S.O.D. "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream

6/24/2015     This 1968 Psychedelic/hard rock tune began as a bass riff composed by Cream bassist Jack Bruce.  After the band attended a 1967 Jimi Hendrix Experience concert at the Saville Theatre in London, Bruce was so inspired that he went home and came up with the riff as a dedication to Hendrix.  They then proceeded to write a song around the riff.  After an all-night session, Bruce began to play it on the upright bass while lyricist Pete Brown was staring out the window. At that moment he came up with the first line, "It's getting near dawn when lights close their tired eyes".  Clapton is responsible for writing the chorus.  The song came together when they put the emphasis on the downbeat-beats 1 & 3 rather than the upbeat-2 & 4 that most songs use.  

     It did well on the charts and has been ranked on a number of lists including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of the 500 songs that helped shape rock-and-roll.  Cream was active from 1966–1968  with two reunions.  Their chord sequences, especially A-C-G was a precursor for Led Zeppelin and heavy metal by which countless songs were made popular.  All three members are still alive and currently exploring different pathways of music.