Cream may have been a short-lived band, but this supergroup created a timeless track that became one of the most recognizable and enduring anthems of the classic rock era.
Formed in 1966, the trio consisted of Eric Clapton from The Yardbirds, Ginger Baker and vocalist Jack Bruce from Blues Incorporated and the Graham Bond Organisation. Together, they are widely considered as the first official supergroup in rock music.
“I had always liked Ginger”, Clapton shared in a 1997 Guitar World interview, “Ginger had come to see me play with the Bluesbreakers. After the gig, he drove me back to London in his Rover. I was very impressed with his car and driving. He was telling me that he wanted to start a band, and I had been thinking about it too.”
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The union ultimately solidified its place as one of rock’s most influential and celebrated supergroups.
Furthermore, the band has frequently been named among the greatest supergroups of all time, alongside legendary all-star ensembles like Bad Company, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Traveling Wilburys and others.
With Cream introducing a different kind of lineup, fans were intrigued by its unique sound, which blended jazz fusion, heavy blues rock and psychedelia.
It’s easy to see why their 1967 track “Sunshine of Your Love” became the band’s signature anthem.
Part of their sophomore album, Disraeli Gears, the single became Cream’s highest-charting song, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining on the chart for 26 weeks.
Written by the trio alongside lyricist Pete Brown, “Sunshine of Your Love” was born out of an all-night songwriting session.
By the next morning, Bruce had a eureka moment. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix’s London performance, the Cream member wanted to capture the guitarist’s energy and heavy playing style.
Picking up his acoustic guitar, he played the now-iconic riff while Brown wrote down the opening line, “just like in one of those really cheesy biopics.”
“Pete and I had been working all night trying to come up with some songs,” the bassist and vocalist said, as mentioned in Louder Sound’s report. “I just picked up my double bass and looked out the window, and the sun was coming up. And I just started playing the riff of ‘Sunshine of Your Love.’”
The unexpected moment sparked the song’s signature melody, with Clapton adding the chorus section, which Bruce later described as a “really nice turnaround part.”
Unfortunately, after releasing iconic hits like “White Room,” “Crossroads” and “Badge,” along with four studio albums, the band announced its breakup in 1968. Its final album, Goodbye, was released in 1969 as a post-breakup farewell record.
Related: ’60s Rock Band, Disbanded After Two Years, Ranked ‘Best Supergroup’ of All Time