Night Music: Cream, “Tales of Brave Ulysses”

10251Martin Sharp, the designer of the covers of Cream’s albums Disreali Gears and Wheels of Fire, died this week. There’s a nice overview of his psychedelic work here.

Which seems like a good reason to play another bit from Cream, from Disraeli Gears.

I was turning 11 I guess and it was my birthday and a friend’s mother asked what I wanted. I said, “I’d like the album Disraeli Gears,” and she said, in a Monty Python old biddy’s voice I hear it now, “oh, my, an album. That’s a little too expensive,” apparently thinking an “album” was a box of records. My friend set her straight and that’s what they gave me. Good present.

My good buddy Jimmy A. and I loved Jack Bruce’s singing on this one, which was written by Clapton and, surprise, Martin Sharp. The only problem is it isn’t long enough.

Here’s a video of the making of the song, with interviews with Clapton and Sharp.

One thought on “Night Music: Cream, “Tales of Brave Ulysses”

  1. such a great band. i saw them in early ’69, with the Dead as the opening act.

    and, this solo is killer.

    i am also a fan of NSU from the first album, and Deserted Cities of the Heart, as well as the previously noted Badge.

    in fact, i do a parody at performing arts camp every summer, and, well, i ain’t Jack Bruce (i don’t even think i am Steve Moyer on bass) by a long shot, but check this out…http://youtu.be/y2ZeUlmyrDo

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