great and anthemic tune. Eric Clapton rips into some fantastic guitar soloing with pinch harmonics and verging on feedback throughout. His place in Rock history is deservedly assured throughout. A really wild, interesting and cool listening experience, this is fantastically monumental to listen to. After the soloing is some drumming with melodies and singing returning to the fold of this song. All in all, a really great listening experience. Period. A fully sick tune.

I’m So Glad is a Skip James cover. It begins with some great arpeggio riffing, launching into a great reinterpretation of an old Blues song by Cream. This is pretty, lively and enjoyable throughout. The music and simplicity of this song make it a solid gold winner by the ultimate Rock supergroup. Although the song itself is fairly repetitive vocally, some amazing Gibson Les Paul playing is provided by Eric Clapton throughout. A really cool and awesome listening from start to finish, this is very anthemic. Super cool, the music throughout is very lively. The second half is more intense and has some superb singing and emphasis on the vocals by Jack Bruce. A really cool piece of music from start to finish. Very, very good. It ends with some smooth harmonies and a furious conclusion.

Spoonful begins with bass guitar and harmonica and launches into a super cool Blues based tune. This is a good listening experience about measuring out things in terms of spoonfuls, particularly love. This is an extended piece of music that goes on for six and a half minutes. A fantastic listening experience that sounds really timeless, fresh and energetic to this very day. This eventually leads into the solo section of this song, sounding absolutely delicious throughout. Eric Clapton in particular plays a very mean guitar section and shreds away nicely. A very, very cool piece of music, this sounds adventurous and timeless throughout. The instrumental section here is absolutely a joy to listen to. This returns to the main riffs at hand, and Jack Bruce sings sweetly about being loving to a lady of one’s fancy. Nonetheless, this awesome extended tune is a sensationally good listening experience that is refreshing and original throughout. Really, really cool to listen to. A great piece of music to listen to and enjoy. It gets quiet towards the end of the tune, with subtle harmonica parts, before Jack Bruce begins the epic finale. Bold and brilliant.

Strange Brew is a quirky-sounding song with a magnificent Gibson SG being played throughout. Jack Bruce has some joyous and fine singing throughout, which is really fresh and upbeat throughout. The music throughout is Classic Rock that sounds really fine and divine, and this tune may be about drug use itself. Regardless, the playing and singing throughout are really top. Eric Clapton’s guitar soloing throughout is really amazing to listen to. Jack Bruce comes back with some sweet singing towards the end. There is a false ending, just before this wraps up very nicely. A great, great tune. Period. Cream was a fantastic band.

Sunshine Of Your Love begins with a very recognisable classic Bluesy guitar riff and drums and sounds amazing throughout. This is an instant classic musically and is sweet, lovely and energetic sounding throughout. A sensationally good song, Cream make one of the best listens in the history of Rock Music. A great, great listening experience about lovemaking and other sensual experiences with a lady, this has a superb Bluesy guitar solo that kicks the proverbial. An excellent song. This sounds interestingly played and wonderful to hear throughout. Some of Ginger Baker’s best drumming is throughout this song, and Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton both play wonderfully as well. A killer song to listen to. Truly great from start to finish. The outro sounds really insane.

Tales Of Brave Ulysses begins with some sweet melodic instrumentation and a wah-wah guitar that sounds really awesome. This quickly launches into a fantastic song with some awesome guitar, thumping basslines, great vocals and polyrhythmic drumming. A really pretty, lovely and fantastic tune to listen to, this is a legendary song throughout. An awesome song with Psychedelic imagery about a lady who is much desired and loved, the guitar work and playing of the instruments throughout are really insane. A great, great listen. Sweet to hear.

SWLABR has some awesome Gibson SG guitar riffing and singing and other instrumentation and playing to match. Really, really cool and enjoyable listening, this is without a doubt some of the best music from the late 1960s. Superb, majestic and descriptive throughout, Cream knew how to make great music, that is for sure. A super awesome listen with some of the best tripped-out lyrics you will hear, this is a very, very good song to listen to, even on its own. Great.

We’re Going Wrong begins with some cymbal washes, clean Gibson guitars and some precise drumming. This sounds insanely good. Jack Bruce sings so well here, and he is one of the more underrated Rock singers of the time. In any case, this music is very, very good. Some very good polyrhythmic drumming by Ginger Baker is present as well. Another great song from the Disraeli Gears (1967) album released by Cream, this sounds insanely good. Very, very nice to hear. Some of the guitar work by Eric Clapton is very good as well. All in all, a Blues/Psychedelic/Jazz piece that is top-notch and fun to listen to. Really excellent music. It ends well.

White Room begins with some interesting high-pitched melodies and instrumental work over rolling drums. This sounds fantastic. It quickly launches into a terrific song that runs for five minutes in length. A great, great listening experience that is both joyous and unique in the history of music itself. All in all, this song is one of Cream’s most popular and iconic listens from their career, with some of Eric Clapton’s best and most sizzling guitar work throughout, utilising fuzz and wah-wah throughout. This is a very suspenseful listening experience that sounds absolutely like a winner. A freeform and beautiful tune with some great guitar work, the rhythm section more than makes up for the guitar virtuosity with some neat fills and melodic playing. A great listen throughout, this leads into a pleasant and rocking instrumental section to end the song with. Great, great and great. Eric Clapton’s guitar work is matched by thumping basslines and tremendous drumming by Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Excellent.

Sitting On Top Of The World is another classic from the Wheels Of Fire (1968) album release by Cream. It has layers of guitars and other instrumentation that sound outright fantastic. A really great piece of music, Jack Bruce plays some nimble bass guitar and sings exceptionally well over all of the music. This is about forgetting about a lover whilst one has business to do, basically. A cool tune, this is really sensationally sweet, awesome and chilled to listen to. A really great song that sounds very, very good. This is likely the sort of music you will wish to hear under the influence with some dark shades on to cover up your bloodshot eyes. Nonetheless, a really great listening experience that sounds cool to this very day. The guitar soloing by Eric Clapton is a real winner of a listening experience, and the musical melodies throughout are really killer. This wraps up with some visionary lyrics, sweet drumming and music that sounds absolutely gold. It finishes just before five minutes in length. Super cool, dudes.

Politician is a true classic of Cream. It is precisely about the nature and style of most politicians out there in the world today. With some awesome lyrics, fantastic guitar riffing and simply enjoyable drumming, this is an absolute winner of a song. A really cool tune with style and grace. “I support the left…although I’m leaning, leaning to the right…” is a fantastic and broadminded statement about the nature of politicians and political people in Democracy (and dictatorship as well). A sensationally awesome song with some minimal yet pretty guitar soloing by Eric Clapton. Absolutely wonderful and timeless music to listen to and enjoy, to this very day. A cool tune that concludes with the opening lyrics, just to remind us of the nature of powerful leaders in society. Great song, period. Wonderful.

Those Were The Days is a shorter piece of music with some keyboard-playing clock chimes and dirty guitars throughout matched perfectly with Psychedelic lyrics throughout. This is a short and sweet piece of music less than three minutes long. Nonetheless, this is energetic yet relaxing throughout and the music itself is youthful, different and refreshing listening to enjoy. Eric Clapton plays some fantastic guitar here, and he sounds absolutely precise and mind-blowing with his guitar leads. A sweet and joyous song that sounds absolutely fantastic. A great song about past reflections, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Born Under A Bad Sign is a song specifically for those down and out of their luck, set to music. In any case, this is a marvellous piece of music that is relatable on a very bad day. The music throughout this song is perfect irresistable and enjoyable, and sounds extremely awesome and fun to listen to. Eric Clapton’s guitar soloing throughout is absolutely fantastic, and he deserves credit on these songs for making them come alive. An upbeat and cool listen for those of you who haven’t had the best of days, this is super awesome and amazing. A great three-minute-long song that sounds great to this very day.

Deserted Cities Of The Heart is a ballad with acoustic guitars, crunchy electric guitars and some fresh and interesting sounds throughout. Cream again, sounds very, very good. Jack Bruce’s high and fluttering vocals are excellent, along with Eric Clapton’s punchy guitar work and Ginger Baker’s excellent drumming. There is a sweet musical breakdown with a string section present before the verses return nicely here. A very different and enjoyable tune with some great vocals in particular, this music will shine bright forever. A very 13th Floor Elevators vibe is present throughout, and the fuzzy guitar solo is wonderfully played by Eric Clapton, truly a wonderful guitar god in his own way. This is followed by rolling drumming and the return of the string section at hand. A real joy to listen to, this is another cream-of-the-crop listen by quite an underrated band in retrospect. It slows down right at the end with some crashing drums and vibrato vocals. Excellent.

Crossroads – Live is a very fantastic and very underrated song in the whole history of music. Eric Clapton plays some mean guitars and sings here, which is different. According to legend, Clapton himself did not initially sing in Cream due to his lack of confidence in his vocal work, which he needn’t have worried about. A really sweet and excellent listen based heavily on Blues Music which sounds absolutely legendary. Robert Johnson would be very proud of Cream for making this tune. A monumental listen that is simple but played very well and is deeply rooted in traditional Blues Music, updated for the 1960s with loud electric Rock guitars. The guitar solo section is amazing and showcases a very rare and sweet musical talent throughout. The other two members of Cream play so wonderfully as well, although the guitar soloing indicates that Eric Clapton is the main star of the show present. No doubt inspiring generations of guitar players after him, Clapton delivers some great and sizzlingly hot lead guitar work. Very, very good. A gorgeous tune that has attitude, musicianship and a very good listening experience throughout. It ends with some chaotic drumrolls and loud cheering on this recording. Great.

Anyone For Tennis is a simple late 1960s musical ballad with strings, acoustic guitar and bongo drums. This is a basic and yearning piece about the joys of playing tennis, provided that you enjoy the simple life and the game itself. Really cool and sweet, “Anyone for tennis? Wouldn’t that be nice…” indeed. Simple and pretty music that wraps rings around most musicians today. The 1960s in retrospect was a much simpler time in the world, before AI-driven internet-based technology took over. There is a great slide guitar solo and string interaction throughout that sounds cool. A very pretty song.

Badge is a muted and groovy tune that sounds a lot like a proto-1970s song. Eric Clapton sings very nicely on this song, and there is some pretty and delicate-sounding guitar and piano work throughout. A joyous and different song about simple things ongoing. There are some very Abbey Road Beatlesque guitar sounds throughout. To be totally fair, the latter Cream work was the sound of a band on the verge of breaking up for good and pursuing different musical directions as a result. Still, this is a great song to listen to. Regardless, a good effort although possibly not the best from this compilation. It ends just before three minutes have passed, and the compilation comes to a close.

This is a good compilation and listening experience, that to be fair, is not as sweet or as consistent a listening experience of Cream’s albums such as the legendary Fresh Cream (1966) or Disraeli Gears (1967) releases during the band’s fairly short time span. On the other hand, some of the tracks on this release have been frequently overlooked in retrospect and this may be worth it for you if you like that sort of thing. Should you listen to this album? It’s worth it if you are new to Cream but otherwise seek out their main albums instead for a more consistent listening experience. A decent compilation otherwise.

Fresher than a peppermint.

8/10