Wheels of Fire

1968 Polydor / ATCO 9 tracks

Produced by Felix Pappalardi

Polydor / ATCO Blues RockRockBluesR&BPop
78%
Authorship
Songwriter

Eric Clapton wrote 7 of 9 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 7 / 9 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Eric Clapton carries a lyricist or composer credit.

78%
7 trackswritten by Eric Clapton 2 tracksoutside writers
Eric Clapton's roles on this album

Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist78%
Composer78%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

9
Tracks
8
Lyricists
1
Producers
1968
Released

Wheels of Fire is Cream's third album and their first double LP, released in August 1968 with one disc of studio recordings and one of live performances. The studio disc features some of Cream's most polished and ambitious work: 'White Room,' written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown, became one of the band's signature songs, while 'Politician' and 'Those Were the Days' reflect Bruce and Brown's songwriting partnership at its most focused. Clapton wrote no originals on the studio disc, contributing as performer and guitarist while Bruce and Baker's internal conflicts were intensifying behind the scenes. The live disc, recorded at the Fillmore West and Winterland in San Francisco, captures the trio's improvisational power, particularly on an extended reading of Robert Johnson's 'Crossroads,' that had made Cream a touring phenomenon. Despite the band's fractures, Wheels of Fire reached number one in the US, becoming the first platinum double album in history.

Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
White Room
Jack BrucePete Brown Jack BrucePete Brown Felix Pappalardi Eric Clapton (Guitar, Lead Vocals)Jack Bruce (Bass, Lead Vocals)Ginger Baker (Drums)
2
Sitting on Top of the World
Walter VinsonLonnie Chatmon Walter VinsonLonnie Chatmon Felix Pappalardi Eric Clapton (Guitar, Lead Vocals)Jack Bruce (Bass, Lead Vocals)Ginger Baker (Drums)
3
Passing the Time
Ginger BakerMike Taylor Ginger BakerMike Taylor Felix Pappalardi Eric Clapton (Guitar, Lead Vocals)Jack Bruce (Bass, Lead Vocals)Ginger Baker (Drums)
4
As You Said
Jack BrucePete Brown Jack BrucePete Brown Felix Pappalardi Eric Clapton (Guitar, Lead Vocals)Jack Bruce (Bass, Lead Vocals)Ginger Baker (Drums)
5
Pressed Rat and Warthog
Ginger BakerMike Taylor Ginger BakerMike Taylor Felix Pappalardi Eric Clapton (Guitar, Lead Vocals)Jack Bruce (Bass, Lead Vocals)Ginger Baker (Drums)
6
Politician
Jack BrucePete Brown Jack BrucePete Brown Felix Pappalardi Eric Clapton (Guitar, Lead Vocals)Jack Bruce (Bass, Lead Vocals)Ginger Baker (Drums)
7
Those Were the Days
Ginger BakerMike Taylor Ginger BakerMike Taylor Felix Pappalardi Eric Clapton (Guitar, Lead Vocals)Jack Bruce (Bass, Lead Vocals)Ginger Baker (Drums)
8
Born Under a Bad Sign
William BellBooker T. Jones William BellBooker T. Jones Felix Pappalardi Eric Clapton (Guitar, Lead Vocals)Jack Bruce (Bass, Lead Vocals)Ginger Baker (Drums)
9
Deserted Cities of the Heart
Jack BrucePete Brown Jack BrucePete Brown Felix Pappalardi Eric Clapton (Guitar, Lead Vocals)Jack Bruce (Bass, Lead Vocals)Ginger Baker (Drums)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 10 contributors

More from Eric Clapton

1966 50%
Fresh Cream
Reaction / ATCO
10 tracksProd. Robert Stigwood
1967 73%
Disraeli Gears
Reaction / ATCO
11 tracksProd. Felix Pappalardi
1969 67%
Goodbye
Polydor / ATCO
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1969 83%
Blind Faith
Polydor / ATCO
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1970 64%
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Polydor / ATCO
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1970 73%
Eric Clapton
Polydor / ATCO
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1974 30%
461 Ocean Boulevard
RSO
10 tracksProd. Tom Dowd
1975 50%
There's One in Every Crowd
RSO
10 tracksProd. Tom Dowd
1976 50%
No Reason to Cry
RSO
10 tracksProd. Rob Fraboni
1977 56%
Slowhand
RSO
9 tracksProd. Glyn Johns
1978 40%
Backless
RSO
10 tracksProd. Glyn Johns
1981 67%
Another Ticket
RSO
9 tracksProd. Tom Dowd
1983 60%
Money and Cigarettes
Duck / Warner Bros.
10 tracksProd. Tom Dowd
1985 55%
Behind the Sun
Duck / Warner Bros.
11 tracksProd. Phil Collins
1986 45%
August
Duck / Warner Bros.
11 tracksProd. Phil Collins
1989 17%
Journeyman
Duck / Reprise
12 tracksProd. Russ Titelman
1994 0%
From the Cradle
Duck / Reprise
16 tracksProd. Eric Clapton
1998 86%
Pilgrim
Duck / Reprise
14 tracksProd. Eric Clapton
2000 0%
Riding with the King
Duck / Reprise
12 tracksProd. Eric Clapton
2001 50%
Reptile
Duck / Reprise
14 tracksProd. Simon Climie
2004 0%
Me and Mr. Johnson
Duck / Reprise
16 tracksProd. Eric Clapton
2005 50%
Back Home
Duck / Reprise
12 tracksProd. Simon Climie
2006 14%
The Road to Escondido
Hear Music / Reprise
14 tracksProd. J.J. Cale
2010 7%
Clapton
Reprise
14 tracksProd. Simon Climie
2013 0%
Old Sock
Bushbranch / Surfdog
12 tracksProd. Eric Clapton
2016 17%
I Still Do
Bushbranch / Surfdog
12 tracksProd. Glyn Johns
2024 29%
Meanwhile
Bushbranch / Surfdog
14 tracksProd. Simon Climie

Sources