Disraeli Gears [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered, Deluxe Edition]

Cream | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 1967
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered, Deluxe Edition
• Label: Polydor / Umgd
• ASIN: B0002XDOBC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,688 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Cream’s breakthrough sophomore LP is where blues rock, psychedelia, and pop all came crashing together. The result was one of the commercial touchstones of late ‘60s rock. And, while it hasn’t aged as well as many other benchmarks of the era (owing arguably to the strong and competing wills of the band’s trio of virtuosos, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce, this double-disc deluxe reissue captures one of rock’s trailblazing supergroups in all its excessive glory. On the first disc, the 11 tracks that made up the original record (highlighted by the hits "Sunshine of Your Love," "Strange Brew," "SWLABR," and "Tales of Brave Ulysses") are fleshed out with two outtakes and five demos. Disc Two repeats the entire album and the two demos in mono, and tacks on nine-track performances culled from three 1967 and ’68 BBC sessions. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For hardcore fans only, September 28, 2004

By 

C. S. Junker "soul_survivor" (Burien, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disraeli Gears (Audio CD)

"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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Still Gear!, October 6, 2004

By 

Charles Agee "tsalichooch" (Tahlequah, Oklahoma United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Disraeli Gears (Audio CD)

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!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe Their Cream Of The Crop, April 1, 2005

By 

Original Mixed Up-Kid "jg" (New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disraeli Gears (Audio CD)

There is a better sound to my ears on the deluxe stereo version/I have also the remaster and box set...again, if you are a collector you will appreciate the artwork,somewhat better sound..indeed not much here in rarities but it's Cream and a cover like this comes along rarely...as rare as this group and it's recorded output..too bad..