‘Heavenly Cream: An Acoustic Tribute’ Album, Featuring Ginger Baker, Coming
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Ginger Baker (Photo via Quarto Valley Records)
One of classic rock’s legacy bands will be the subject of a new album. Heavenly Cream: An Acoustic Tribute to Cream, traveling the brief course of the iconic band’s musical life—back to the raw, stripped-down magic of the creativity of Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, and their collaborator and occasional lyricist, Pete Brown—will be released via Quarto Valley Records on November 3, 2023. The album includes the late Baker’s drumming on four of the tracks along with contributions from such acclaimed performers as Paul Rodgers, Joe Bonamassa, Nathan East and more. Bernie Marsden, the veteran guitarist associated with Whitesnake and other bands, who died on Aug. 25, plays on 12 of the songs including “Sunshine of Your Love,” which has been released in advance.
From the Sept. 15 announcement: Formed in 1966, Cream quickly became known for their explosive impromptu style – high-volume blues jamming, extended solos and flashy instrumental showmanship. Widely thought of as the first supergroup, Cream paved the way for many other music acts.
Bernie Marsden (Photo via Quarto Valley Records)
The Cream tribute album, produced and mixed by Rob Cass, honors the band’s legacy with a 15-track tribute album and features Pete Brown and Ginger Baker plus an impressive roster of renowned musicians who knew, or were inspired by the iconic supergroup including Bonamassa, Deborah Bonham, Jack Bruce’s son Malcolm Bruce, Peter Bullick, James, Marsden, Maggie Bell, Cass, Clem Clempson, Rodgers and Bobby Rush.
The album includes such songs as “Born Under a Bad Sign,” “Tales of Brave Ulysses,” and “Badge.” See the complete track listing below.
While recording this tribute album, Brown shared, “It took me a long time before I would attempt those songs. I grew up in Jack’s shadow, like Malcolm did as well, you know. I’m not trying to be Jack. No one will ever be Jack.” He added, “Eventually I felt, well, they’re my songs as well and eventually, I grew into those songs that Jack and I wrote.” Brown wrote the lyrics for “Sunshine of Your Love,” White Room,” and others.
The new recording of “Sunshine of Your Love” features Baker on drums, Bonamassa on vocals and guitar, Malcom Bruce on piano and Marsden on vocals and guitar, with Neil Murray on bass and Abass Dodoo on percussion. The classic rock favorite, co-written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown was included on Cream’s best-selling second album Disraeli Gears in 1967. With elements of hard rock and psychedelia, Cream bassist Bruce developed a distinctive riff for the tune which became his signature bass riff. An edited version of the song was released in the U.S. that December and became the band’s first and highest charting American single, peaking at #5.
More information about the album appears below the Amazon links.
Years in the making, Quarto Valley Records’ executive Mike Carden initially approached Brown, his long-time colleague and friend in 2017 about a different project and out of that meeting came the concept of doing a recording—a retrospective of Cream music. Brown had remained friends with Ginger Baker over the years and brought him on board. Following suit came Malcom Bruce (Jack’s son), and the gathering of the talent on the album began to fall into place. Baker died in 2019.
On recording the album, Malcom Bruce said, “I feel very much that in my own small way I’m carrying on a tradition that’s incredibly unique in the musical canon as it were.”
Heavenly Cream: An Acoustic Tribute to Cream Track Listing
1. I Feel Free (Ft: Deborah Bonham, Bernie Marsden and Malcolm Bruce)
2. White Room (Ft: Pete Brown, Malcolm Bruce and Clem Clempson)
3. Theme For an Imaginary Western (Ft: Pete Brown, Malcolm Bruce, Clem Clempson)
4. We’re Going Wrong (Ft: Malcolm Bruce and Clem Clempson)
5. Sunshine of Your Love (Ft: Ginger Baker, Joe Bonamassa, Malcolm Bruce, Bernie Marsden)
6. Deserted Cities of the Heart (Ft: Joe Bonamassa, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce)
7. Sweet Wine (Ft: Ginger Baker, Nathan James, Pee Wee Ellis, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce)
8. Tales of Brave Ulysses (Ft: Ginger Baker, Nathan James, Pee Wee Ellis Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce)
9. Crossroads (Ft: Ginger Baker, Bernie Marsden, Joe Bonamassa, Malcolm Bruce)
10. Take It Back (Ft: Maggie Bell, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce)
11. Spoonful (Ft: Bobby Rush, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce)
12. Sitting on Top of the World (Feat: Bobby Rush, Maggie Bell, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce)
13. Badge (Ft: Deborah Bonham, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce)
14. Politician (Ft: Pete Brown, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce)
15. Born Under a Bad Sign (Ft: Paul Rodgers, Bernie Marsden, Malcolm Bruce)
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationAll but 5 of those tunes were co-written by Jack Bruce. It’s too bad he didn’t get more of the recognition from the press or general public.