Those Were the Days cover

Those Were the Days

Cream · 1997

305 min · 63 tracks · hard rock

Psychedelic blues rock fuses with intricate melodies, showcasing the raw talent of one of rock's first supergroups.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Wrapping Paper Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
  • →
    Sunshine of Your Love — This iconic track features a memorable riff and lyrics that encapsulate the psychedelic vibe of the era, demonstrating Cream's unique blend of blues and rock.
  • →
    White Room — With its haunting melodies and evocative lyrics, this song showcases the band's experimental side while remaining a staple in their catalog.
  • →
    Crossroads — This electrifying cover exemplifies Eric Clapton's guitar prowess and became a live favorite, highlighting Cream's improvisational skills.
  • →
    I Feel Free — 'I Feel Free' stands out with its upbeat energy and lyrical themes of liberation, representing the band's innovative approach to songwriting.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

57 /100
Foothills
Higher than 6% of albums we've rated

This compilation captures Cream's essence but lacks the cohesive flow of a studio album.

What we noticed

  • Several tracks showcase extended instrumental sections, highlighting the band's improvisational skills and musicianship.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
4/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic journey with emotional peaks
  • for late-night exploration
  • nostalgic vibes for reminiscing
  • ear-catching live performance energy
  • brief tracks for quick enjoyment

Maybe skip if you

  • seeking instant gratification
  • prefer standalone tracks only

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Deep Cut — A retrospective that showcases classic tracks but is not a primary entry point.
Themes
1960s psychedelic blues· Delta blues crossroads· white-room imagery
Career context
Released in 1997, 'Those Were the Days' captures Cream's classic era, compiling tracks from their groundbreaking albums during the late 1960s. This collection emerges after the band's initial breakup in 1968 and their subsequent reunion for a series of performances in the mid-90s, marking a nostalgic return to their roots.
New to Cream? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Wrapping Paper Start here 2:24
  • 2 I Feel Free 2:53
  • 3 N.S.U. 2:47
  • 4 Sleepy Time Time 4:22
  • 5 Dreaming 2:01
  • 6 Sweet Wine 3:20
  • 7 Spoonful 6:33
  • 8 Cat’s Squirrel 3:05
  • 9 Four Until Late 2:10
  • 10 Rollin’ and Tumblin’ 4:43
  • 11 I’m So Glad 3:59
  • 12 Toad 5:10
  • 13 Lawdy Mama (version 1) 2:01
  • 14 Strange Brew 2:49
  • 15 Sunshine of Your Love 4:13
  • 16 World of Pain 3:05
  • 17 Dance the Night Away 3:36
  • 18 Blue Condition 3:32
  • 19 Tales of Brave Ulysses 2:49
  • 20 SWLABR 2:34
  • 21 We’re Going Wrong 3:29
  • 22 Outside Woman Blues 2:27
  • 23 Take It Back 3:08
  • 24 Mother’s Lament 1:46

Disc 2

  • 1 White Room 5:00
  • 2 Sitting on Top of the World 5:01
  • 3 Passing the Time (alternate version) 5:58
  • 4 As You Said 4:23
  • 5 Pressed Rat and Warthog 3:18
  • 6 Politician 4:16
  • 7 Those Were the Days 2:57
  • 8 Born Under a Bad Sign 3:13
  • 9 Deserted Cities of the Heart 3:41
  • 10 Anyone for Tennis 2:40
  • 11 Badge 2:47
  • 12 Doing That Scrapyard Thing 3:18
  • 13 What a Bringdown 4:01
  • 14 The Coffee Song 2:45
  • 15 Lawdy Mama (version 2) 2:49
  • 16 You Make Me Feel (demo version) 2:42
  • 17 We’re Going Wrong (demo version) 3:49
  • 18 Hey Now Princess (demo version) 3:33
  • 19 Swlabr (demo version) 4:33
  • 20 Weird of Hermiston (demo version) 3:14
  • 21 The Clearout (demo version) 4:03
  • 22 Falstaff Beer Commercial 1:02

Disc 3

  • 1 N.S.U. 12:38
  • 2 Sleepy Time Time 6:48
  • 3 Rollin’ and Tumblin’ 6:28
  • 4 Crossroads 4:24
  • 5 Spoonful 16:39
  • 6 Tales of Brave Ulysses 4:43
  • 7 Sunshine of Your Love 7:24
  • 8 Sweet Wine 15:08

Disc 4

  • 1 White Room 6:21
  • 2 Politician 5:10
  • 3 I’m So Glad 9:32
  • 4 Sitting on Top of the World 4:55
  • 5 Stepping Out 13:29
  • 6 Traintime 7:02
  • 7 Toad 17:38
  • 8 Deserted Cities of the Heart 4:16
  • 9 Sunshine of Your Love 4:40

What to play next

Wheels of Fire
Listen next

Wheels of Fire

1968

Continues the psychedelic blues rock with expanded instrumentation and complexity.
Best of Cream
Go back to

Best of Cream

1969

Introduces key tracks and themes that lead into the deeper cuts of 'Those Were the Days'.
Full Cream discography Where to start with Cream Artists like Cream Which Cream albums to start with
hard rock heavy metal psychedelic rock

If this landed

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Turns electric blues riffs into heavy, loose-limbed rock, with the same emphasis on instrumental interplay.

Ssssh

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Ten Years After

Shares late-60s British blues-rock, nimble guitar work, and space for extended band jams.

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata