“Crossroads” Between Blues and Rock

Cream reached a wide audience and experienced its storied success in America with its Wheels of Fire album in 1968. Cream’s use of technology including the wah-wah pedal, fuzz effect pedal, and new advancements in amplifiers were the main reasons they were able to bridge the gap between blues and rock. Cream drew inspiration from American blues artists like Robert Johnson and incorporated them into the rapidly popularizing genre of rock. By using elements including blue notes, the 12-bar blues form, mimicking the slide guitar’s bending notes with new electric guitar technology, and adding prominent backbeats, Cream forged its storied success in the American music market.

Cream At the Grande Ballroom, Detroit 1967 http://www.ca-dreaming.com/Tunage/Cream/