Fresh Cream Expanded Version Due In January

January 2017 sees the deluxe edition release of Fresh Cream, the debut album by British, blues boom, power trio, Cream. The 3-CD + 1 Blu-Ray Audio disc come housed in a gatefold sleeve within a […]

January 2017 sees the deluxe edition release of Fresh Cream, the debut album by British, blues boom, power trio, Cream. The 3-CD + 1 Blu-Ray Audio disc come housed in a gatefold sleeve within a rigid slipcase and includes a 64-page hardback book, featuring new sleeve notes by Rolling Stone writer, David Fricke. The set comprises various alternate and new stereo mixes plus several, previously unreleased BBC sessions. A special 6LP 180g Vinyl edition of Fresh Cream will also be released in April 2017.

Originally released in 1966, at the height of the UK blues bloom, Fresh Cream showcased the talents of three of the then music scene’s brightest lights: Eric Clapton fresh from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers; drummer Ginger Baker straight from the Graham Bond Organisation, and versatile bassist and musician, Jack Bruce who, at the time, had just left Manfred Mann. Collectively the three had decided to give up their roles as much sought after sidemen to form their own super group.

Coming together as Cream in the early summer of 1966, the trio released Fresh Cream in December of the same year. Highlights include the harmonica work-out and the call and response on Muddy Waters’ Rollin’ and Tumblin’, the Willie Dixon classic, Spoonful, as well as the self-penned Sleepy Time Time, which gave Clapton a free hand to wake up all and sundry. Their rousing treatment of the traditional standard, Cat’s Squirrel alerted listeners to just how well Clapton, Baker and Bruce musically complemented each other.

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Track listing:

Disc One:

FRESH CREAM Mono Album

1.       N.S.U. 2:44

2.       SLEEPY TIME TIME  4:20

3.        DREAMING  2:00

4.        SWEET WINE  3:19

5.        SPOONFUL  6:30

6.        CAT’S SQUIRREL  3:01

7.        FOUR UNTIL LATE  2:09

8.        ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’  4:46

9.        I’M SO GLAD  3:59

10.        TOAD  5:14

Session recording – mono mix:

11.        THE COFFEE SONG  2:56

The Mono Singles:

12.        WRAPPING PAPER  2:29

13.        CAT’S SQUIRREL  3:01

A-side & B-side of Cream’s 1st UK single, Reaction 591007, released 7 October 1966.

14:        I FEEL FREE  2:49

15:        N.S.U.  2:45

A-side & B-side of Cream’s 2nd UK single, Reaction 591011, released 9 December 1966.

16.        SPOONFUL Part I  2:26

17.        SPOONFUL Part II  2:31

A-side & B-side of Cream’s 3rd  US single, ATCO 45-6522, released September 1967.

The Mono French EPs:

18.        WRAPPING PAPER alternate mix  2:25

19.        SWEET WINE alternate mix  3:18

20.        I’M SO GLAD  3:57

21.        CAT’S SQUIRREL alternate master  3:01

FRENCH EP, Polydor 27 791, released November 1966.

22.        I FEEL FREE  alternate mix  2:48

23.        ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’  alternate master  1:50

24.        N.S.U.  2:44

25.        FOUR UNTIL LATE  2:06

FRENCH EP, Polydor 27 798, released November 1966.

Disc Two:

FRESH CREAM Stereo Album

1.        N.S.U. 2:45

2.        SLEEPY TIME TIME  4:23

3.        DREAMING  2:01

4.        SWEET WINE  3:20

5.        SPOONFUL  6:31

6.        CAT’S SQUIRREL  3:08

7.        FOUR UNTIL LATE  2:08

8.        ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’  4:43

9.        I’M SO GLAD  3:59

10.        TOAD  5:12

Session recordings – stereo mixes:

11.        I FEEL FREE  2:52

12.        WRAPPING PAPER  2:25

13.        THE COFFEE SONG  2:48

New stereo mixes:

14.        I’M SO GLAD (NEW STEREO MIX)  3:59

15.        N.S.U. (NEW STEREO MIX)  2:48

16.        WRAPPING PAPER (NEW STEREO MIX)  2:43

17.        THE COFFEE SONG (NEW STEREO MIX)  3:06

18.        ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’ (FIRST VERSION – NEW STEREO MIX)  4:53

19.        SPOONFUL (FIRST VERSION – NEW STEREO MIX)  5:57

20.        TOAD (NEW STEREO MIX)  5:12

All new stereo mixes previously unreleased.

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Disc Three:

FRESH CREAM Early versions, outtakes and alternate mixes:

1.          THE COFFEE SONG early version  2:54

2.          YOU MAKE ME FEEL session outtake  2:41

3.          BEAUTY QUEEN session outtake  2:38

4.          WRAPPING PAPER  early version  1:05

5.          CAT’S SQUIRREL early version  2:27

6.          I FEEL FREE early version  3:08

7.          I FEEL FREE mono mix with no lead vocal 2:51

8.          I FEEL FREE alternate mono mix  2:50

9.          SWEET WINE early version  3:07

10.        ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’ early version  4:35

11.        TOAD early version  4:19

All tracks previously unreleased except “You Make Me Feel” which was first released

on the box set      Those Where The Days, Polydor 314 539 000-2, in September 1997.

THE BBC SESSIONS (November 1966 – January 1967):

BBC Light Programme “Saturday Club” session

Recorded at the Playhouse Theatre, London, 8th November 1966:

12.        SWEET WINE          3:28

13.        ERIC CLAPTON INTERVIEW  0:54

14.        WRAPPING PAPER  2:31

15.        ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’  3:04

16.        SLEEPY TIME TIME  3:16  previously unreleased

17.        STEPPIN’ OUT  1:50

BBC Home Service “Guitar Club” session

Recorded at BBC Studio 2, Aeolian Hall, London, 28th November 1966:

18.        CROSSROADS       1:55

19.        STEPPIN’ OUT  2:34  previously unreleased

BBC World Service “R & B Club” session

Recorded at BBC Maida Vale Studio 4, London, 9th December 1966:

20.        CAT’S SQUIRREL  3:43

21.        TRAINTIME  2:56

22.        I’M SO GLAD  4:24

23.        LAWDY MAMA  1:54

BBC Light Programme “Saturday Club” session

Recorded at the Playhouse Theatre, London, 10th January 1967:

24.        ERIC CLAPTON INTERVIEW 2  0:48

25.        I FEEL FREE  2:55

26.        N.S.U.  2:57

27.        FOUR UNTIL LATE  1:54

Disc Four (Blu-Ray Audio Disc)

FRESH CREAM US Stereo Album in 24/96 Hi Resolution Audio:

1.        I FEEL FREE  2:52

2.        N.S.U. 2:45

3.        SLEEPY TIME TIME  4:23

4.        DREAMING  2:01

5.        SWEET WINE  3:19

6.        CAT’S SQUIRREL  3:08

7.        FOUR UNTIL LATE  2:08

8.        ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’  4:43

9.        I’M SO GLAD  3:59

10.        TOAD  5:12

Stereo bonus tracks:

11.        SPOONFUL  6:32

12.        WRAPPING PAPER  2:25

13.        THE COFFEE SONG  2:49

FRESH CREAM US Mono Album in 24/96 Hi Resolution Audio:

14.        I FEEL FREE  2:48

15.        N.S.U. 2:44

16.        SLEEPY TIME TIME  4:20

17.        DREAMING  2:00

18.        SWEET WINE  3:19

19.        CAT’S SQUIRREL  3:00

20.        FOUR UNTIL LATE  2:08

21.        ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’  4:45

22.        I’M SO GLAD  3:58

23.        TOAD  5:13

Mono bonus tracks:

24.        SPOONFUL  6:33

25.        WRAPPING PAPER  2:28

26.        THE COFFEE SONG  2:54

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