Cream - Wheels of Fire
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Free Music Notes for Wheels of Fire
Free Music Review: Amazing Album...Harsh Remaster
Hit: 4 Stars
Cream's best album combines studio and live material so you get the best of both. There are lots of reviews here and at allmusic and other places, I'm sure, that will go into detail about just what makes this album great. When I review something here, I am usually inclined to discuss the sound quality of particular classic rock releases in their various incarnations.
This is another case of the label's remaster actually sounding worse than the original release. It's got too much boost in the mid-frequency spectrum which causes a distinct lack of clarity on vocals and other details. In terms of loudness and compression, this one actually does a good job not brick walling everything to make it distorted like so many remasters tend to do. So, you have the good and the bad...but you can always choose to have only the good....
How, you say? First, if you can afford it, go for a used copy of the DCC gold disc version of this mastered by Steve Hoffman. It is the best version of this album on CD, period. The gold disc part really has nothing to do with that...it's the excellent and meticulous mastering by Mr. Hoffman that makes this shine. However, you'll pay well over $50 for one of these.
Your second choice would be a used copy of the original release on Polydor (amazon lists this as the 1990 version). This was done by Dennis Drake and sounds really good, too, and you can find it here in the marketplace for under $15 (just make sure to ask the seller if it's the original release in the wide or fatboy case with the silver discs). If you don't believe me, buy one of each and have your own shootout and find out for yourself.
Free Music Review: Earthy blues rock from the Cream of the crop
Hit: 4 Stars
While most blues/Clapton enthusiasts are sure to give this double CD a 5-star rating, I refrain from doing so only because Cream isn't amongst my absolute favourite bands. Sure, I recognise this album's musical worth, as ground-breaking and influential as it was for its time, and I enjoy the material contained within, but as for being a classic, it just doesn't make the grade for me.Cream were renowned for their punchy blues-rock anthems, and this their third offering contains the excellent 'White Room', their interpretation of 'Born Under A Bad Sign' as well as their signature blues tune 'Politician'. The first CD, where the aforementioned tracks appear, was recorded in the studio, while the second CD contains lengthy blues jams recorded live at the Fillmore East. Depending on your preference, either one or both CDs may tickle your fancy. Many musicians revere the Live recording, as it gives full scope to each of the threesome's awesome musical prowess, as they ! stretch improvisations to the outer limits. This may prove too long and 'boring' for some, who may indeed prefer the shorter, more accessible tunes found on the first CD. As a whole, the album showcases the powertrio at the height of their powers. For those wishing to obtain a more concise overview of Cream's music, any one of their "Best of"... collections is recommended. Those in a more adventurous mood will love "Wheels Of Fire".
Free Music Review: Brilliant Playing, So So Recording
Hit: 4 Stars
Two disk set, one studio/one live, that showcase one of the first "Supergroups". Three virtuosos, Clapton, Bruce and Baker flaunt their respective talents on all songs. The selection opens with the classic, "White Room", one of Cream penned hits. A brilliant cover of "Sitting On Top of the World" allows each member to demonstrate their chops. "Passing the Time" is a melodic tune with strings and light percussion during the verse, that segues into am uptempo chorus. "Pressed Rat and Warthog" is a trippy Baker spoken tune. Bruce's ripping "Politician" with it's catchy riff is a wonderfully heavy classic. "Those Were the Days" is a brilliant song with unusual harmonies through out. The studio album was assisted (produced and various instruments) by Felix Pappalardi, of Mountain fame. I was a little disturbed to hear how the limitations of sound recording technology of the time were not well corrected on this release. None the less, a series of hits that define this group appear on the studio disk, and the live disk showcases the chemistry and energy this band exhibited.Free Music Review: Top Ten
Hit: 4 Stars
This album may not be "THE BEST" album of the era,but it certainly ranks up there with the top ten.Spoonfull is one of the most underappreciated rock and roll songs of our time.Free Music Review: Wheels of Fire: Cream
Hit: 4 Stars
Music is timeless, but the jewel case the CD came in was all smashed up.