I’ve purchased, received, and installed my new phono cartridge, and I can now listen to records without the very real possibility of damaging them.

And, the first record onto the platter is Cream’s 1967 sophomore release, Disreali Gears, a masterful work of psychedelic blues that dominated rock and roll in the late 60s (see also: The Doors, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, Steppenwolf, etc). There’s a whole mess of classic tracks on this record, including the still-ubiquitous Sunshine of Your Love, as well as mournful rocker World of Pain, bluesy opener Strange Brew, and psychedelic epic Tales of Brave Ulysses. Also of note is the ultra-psych SWLABR, an acronym for “She Walks Like a Bearded Rainbow” (this was 1967, remember). There’s also the blues traditionalism of Take It Back, and the psych-humorist pieces Blue Condition and A Mother’s Lament which close each side.

But what Cream incredibly special was the group itself. Ginger Baker pounds on the toms relentlessly like he’s scoring a psychedelic George of the Jungle soundtrack, Eric Clapton’s guitar tear through amp fuzz, and Jack Bruce’s bass bumps and bounces like a body builder dancing. Jack Bruce’s vocals roar through the mix with a ferocity that Paul McCartney only achieved on his mose violent tracks–and Bruce does it with ease.

Unfortunately, this record was in a milk crate of my father’s for many years, collecting dust, which now leaves me with a copy of a great record filled with skips, as is the bane of this medium. If I come across a copy in good shape, chances are it will be coming home with me.