''Those Were the Days'' is a retrospective compilation of music recorded by the British

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band

Cream Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...

, released on 23 September 1997. It comprises four

compact discs The compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. In August 1982, the first compact disc was manufactured. It was then released in October ...

and includes almost every studio track released during the band's active lifetime, with the exception of the original "Passing The Time" from ''

Wheels of Fire ''Wheels of Fire'' is the third album by the British rock band Cream. It was released in the US in June 1968 as a two-disc vinyl LP, with one disc recorded in the studio and the other recorded live. It was released in the UK on August 9. It ...

'', and all but three tracks from the live material recorded in 1968 and released on ''Wheels of Fire'', ''

Goodbye Goodbye, Good bye, or Good-bye is a parting phrase and may refer to: Film * ''Goodbye'' (1918 film), a British drama directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Goodbye'' (1995 film) (''Tot Ziens!''), a Dutch film directed by Heddy Honigmann * ''Goodbye'' ...

'', and the two '' Live Cream'' volumes of 1970 and 1972. The title is taken from the song written by

Ginger Baker Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and African rhythms and pi ...

and Mike Taylor, released on ''Wheels of Fire'' in 1968.

Track listing

Disc one: In the Studio

Non-album single (1966) :1. "

Wrapping Paper Gift wrapping is the act of enclosing a gift in some sort of material. Wrapping paper is a kind of paper designed for gift wrapping. An alternative to gift wrapping is using a gift box or bag. A wrapped or boxed gift may be held closed with ri ...

" (

Jack Bruce John Symon Asher Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish bassist, singer-songwriter, musician and composer. He gained popularity as the primary lead vocalist and ‍bassist ‍of British rock band Cream. After the group disband ...

, Pete Brown) – 2:22 ''

Fresh Cream ''Fresh Cream'' is the debut studio album by the British rock band Cream. The album was released in the UK on 9 December 1966, as the first LP on the Reaction Records label, owned by producer Robert Stigwood. The UK album was released in both ...

'' (1966) :2. "

I Feel Free "I Feel Free" is a song first recorded by the British rock band Cream. The lyrics were written by Pete Brown, with the music by Jack Bruce. The song showcases the band's musical diversity, effectively combining blues rock with psychedelic pop. ...

" (Bruce, Brown) – 2:51 :3. "N.S.U." (Bruce) – 2:43 :4. "Sleepy Time Time" (Bruce,

Janet Godfrey Janet Godfrey is a British songwriter, known for being the first wife and occasional writing partner of bassist Jack Bruce. Early career Godfrey was the secretary of the fan club for the Graham Bond Organisation, a band that had started in 196 ...

) – 4:20 :5. "Dreaming" (Bruce) – 1:58 :6. "Sweet Wine" ( Ginger Baker, Godfrey) – 3:17 :7. "

Spoonful "Spoonful" is a blues song written by Willie Dixon and first recorded in 1960 by Howlin' Wolf. Called "a stark and haunting work", it is one of Dixon's best known and most interpreted songs. Etta James and Harvey Fuqua had a pop and R&B reco ...

" ( Willie Dixon) – 6:30 :8. "Cat's Squirrel" (

Traditional A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

, arr. by Baker, Bruce, Eric Clapton) – 3:03 :9. "Four Until Late" (

Robert Johnson Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generati ...

, arr. by Clapton) – 2:07 :10. " Rollin' and Tumblin'" (

Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 April 30, 1983), known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago ...

) – 4:42 :11. "

I'm So Glad "I'm So Glad" is a Delta blues-style song originally recorded by American musician Skip James in 1931. Blues historian Gerard Herzhaft notes "This spiritual probably dates back to the beginning of the blues". Blues writer Stephen Calt describes ...

" (

Skip James Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James (June 9, 1902October 3, 1969) was an American Delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter. AllMusic stated: "This emotional, lyrical performer was a talented blues guitarist and arranger with an impressive ...

) – 3:57 :12. "

Toad Toad is a common name for certain frogs, especially of the family Bufonidae, that are characterized by dry, leathery skin, short legs, and large bumps covering the parotoid glands. A distinction between frogs and toads is not made in scient ...

" (Baker) – 5:11 Studio

outtake An outtake is a portion of a work (usually a film or music recording) that is removed in the editing process and not included in the work's final, publicly released version. In the digital era, significant outtakes have been appended to CD and D ...

(1967) :13. " Lawdy Mama" ''version 1 '' (Traditional, arr. by Clapton) – 2:00 ''

Disraeli Gears ''Disraeli Gears'' is the second studio album by the British rock band Cream. It was released in November 1967 and reached No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart. Search "Cream" in ''Name of Artist'', and No. 1 on the Swedish and Finnish charts. The alb ...

'' (1967) :14. "

Strange Brew ''Strange Brew'' (also known as ''The Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie: Strange Brew'') is a 1983 Canadian comedy film starring the popular '' SCTV'' characters Bob and Doug McKenzie, portrayed by Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis, who also served ...

" (Clapton,

Gail Collins Gail Collins (born November 25, 1945) is an American journalist, op-ed columnist and author, most recognized for her work with ''The New York Times''.

Felix Pappalardi Felix A. Pappalardi Jr. (December 30, 1939 – April 17, 1983) was an American music producer, songwriter, vocalist, and bassist. He is best known as the bassist and co-lead vocalist of the band Mountain, whose song "Mississippi Queen" peaked at ...

) – 2:46 :15. " Sunshine of Your Love" (Bruce, Brown, Clapton) – 4:10 :16. "World of Pain" (Collins, Pappalardi) – 3:02 :17. " Dance the Night Away" (Bruce, Brown) – 3:34 :18. "Blue Condition" (Baker) – 3:29 :19. " Tales of Brave Ulysses" (Clapton,

Martin Sharp Martin Ritchie Sharp (21 January 1942 – 1 December 2013) was an Australian artist, cartoonist, songwriter and film-maker. Career Sharp was born in Bellevue Hill, New South Wales in 1942, and educated at Cranbrook private school, where one ...

) – 2:46 :20. " SWLABR" (Bruce, Brown) – 2:31 :21. " We're Going Wrong" (Bruce) – 3:26 :22. "

Outside Woman Blues "Outside Woman Blues" is a blues song originally recorded by Blind Joe Reynolds in 1929. It is one of few known recordings made by Reynolds, who used "Woman Blues" in several song titles, including "Cold Woman Blues", "Goose Hill Woman Blues", and ...

" ( Blind Joe Reynolds, arr. by Clapton) – 2:24 :23. "Take It Back" (Bruce, Brown) – 3:05 :24. "Mother's Lament" (Traditional, arr. Baker, Bruce, Clapton) – 1:47

Disc two: In the Studio

Studio disc of ''

'' (1968) :1. " White Room" (Bruce, Brown) – 4:58 :2. "

Sitting on Top of the World "Sitting on Top of the World" (also "Sittin' on Top of the World") is a country blues song written by Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon. They were core members of the Mississippi Sheiks, who first recorded it in 1930. Vinson claimed to have c ...

" (

Walter Vinson Walter Vinson (February 2, 1901 – April 22, 1975) was an American Memphis blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a member of the Mississippi Sheiks, worked with Bo Chatmon and his brothers, and co-wrote the blues standard "Sitting o ...

, Lonnie Chatmon; arr.

Chester Burnett Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910January 10, 1976), better known by his stage name Howlin' Wolf, was an American blues singer and guitarist. He is regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians of all time. Over a four-decade car ...

) – 4:58 :3. "Passing the Time" ''alternate version '' (Baker, Mike Taylor) – 5:53 :4. "As You Said" (Bruce, Brown) – 4:20 :5. "Pressed Rat and Warthog" (Baker, Taylor) – 3:13 :6. "Politician" (Bruce, Brown) – 4:12 :7. "Those Were the Days" (Baker, Taylor) – 2:53 :8. "

Born Under a Bad Sign ''Born Under a Bad Sign'' is the second compilation album by American blues musician Albert King, released in August 1967 by Stax Records. It features eleven electric blues songs that were recorded from March 1966 to June 1967, throughout fiv ...

" (

Booker T. Jones Booker Taliaferro Jones Jr. (born November 12, 1944) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and arranger, best known as the frontman of the band Booker T. & the M.G.'s. He has also worked in the studios with many well-known art ...

, William Bell) – 3:09 :9. "Deserted Cities of the Heart" (Bruce, Brown) – 3:38 Non-album single (1968) :10. " Anyone for Tennis" (''

The Savage Seven ''The Savage Seven'' is a 1968 outlaw biker exploitation film directed by Richard Rush, who had directed the previous year's '' Hells Angels on Wheels''. Rush agreed to direct ''The Savage Seven'' in exchange for the opportunity to make the psyc ...

'' theme) (Clapton, Sharp) – 2:38 Studio tracks from ''

'' (1969) :11. "

Badge A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and ...

" (Clapton, George Harrison) – 2:44 :12. "Doing That Scrapyard Thing" (Bruce, Brown) – 3:14 :13. "What a Bringdown" (Baker) – 3:58 Miscellaneous tracks :14. "The Coffee Song" (Tony Colton, Ray Smith) – 2:44 :15. "Lawdy Mama" ''version 2'' (Traditional, arr. Clapton) – 2:46 :16. "You Make Me Feel" ''

demo Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to: Music and film *Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release * ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes * ''Demo'' (Deafhea ...

version'' (Bruce, Brown) – 2:39 :17. "We're Going Wrong" ''demo version'' (Bruce) – 3:49 :18. "Hey Now Princess" ''demo version'' (Bruce, Brown) – 3:31 :19. "SWLABR" ''demo version'' (Bruce, Brown) – 4:30 :20. "Weird of Hermiston" ''demo version'' (Bruce, Brown) – 3:12 :21. "The Clearout" ''demo version'' (Bruce, Brown) – 3:58 :22. " Falstaff Beer Commercial" (Baker, Bruce, Clapton) – 1:00

Disc three: Live

:1. "N.S.U." ''alternate version'' (Bruce) – 12:38 ::Recorded 9 March 1968 at the

Winterland Ballroom Winterland Ballroom (more commonly known as Winterland Arena or simply Winterland) was an ice skating rink and music venue in San Francisco, California. The arena was located at the corner of Post Street and Steiner Street. It was converted for ...

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

:2. "Sleepy Time Time" (Bruce, Godfrey) – 6:48 ::Recorded 9 March 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California :3. "Rollin' and Tumblin'" (Waters) – 6:29 ::Recorded 7 March 1968 at

Fillmore West The Fillmore West was a historic rock and roll music venue in San Francisco, California, US which became famous under the direction of concert promoter Bill Graham from 1968 to 1971. Named after The Fillmore at the intersection of Fillmore Str ...

, San Francisco, California :4. " Crossroads" (Johnson, arr. Clapton) – 4:24 ::Recorded 10 March 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California :5. "Spoonful" (Dixon) – 16:39 ::Recorded 10 March 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California :6. "Tales of Brave Ulysses" (Clapton, Sharp) – 4:43 ::Recorded 10 March 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California :7. "Sunshine of Your Love" (Bruce, Brown, Clapton) – 7:25 ::Recorded 9 March 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California :8. "Sweet Wine" (Baker, Godfrey) – 15:08 ::Recorded 10 March 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California

Disc four: Live

:1. "White Room" (Bruce, Brown) – 6:21 ::Recorded 4 October 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena,

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...

:2. "Politician" (Bruce, Brown) – 5:08 ::Recorded 4 October 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California :3. "I'm So Glad" (James) – 9:32 ::Recorded 19 October 1968 at The Forum, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California :4. "Sitting on Top of the World" (Vinson, Chatmon; arr. Burnett) – 4:55 ::Recorded 19 October 1968 at The Forum, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California :5. " Steppin' Out" (

James Bracken James C. Bracken (May 23, 1909 – February 20, 1972) was an American songwriter and the co-founder and co-owner of Vee-Jay Records with his wife Vivian and her brother, Calvin Carter. Life Bracken was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Kansas C ...

) – 13:29 ::Recorded 10 March 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California :6. "Traintime" (Bruce) – 7:02 ::Recorded 8 March 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California :7. "Toad" ''extended version'' (Baker) – 17:35 ::Recorded 7–8 March 1968 at Fillmore West, San Francisco, California :8. "Deserted Cities of the Heart" (Bruce, Brown) – 4:14 ::Recorded 4 October 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California :9. "Sunshine of Your Love" (Bruce, Brown, Clapton) – 4:44 ::Recorded May 1968 at CBS Studios, Los Angeles for the Glen Campbell Show

Release notes

: Previously unreleased : Originally released on ''Wheels of Fire'' (1968) : Originally released on ''Goodbye'' (1969) : Originally released on '' Live Cream'' (1970) : Originally released on '' Live Cream Volume II'' (1972) : Originally released on ''Fresh Cream'' (Polydor UK reissue, 1974)

Omitted from this collection

*"Passing the Time" – studio version from ''Wheels of Fire'' (1968) ::Replaced by an alternate version (1:22 min longer) that "features material edited from the original release" *"Toad" – live version from ''Wheels of Fire'' (1968) – Recorded 7 March 1968 at Filmore West, San Francisco, California ::Replaced by an extended version (1:20 min longer), incorporating material recorded on 8 March 1968, which includes an edited in extended group jam, after the opening riffs and before the original guitar/bass/drums lead into the solo *"Politician" – live version from ''Goodbye'' (1969) – Recorded 19 October 1968 at The Forum, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California ::Omitted in favour of the version (1:11 min shorter) released on ''Live Cream Volume II'', recorded on 4 October 1968 *"N.S.U." – live version from ''Live Cream'' (1970) – Recorded 10 March 1968 at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California ::Replaced by a longer alternative version (2:23 min longer) recorded on 9 March 1968

References

External links

A track-by-track analysis of ''Those Were the Days''
(via the

Wayback Machine The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web founded by the Internet Archive, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, California. Created in 1996 and launched to the public in 2001, it allows the user to go "back in time" and see ...

) {{Authority control Cream (band) compilation albums 1997 compilation albums Polydor Records compilation albums Acid rock compilation albums