In July 1968, “Polydor” label released “Wheels of Fire”, the third Cream album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Felix Pappalardi. The album artwork was by Martin Sharp and the photography was by Jim Marshall. It was also released as two single long-players, Wheels of Fire – In the Studio, and Wheels of Fire – Live at the Fillmore. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Wheels of Fire” at number 205 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album was certified Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and Platinum in US by “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- Eric Clapton – vocals, guitar
- Jack Bruce – lead and backing vocals, bass, cello, harmonica, calliope, acoustic guitar, recorder
- Ginger Baker– drums, percussion, bells, glockenspiel, timpani, spoken word
- Felix Pappalardi– viola, bells, organ, trumpet, tonette
- Tom Dowd– recording, engineer
- Adrian Barber– recording, engineer
- Bill Halverson – recording, engineer
- Martin Sharp – illustration
- Stanislaw Zagorski – design
Track listing:
- White Room – Jack Bruce, Pete Brown
- Sitting on Top of the World – Walter Vinson, Lonnie Chatmon; Chester Burnett
- Passing the Time – Ginger Baker, Mike Taylor
- As You Said – Jack Bruce, Pete Brown
- Pressed Rat and Warthog – Ginger Baker, Mick Taylor
- Politician – Jack Bruce, Pete Brown
- Those Were the Days – Ginger Baker, Mick Taylor
- Born Under a Bad Sign – Booker T. Jones, William Bell
- Deserted Cities of the Heart – Jack Bruce, Pete Brown