Archive for the ‘Cream MFSL’ Category

Cream released their double album Wheels of Fire in July of 1968. Disc One was entitled "Wheels of Fire - In the Studio" and Disc Two was called "Wheels of Fire - Live at the Fillmore." This album, which was Cream's third studio album, was the first double album in the world to hit Platinum status. The sleeve was designed by Australian cartoonist Martin Sharp, who won the New York Art Directors Prize for Best Album Design in 1969 for it. In 2003 the album was ranked Number 203 on Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all time. the Cream MFSL CD remaster recording captured the most true sense of the brilliance of this band.

CREAM Goodbye MFSL Sealed 24 Karat Gold CD BONUS CD    US $94.99

Cream Goodbye on MFSL GOLD promo copy unplayed]    US $48.99

Cream Disraeli Gears on MFSL    US $139.99

There are some interesting things about this album. First of all, disc one was recorded on the Haeco-CSG system, which aimed to make stereo recordings that were fully compatible with mono listening equipment. The downside of this is that some of the stereo instrumental sounds were blurred. However, with our current technology it is possible to reverse the effects of this process and get a clear recording of the album as it was meant to be heard. There were a few slip ups when producing the actual record, that collectors find very exciting. Some of the pressings of the record include an alternative version of "Passing the Time". This longer version is extended by 67 seconds. There is a longer version of this song on "Those Were the Days," but that extended version was only 8 seconds longer. Here's a trivia answer for you: the original U.S. pressings of "Wheels of Fire" incorrectly listed the running time of "Deserted Cities of the Heart" at 4 minutes, 36 seconds.

Disc Two is the live disc recorded in San Francisco, CA. It seems that the two recordings on each side flow seamlessly together and that they were all recorded at the same performance. Interestingly enough, though, the recording of Toad was actually taken from a completely different show! The first 3 tracks were recorded at Winterland, and the "toad" recording was done at the old Fillmore auditorium. Actually, Cream never performed at Fillmore West, though their album would have you believe otherwise! Thanks to mixing and recording technicians, fans can listen to the album and imagine they were done in the same place at the same time.