Wrapping Paper
"Wrapping Paper" is a song by the British rock group The Cream. Bassist and singer Jack Bruce composed the music, with lyrics by Pete Brown. In 1966, Reaction Records released the song on their debut single, with "Cat's Squirrel" as the B-side. It reached number 34 on the British pop singles chart in 1966. The song was later included on the compilation albums The Very Best of Cream (1995) and Those Were the Days (1997).
"Wrapping Paper" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sweden picture sleeve | ||||
Single by The Cream | ||||
B-side | "Cat's Squirrel" | |||
Released | October 1966[1] | |||
Recorded | August 1966[2] | |||
Studio | Rayik Studio, Chalk Farm | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 2:25 | |||
Label | Reaction[1] | |||
Composer(s) | Jack Bruce | |||
Lyricist(s) | Pete Brown | |||
Producer(s) | Robert Stigwood | |||
Cream UK singles chronology | ||||
|
Background
In contrast with the hard blues rock of other early Cream songs such as "N.S.U." and the psychedelic pop-style of "I Feel Free," it has a distinctive slow-jazzy style. The song reflects the band's iconoclastic persona, their desire to confuse their audience, their interest in the absurdist art movement of the time, and refusal to fit into accepted and orthodox musical styles and categories.
The lyrics to "Wrapping Paper" talk about a man who lost his love and finds himself constantly looking at a picture of himself and his love and keeps wishing to go back "to the house on the shore." The song's lyrics share common similarities with the songs "Dreaming" and "The Coffee Song".
Personnel
- Jack Bruce – lead vocals, bass guitar, piano, cello
- Eric Clapton – backing vocals, guitar
- Ginger Baker – drums, percussion
Charts
Year | Single | Position | |
---|---|---|---|
UK Top 40 | |||
October 1966 |
"Wrapping Paper" / "Cat's Squirrel" |
34[3] |
References
- Strong, Martin Charles (2002). The Great Rock Discography. The National Academies. p. 323. ISBN 978-1-84195-312-0.
- Clapton, Eric (2007). Clapton: The Autobiography. New York City: Broadway Books. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-7679-2536-5.
- "Cream – Singles". Official Charts. Retrieved 25 February 2020.