Wheels Of Fire

This review is for the Japanese SHM SACD Cream Wheels Of Fire. The sound is cleaner than the red line/standard CD. This release has the classic versions of White Room and Crossroads (live). I knew that going into the game. This release also provides you with a decent live recording of Sunshine of Your Love, and the single version of Anyone For Tennis which were not on the original release. You get a live send up of Ginger Baker’s drum solo tune “Toad” (which was on the the original release). So overall, this SACD provides the most”bang for your buck” by having a sampling of tunes from Cream’s first three albums. These are circa 1968 recordings-so expectation should be adjusted. It sounds fine, improved clarity in the SACD from standard cd. Things are sharper, more separated, less muddy. You can more clearly hear Felix Pappalardi’s viola on White Room and Deserted Cities OfThe Heart. Also for those new to this band you get - Born Under A Bad Sign overdriven guitarcover of Albert King Tune; Sitting On Top Of The World- Howlin Wolf Cover; and the Pete Brown poignant, timeless blues lyrics of Politician with several intertwining Clapton solos. Hearing this release caused me to dig in and listen to Pressed Ray and Wart Hog and As You Said. imhop the least accessible, least commercial, least covered tunes on the recording, (aside from the rehash Graham Bond eraTraintime- still hard for me to get excited about). This release is root stock in the evolution of classic rock . . .

Such a great album. There will never be another band quite like Cream.

Big Cream fan. I do have several of their albums on vinyl but wanted the convenience of a CD occasionally. This is a SACD and the sound is great. I play SACDs through my 5.1 surround sound system. While vinyl records are still my primary music source through my Marantz 2235 amp, I do enjoy the convenience of CDs. SACDs are more expensive and more difficult to find but they are a great source of music.

I liked the sound on this SACD and I liked the additional live at the fillmore material.

Gift for grandson - really liked it

My favorite Cream with Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton... Rock-on...Dig it!!!

This review is not commenting on the album itself, which is obviously five stars, only on the sound of the Universal Japan SHM reissue. The sound clarity is better than previous releases but the overall mastering level is similar to US remasters and slightly lower than I had hoped.

The Cream at the top of their game. Originally a 2 record set now on one sacd. The mastering and sound quality is just amazing and has added on live tracks from the Filmore. Wow just Wow