Sunshine of Your Love

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin the psychedelic classic "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream from their iconic album Disraeli Gears. This track, released in 1967, has a wild backstory. Legend has it that bassist Jack Bruce cooked up the song’s unforgettable riff after catching a Jimi Hendrix show at London’s Saville Theatre in January 1967. Inspired by Hendrix’s raw energy, Bruce grabbed his double bass and started jamming, while poet Pete Brown, who often collaborated with Cream, stared out the window at the rising sun, penning lyrics about love and longing. The duo worked through the night, crafting a song that captures the gritty romance of life on the road—think late-night gigs and heated lover’s quarrels. Fun fact: Atlantic Records bigwig Ahmet Ertegun initially slammed the track as “psychedelic hogwash,” but he flipped his stance after soul legends Booker T. Jones and Otis Redding gave it their stamp of approval. Talk about a close call for a song that became Cream’s biggest hit and their only gold-selling single in the U.S.!

Here’s another juicy tidbit for you Zoo Freaks: the beat for “Sunshine of Your Love” got a makeover thanks to producer Tom Dowd. Jack Bruce once shared in a 2012 interview with Guitarist magazine that the band originally played the song with a straight-ahead rock vibe live. But Dowd, inspired by the rhythmic pulse of Native American drums in Western films, suggested Ginger Baker switch to a booming, deliberate cadence—think “boom boom boom.” That tweak gave the song its hypnotic swagger, making it a blueprint for hard rock and metal. Oh, and did you know Jimi Hendrix himself was a fan? He often jammed an instrumental version of the song during his 1968 and 1969 concerts, stretching it out with wild guitar riffs and slowing it to a dramatic crawl, as heard on live recordings like Valleys of Neptune. Even Frank Zappa got in on the action, mashing it up with Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” on his 1991 album The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life. This track’s influence is pure dynamite!

Now, let’s rewind and talk about how Cream, the world’s first supergroup, came to be. Formed in London in 1966, Cream was a powerhouse trio: Eric Clapton on guitar, Jack Bruce on bass and vocals, and Ginger Baker on drums. Clapton, already a blues guitar god from his stints with The Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, was itching to push boundaries beyond straight blues. Bruce, a classically trained musician with a jazz and blues pedigree, had played with everyone from The Graham Bond Organisation to Manfred Mann. Baker, a fiery drummer with a jazz background, brought relentless energy from his time with the Graham Bond Organisation, where he’d crossed paths with Bruce (and occasionally butted heads). The three joined forces to blend blues, jazz, and psychedelic rock, creating a sound that was raw, virtuosic, and totally fresh. Their name, “Cream,” was a nod to their status as the “cream of the crop” among British musicians. Despite their short two-year run, they churned out game-changing albums like Fresh Cream and Disraeli Gears, cementing their legend.

Sadly, Cream disbanded in 1968, and Jack Bruce passed away in 2014, but their music lives on. You can dive deeper into their world at the official Cream website, though it’s more of a historical hub than an active one. For social media, check out the Cream Facebook page, where fans share memories and rare photos, or follow Eric Clapton’s Instagram for updates on his ongoing career (he’s still touring!). On X, Clapton occasionally posts about his projects, though Cream-specific content is rare. For Ginger Baker, there’s a legacy Facebook page honoring his work. Jack Bruce’s estate runs a Facebook page and an X account (@jackbrucemusic), often sharing throwbacks like that 2023 post about Atlantic’s initial rejection of “Sunshine of Your Love.” Fans keep the flame alive at sites like Eric Clapton’s official website and the Cream Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks like you can geek out over setlists and vinyl pressings. There’s also Cream Records on Bandcamp, offering demos and reissues for diehards. So, crank up “Sunshine of Your Love” and let the good vibes roll!