The band made their unofficial debut at the Twisted Wheel on 29 July 1966, with the official debut two nights later at the Sixth Annual Windsor Jazz and Blues Festival. Being new and with few original songs to their credit, they performed blues reworkings that thrilled the large crowd and…
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By July 1966, Eric Clapton ‘s career with the Yardbirds and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers had earned him a reputation as one of the premier blues guitarists in Britain. Clapton, however, found the environment of Mayall’s band confining and sought to expand his playing in a new band. In…
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The band’s debut album, Fresh Cream , was recorded and released in 1966. The album reached number six in the UK charts and number 39 in the US. It was evenly split between self-penned originals and blues covers, including “Four Until Late”, ” Rollin’ and Tumblin’ “, “Spoonful”, ” I’m…
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Each was impressed with the other’s playing abilities, prompting Baker to ask Clapton to join his new, then-unnamed group. Clapton immediately agreed, on the condition that Baker hire Bruce, who had joined Manfred Mann since leaving Graham Bond, as the group’s bassist; according to Clapton, Baker was so surprised at…
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