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Those Were the DaysCream

Released: August 9, 1968

Songwriter: Ginger Baker

Producer: Felix Pappalardi

When the city of Atlantis
Stood serene above the sea
Long time before our time
When the world was free
Those were the days

Golden cymbals flying
On ocarina sounds
Before wild Medusa's serpents
Gave birth to hell
Disguised as heaven

Those were the days (Yes, they were)
Those were the days
Those were their ways
Miracles everywhere-where are they now?
They're gone
Bold were their ways (Yes, they were)
Bold were their ways
Those were the days (Yes, they were)
Those were the days

Tie your painted shoes and dance
Blue daylight in your hair
Overhead a noiseless eagle
Fans a flame
Wonder everywhere

Those were the days (Yes, they were)
Those were the days
Those were their ways
Miracles everywhere-where are they now?
They're gone
Bold were their ways (Yes, they were)
Bold were their ways
Those were the days (Yes, they were)
Those were the days

Cream

The members of this power trio, formed in the autumn of 1966, were all veterans of the blues revival. Guitarist Eric Clapton was the same prodigy who revealed himself with the Yardbirds, and who had contributed to the legendary recording of Bluesbreakers with John Mayall. Drummer Peter “Ginger” Baker, skilled at many forms of percussion, had already played, in 1960, with the Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and in 1962 with Alexis Korner and the Graham Bond Organisation. Scottish bassist Jack Bruce had traveled some of the same roads as Baker, before joining Manfred Mann. Bruce and Clapton had met each other in the Powerhouse, a short-lived lineup put together by John Mayall, that also included Steve Winwood at the keyboard. With Cream these three virtuosos simply brought to fruition the experience that they developed in the London clubs, bringing to the rock concert stage long, electric, high volume improvisations.

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