Search - Cream :: Disraeli Gears

For hardcore fans only

C. S. Junker | Burien, WA USA | 09/28/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Disraeli Gears" is one of the best rock albums. However, this two-disc "expanded edition" offers very little in the way of previously unreleased material.



What's on it? First, naturally, is the original album. Disc one is filled out with a take of "Lawdy Mama" (previously issued on "Live Cream" and the "Those Were the Days" boxed set); a previously unreleased take of "Blue Condition" with Clapton singing lead, and five demo songs, all of which appear on the box set. Disc Two features the mono version of the original album, along with mono versions of "Lawdy Mama" and the alternate version of "Blue Condition", and adds nine selections from the BBC Recordings (in mono), all of which appear on the "BBC Sessions" disc.



If you own the box set and the "BBC Sessions", all you'll get by purchasing this edition is the mono mix of "Disraeli Gears", and mono and stereo versions of the alternate "Blue Condition." Oh, and you get a nice booklet along with some snazzy new photos. Hard-core fans probably have the previously issued material, making this a rather pricey investment. Casual fans will be satisfied with the far less spendy original album.



OK, so I bought it. Yes, I'm one of those hard-core Cream fans who has to have every note they played. I'm actually interested in listening to the mono mix. But most people don't need to go that far. The most recent remaster of the single-disc original is all you really need."

Quintessential Cream!

highway_star | Hallandale, Florida United States | 10/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Released in 1967, "Disraeli Gears" was musically more advanced than Cream's debut "Fresh Cream" released a year earlier and in keeping with the times, very 60's psychedelic. The album was full of excellent songs and included the hits "Strange Brew", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Tales Of Brave Ulysses" as well as other superb cuts such as "Swlabr", "Outside Woman Blues", "Dance The Night Away", and "Take It Back". This deluxe edition of "Disraeli Gears" is a notch above the original cd release in that it includes both the stereo and mono versions of the cd (originally only available on Mobil Fidelity Sound Labs Ultra Disc II (a gold disc which is now a collector's piece). But you also get Out-takes such as "Lawdy Mama" ("Strange Brew" with different lyrics), "Blue Condition" (an alternate version never before available, with Eric Clapton doing the vocals) and demo versions of "We;re Going Wrong", "Hey Now Princess" (Clapton's guitar licks are amazing on this track), "Swlabr" (Jack Bruce's bass guitar really stands out on this track), "Weird Of Hermiston" and "The Clearout" (an instrumental jam). For those who never bought "Cream's BBC Sessions" cd, you'll get a sampling of how good the band sounded "live", raw and powerful is the best way to describe the band in concert. You get "Strange Brew", "Tales Of Brave Ulysses", "We're Going Wrong", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Outside Women Blues", "Take It Back", "Politician", "Swlabr" and "Steppin' Out". The enclosed booklet is informative and also includes lots of photos of the band members. Casual Cream fans may want to stick with the less expensive single disc version of "Disraeli Gears" but for serious collectior's (like myself) this 2-cd "Deluxe Edition" is a must have. Highly Recommended!"

It's Still Gear!

Charles Agee | Tahlequah, Oklahoma United States | 10/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I understand the other reviewers' feelings that this deluxe edition was somehow lacking; even I can grant only four stars in my rating. Having said that, however, I still am enjoying it. I already owned the Mobile Fidelity version (now out of print) with both stereo and mono mixes but, being obsessive, I wanted to hear this remastering. Even though I thought nothing of the way stereo recordings were balanced back in 1967, they sometimes sound odd to me and I find myself now often enjoying mono mixes more (see my review of The Hollies' As, Bs and EPs). I also agree with the other reviewers that perhaps the demos, outtakes and BBC tracks are superfluous (I own BBC SESSIONS as well) IF one has the box set, but for those who don't, they are quite welcome, particularly (in my opinion) the demo version of "SWLABR" and the BBC take of "Tales of Brave Ulysses," which I find terrific. I still can recommend that one should own DISRAELI GEARS, but should finances prevent purchasing this deluxe version, get the single disc. You shan't go wrong!"