I Feel Free by Cream

Album: Fresh Cream (1966)

Charted: 11

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Songfacts®:

This was the second single from Cream, who despite the rather modest reception to their first single, "Wrapping Paper," were almost guaranteed success in England based on what their members had done with other groups. Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce had been in The Graham Bond Organization, and Eric Clapton was in The Yardbirds.
British poet Pete Brown helped the band write the lyrics. Brown, who was a beat poet, had worked with Baker and Bruce before. He also wrote lyrics to "Sunshine Of Your Love" and "White Room."
This was one of the first times Eric Clapton used what he called the "Woman Tone." He turned the amp all the way up, boosted the treble, cut the bass, and played a sustained guitar note.
Eric Clapton played a borrowed Les Paul guitar on this track, as his Beano one had been stolen during album rehearsals. It was plugged into a new, 100-watt Marshall amp.
Al Kooper's Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards says right there on page 82 that Cream's American debut was a ten day stage show starting March 25, 1967, called "Murray the K's Easter Rock Extravaganza." He recounts an exchange between himself and Cream member Ginger Baker, asking "What do you think of America so far?" Baker replied, "How the f--k should I know? I've only been 'ere thirty-five f--king minutes, 'aven't I?" Kooper reports that their relationship went uphill from there: "By the last night of the show, we were throwing eggs and whipped cream at each other, that old American rock 'n' roll ritual that denotes mutual respect."

Comments: 19

Steven from The Hague, NetherlandsThe woman tone is the other way around. Treble all the way down on the guitar.
Mr.incense from No Where You Wanna Belove beat club and this song presented by beat club
Dafigz from Portland, OrI find this site to be a great source of music trivia. The included anecdotes by various insiders fill in the blanks. I'll be back. Peace. @daFigz
Joe In Flagstaff from Flagstaff, AzI saw the term 'wax to watch' and suspect the writer was unsure of its meaning. The very earliest recordings were made on hard, wax cylinders. Some DJs in the 60s started referring to good new songs a being a 'wax to watch' indicating their suspicion that the song may become a hit.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyFrom the 'For What It's Worth' Dept.
#88 on 8/8/88
Belinda Carlisle's covered version of "I Feel Free" was in position #88 on Billboard's Top 100 chart on August 8th, 1988...
Nate from New York, NyI'm pretty sure woman tone is when he turns the tone buttons on his guitar all the way down.
Joe from Grants Pass, OrExellent (echo chamber - in the basement Yeah!! ) Love this song ...
Nady from Adelaide, Australiabom bom bom bom bom bom i feel free, laaaaa la la la la la laaaa. Let's face it people, it's genious.
Bam from London, CanadaIt was also covered by The Amboy Dukes.
Dave from Scottsdale, AzI remember in 1967, all the rock magazines- Hit Parader, Billboard were writing about Cream and how great they were. I had never heard them until this song showed up on KRIZ as a "wax to watch" or something like that. I expected Cream to be some great guitar band but this song wasn't that at all. Then later in the year, I heard "Sunshine Of Your Love" which I thought was the greatest song I ever heard along with "Whiter Shade of Pale".
Great song-"dance floor is like the sea, ceiling is the sky; you're the sun and when you shine on me, I feel free". I didn't know what that felt like as a 12 year old but I wanted to find out!
Elmar from Ratingen, GermanyIt's the composition and the arrangement that count.
One of the finest rock songs ever.
Mandy from Calgaryfantastic*
Andrew from Richmond, VaFoo Fighters did a cover of this song on their 2005 demo disc called, Five Sogns and A Cover. It sounds very much like the original song, its just a bit more hard rock. Dave Grohl does the BubUbUbuBu in the beginning and Taylor Hawkins says, "I Feel Free" while Chris Shifflet does the Ahhhhh's. Taylor sings the "walk down the street and no ones there" part. Chris Shifflet does all the solos for the song.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScIt's definitely a love song. Great lyrics, btw.
Nicole from Nottellin, OrNothing of substance to add, I just love this song. I love the beginning, the "ba ba ba ba-ba bum" and then it changes to these dreamy notes and then it changes again to a rock song. Great stuff!
Emily from Winnipeg, United StatesEric Clapton is a beautiful person.
John from Millersville, MdOf course it's a love song. "You're all I want to know". Very love song.
Zack from Hinesburg, Vtwow i cant beleive that only one comment is posted about this song. One of my favorites, especially when i changes tempos in the middle. Not a bad solo either.
Dustin from Black Mountain, NcThis song sounds like a love song to me

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