Disraeli Gears

A hugely influential '60s supergroup, Cream came together in 1966 and released four albums before disbanding in 1969. The trio of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce made an unusual sound: a fusion of throwback blues, wah-wah–laced psychedelia, proto jam-rock, and serious technical chops. A perfect band for their times, they found themselves selling out shows at hot spots like Fillmore West and Winterland Ballroom and soon became an integral part of the soundtrack for the fast-growing hippie/counterculture movement. Recorded in New York and released just after the Summer of Love in late 1967, Disraeli Gears was a tremendous smash in both America and the band's native U.K., spawning classic hits like "Sunshine of Your Love," "Tales of Brave Ulysses," and "Strange Brew." (Deeper album cuts like "Take It Back" and "Outside Woman Blues" are fantastic too.) Without a doubt one of the quintessential albums of the '60s, this remains as impressive today as it was upon its release.