Although I've got all these tracks several times over I made a point of buying a copy of this in order to check out the most recent re-masters of the tracks from the first two Cream albums. The reason, as I have explained in several other reviews, is the unsatisfactory stereo engineering or sound-stage of most of those tracks. I have gone into detail of both early albums in the review of 'The Very Best Of Cream', and again gone into detail about 'Disraeli Gears' in reviews of that album and it's Deluxe Edition.
Well what I have to report is that this latest re-mastering of the material from 'Fresh Cream' and 'Disraeli Gears' is very largely the same as it was before and that the sound stage has been left the way it was. The drums, as in all the previous masterings, are on the extreme right and simply don't relate to the guitar on the extreme left; instead of being contrapuntally in opposition they are rather an irritating 'distraction'.
On the other hand they seem to have done some real work on 'Politician' (from the third studio album) not only making it much heavier but transforming the sound of the guitars, which used to sound thin and brittle but now have the true Clapton sound. The other tracks from this third album have also been improved but 'Politician' gains most - and it needed to because before it was a cacophony of unpleasant sounding overdubbed guitars.

It's hard to know what to say about Cream that hasn't already been said a million times, folks. What this very good compilation does is to remind us just how varied they were in their approach, ability and style. Having just lived through the non-stop roaring of Fall Out Boy live (yes, folks, you cannot judge 'em if you don't listen to 'em), I was almost begging for something like Wrapping Paper by the end, so numb were my ears and every other part of my anatomy that hadn't been actually cauterised by the wall of noise. And Cream were not exactly shrinking violets live, either, with Marshall stacks about the size of a small semi in Ruislip and secret weapon Ginge in the background. What is missing nowadays is the light and shade, the variety, the colour, the little details that make music of any hue lasting and even meaningful.

Almost every track here is worth a good listen and some of them are legendary. The live Crossroads is quite rightly thought of by many as the best 4 minutes ever in world rock, and shows what made Clapton so fantastic - not his speed, not his tone, not his style but his TIMING. Ginger's drumming in White Room is just out of this world, as are Jack's vocals, bass and songwriting on We're going Wrong. Anyone lucky enough to have been at the Albert Hall last year will know that this song was an absolute standout. De blooze is represented by Clapton's Strange Brew, nice and understated, Albert King's Born Under a Bad Sign and Crossroads (Robert Johnson, of course, just in case you're from The Crab Nebula). There is also a fair collection of oddities too - Wrapping Paper (odd, to say the least), Anyone for Tennis and scraggs from the end of their career. Classics like I Feel Free (anyone care to rewrite that solo?), Badge and Tales of Brave Ulysses still sound magical, and God, how we all gibbered with delight at Clapton's fills in SWLABR, which still inspire.

I just love Cream. I saw them as many times as I could in the sixties and once in the 05s. They were the most fantastic band on stage and on record, and I just cannot imagine what chemistry boughyt Messrs Clapton, Bruce and Baker together at all in the first place. All this happened in not much more than two years with a crazy tourinmg schedule too - today, Salisbury, next month, America. If I had nothing else on my desert island to listen to except Crossroads, White Room and We're going Wrong, I would be quite happy. I think that Ginger was and is the best rock crossover drummer ever, anywhere.

Now, if you haven't already done so, buy Chris Welch's fabulous book CREAM (Amazon have it), a real labour of love beautifully produced, and the Albert Hall concert from 2005. That should keep you busy for a weekend or two. Pray for rain or that the lawn mower explodes. Nothing should disturb Cream in full cry.

This album contains digitally-remastered favourite tracks by Cream.
What a unique band they were. At home both with pop songs and playing the blues. Great rhythms and always so cool. Most of the tracks have aged well and don???t sound dated in their new digital versions.
There???s Jack Bruce???s powerful bass lines and Ginger Baker???s great stormy drumming and, of course, Eric Clapton, the living legend and probably the best British guitarist ever.
One surprising omission is Spoonful, which was always a highlight in their live act.
There have been many Cream compilations in the past. This is probably the best one so far

A great summary of their work (once Wrapping Paper has ended!). Although noted for their live performances they produced some excellent short songs, the best of the crop are all here. Their individual performances can clearly be picked out - in my opinion better than the live recordings. Although I have all of their albums, bought during Cream's heyday, this has been a great compilation to keep in the glove compartment for long journeys.

This album contains digitally-remastered favourite tracks by Cream.
What a unique band they were. At home both with pop songs and playing the blues. Great rhythms and always so cool. Most of the tracks have aged well and don't sound dated in their new digital versions.
There's Jack Bruce's powerful bass lines and Ginger Baker's great stormy drumming and, of course, Eric Clapton, the living legend and probably the best British guitarist ever.
One surprising omission is Spoonful, which was always a highlight in their live act.
There have been many Cream compilations in the past. This is probably the best one so far.
Reccomended