Hard Rock
The lyrics to “Sunshine of Your Love” were written by Pete Brown, who was a beat poet friend of group members Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. (Brown also wrote lyrics for their songs “White Room” and “I Feel Free.”) Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce composed the music. When interviewed for the Dutch magazine Heaven and asked which of the songs expressed his style the best, Bruce claimed “Sunshine of Your Love.” Bruce said, “It’s based on a bass riff. And when you enter a music shop this is the song that kids always play to try out a guitar.” That was certainly true at the time. “Sunshine of Your Love” was a favorite of Clapton as well.
Is “Sunshine of Your Love” hard rock, blues rock, or psychedelia? With elements of pop? Does it matter? The song was originally on Cream’s second album Disraeli Gears, and it was released as a single in 1968. It went on to become Cream’s first and highest charting American single, going to #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #6 on Cashbox Top Singles, #25 on the U.K. Singles Chart, #3 in Canada, #22 in Australia, and #17 in The Netherlands. The song earned an RIAA gold record and is on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” Q Magazine has it on its list of “100 Greatest Guitar Tracker Ever!” VH1 lists it in their “Top 100 Hard Rock Songs.”
Cream originated in London, England, and consisted of Jack Bruce (bass, vocals), Ginger Baker (drums, and Eric Clapton (guitar, vocals). They were active as a group from 1966-1968. Each went on to successful careers with other musicians in many genres.
