Sunshine of Your Love (Live 2005)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the iconic "Sunshine of Your Love (Live 2005)" by Cream from their reunion album Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6 2005, and the Zoo Freaks are surely grooving to its timeless riff. This track, originally from 1967’s Disraeli Gears, came alive again during Cream’s historic 2005 reunion at the Royal Albert Hall. One juicy piece of trivia is that the song’s unforgettable bass riff was born when Jack Bruce, after catching a Jimi Hendrix concert at London’s Saville Theatre, went home and hammered out the groove on his double bass. Lyricist Pete Brown, staring out the window as dawn broke, penned the poetic lines, capturing the vibe of love and sunrise in an all-night creative jam. The live 2005 version, recorded on May 3, has a special charm—an alternate take on the DVD shows Eric Clapton jumping into a verse too early, with Bruce flashing a forgiving smile, a moment fans cherish for its raw, human warmth.

Another tidbit comes from the song’s creation process. Drummer Ginger Baker claimed he suggested slowing the tempo and crafted the distinctive tom-tom rhythm, inspired by Native American drum patterns, though Bruce and engineer Tom Dowd later disputed this, saying Baker’s story grew over time. During the 2005 shows, Rolling Stone noted the performance’s “powerful, mounting suspense,” with Clapton, Bruce, and Baker locking into a droning crescendo that felt almost too short. The song’s legacy is massive—it ranked #65 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs list in 2004 and #19 on Q Magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks in 2005. Jimi Hendrix, unaware Cream dedicated the song to him, often played blazing instrumental versions as a tribute, with a standout performance by The Experience on January 4, 1969.

Cream, the British rock supergroup, formed in London in 1966, blending blues, psychedelia, and hard rock. The trio—bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker—came from successful bands like The Graham Bond Organisation and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Bruce, the primary songwriter, and Clapton, already a guitar prodigy, met through their shared blues roots, while Baker’s jazz-influenced drumming added a unique edge. They debuted with Fresh Cream in 1966, but Disraeli Gears in 1967, featuring “Sunshine of Your Love,” catapulted them to global fame. Known for their virtuosic live performances, Cream sold over 15 million records in just three years before tensions led to their 1968 breakup, marked by farewell shows at the Royal Albert Hall. Their 2005 reunion, driven by Clapton’s urging, was a triumphant return, though Baker and Bruce’s passing in 2019 and 2014 left Clapton as the sole surviving member.

You can dive deeper into Cream’s world through their official site at cream2005.com, which covers their 2005 reunion, or check out Eric Clapton’s active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Jack Bruce’s estate maintains a tribute page on Facebook, while Ginger Baker’s legacy lives on via fan posts on Facebook. Fans, or Zoo Freaks looking to connect, can join the vibrant Cream Fans Facebook Group to share stories and rare clips. For more, the fan-run Cream Online site offers a treasure trove of discographies, photos, and history, perfect for any diehard Cream enthusiast.