Strange Brew (song)

"Strange Brew" is a 1967 song by British supergroup Cream.^[2] Released in late May of that year as the lead single from their album Disraeli Gears, this song features Eric Clapton on lead vocals rather than the usual lead by Jack Bruce. The single peaked at number 17 on the UK charts in June of that same year. The UK single release was the last Cream single to be released by Reaction Records.

Background

After the Murray "the K" Show Cream recorded a song called "Lawdy Mama" with Ahmet Ertegun at Atlantic Studios in New York. When Cream was working on the sessions for Disraeli Gears, producer Felix Pappalardi took the tape of "Lawdy Mama" and with help from his wife Gail Collins transformed the song into "Strange Brew" which according to Eric Clapton "created a pop song without completely destroying the original groove."^[3]

Chart history

The song "Strange Brew" first appeared on the UK Singles Chart on June 10, 1967 at #43. It hit its highest position on July 15 at #17, and then left the charts on August 5 at #35 having spent a total of 9 weeks on the chart.^[4]

Personnel

• Eric Clapton - lead vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar
• Jack Bruce - bass guitar
• Ginger Baker - drums

References