Wheels of Fire Super De Luxe

What does it sound like?:

Whoever is responsible for compiling Cream’s De Luxe sets deserves enormous credit. First we had Fresh Cream in 2017 – 3CDs containing Mono and stereo stereo mixes of the original album, singles, French EPs, alternates mixes, outtakes, BBC sessions, early versions and loads of unexpected goodies, plus a lovely book and Blu Ray of High Res audio. GoodBye Cream came along in 2019 containing 4 CDs of live concerts in October/November 1968 from their final tour, pleasingly boxed with a hardback book in the same way as the earlier set. Now we get another unexpected treat in a set exploring Wheels of Fire, again packaged in the same size format – 5CDs and another nice hardback book.

The big hook here is a new stereo remaster removing the CSG processing used in 1968, thus phase correcting the stereo image, and this is where I went straight away. The remaster is absolutely fabulous – my main impression is of much greater clarity, especially on the vocals which feel much more out front and the stereo soundstage is crisper and clearer. Ginger’s drums sound just fantastic, as if they are in the room. The original mix is included here as well, and it is interesting hearing them side by side and realising what they had apparently done in 1968 with that processing – the old master isn’t awful by any means, but the new version is significantly improved.

Also included are newly remastered mono and stereo versions of the studio album. Sourced from the late Cream producer Felix Pappalardi’s personal reference reels, these recordings have never been released before and include many alternate mixes.

The collection features remastered versions of the four live tracks recorded in March 1968 and originally released on LP2 of Wheels Of Fire, alongside eight additional tracks performed at the March 1968 concerts, including an unreleased live recording of “We’re Going Wrong”, recorded on 10th March 1968 at Winterland Ballroom.

A newly compiled rarities collection is also included, featuring 15 rare recordings, nine of which are previously unreleased. This collection includes early versions, alternate mixes and single versions. Highlights include WHITE ROOM (EARLY VERSION MONO MIX), DESERTED CITIES OF THE HEART (MONO ROUGH MIX / NO STRINGS) and CROSSROADS (MONO SINGLE VERSION), alongside seven additional alternate stereo and mono mixes, three single versions and two rare live recordings.

A glaring omission is a complete Mono remaster. I read somewhere that the original tapes were destroyed in the Warners warehouse fire in 1978 (?). It begs the question why the stereo master survived, and why they couldn’t have found a usable mono source, but hey ho. My 1968 original LP is a mono version – I will have to dig that out and compare it at some stage.

The music itself reveals a schizophrenic band – experimental, almost prog rock, in the studio, but a heavy rock band live. They could never have played most of these studio tracks on stage, which is perhaps another reason they broke up just as this was released..?

What this also highlights is the ‘missing’ Disraeli Gears equivalent set. There was a 2CD de luxe offering in 2004 – mono and stereo mixes, outtakes, demos and BBC tracks – so maybe that could be expanded at some point.

Another plus point is the pricing – around £50 is really good value for such a nice set, and any Cream fan will be mightily pleased with this.

There is also a 3 LP version, but the CD set is much more comprehensive.

Here is the complete track list….

CD One – Wheels Of Fire: In The Studio (2026 Remaster) 1968 Originally Released Csg Encoded Version and Previously Unreleased Phase Corrected (De-Csg’d) Version
White Room (4:59)
Sitting On Top Of The World (4:59)
Passing The Time (4:33)
As You Said (4:22)
Pressed Rat And Warthog (3:15)
Politician (4:14)
Those Were The Days (2:55)
Born Under A Bad Sign (3:11)
Deserted Cities Of The Heart (3:42)
White Room (4:59)
Sitting On Top Of The World (4:59)
Passing The Time (4:32)
As You Said (4:22)
Pressed Rat And Warthog (3:15)
Politician (4:14)
Those Were The Days (2:55)
Born Under A Bad Sign (3:11)
Deserted Cities Of The Heart (3:40)

CD2: Wheels Of Fire: In The Studio (Stereo and mono Reference Reels)
White Room (4:59) *
Sitting On Top Of The World (4:55) *
Passing The Time (Long Version) (5:50) *
As You Said (4:16) *
Pressed Rat And Warthog (With Spoken Intro) (3:16) *
Politician (4:10) *
Those Were The Days (2:54) *
Born Under A Bad Sign (3:08) *
Deserted Cities Of The Heart (3:36) *
White Room (4:59) +
Sitting On Top Of The World (4:57) +
Passing The Time (Long Version) (5:50) +
As You Said (4:18) +
Pressed Rat And Warthog (With Spoken Intro) (3:15) +
Politician (4:11) +
Those Were The Days (2:54) +
Born Under A Bad Sign (3:10) +
Deserted Cities Of The Heart (3:39) +
*Previously unreleased stereo tapes

+Previously unreleased mono tapes

CD3: Wheels Of Fire: Live At The Fillmore Auditorium & Winterland Ballroom (2026 Remaster)
Crossroads (4:16)
Spoonful (16:48)
Traintime (7:02)
Toad (16:16)
CD4: Wheels Of Fire: More Live At The Fillmore Auditorium & Winterland Ballroom (2026 Remaster)
N.S.U. (10:15)
Sleepy Time Time (6:51)
Rollin’ And Tumblin’ (6:45)
Sweet Wine (15:18)
Tales Of Brave Ulysses (4:45)
We’re Going Wrong (6:55) +
Sunshine Of Your Love (7:25)
Steppin’ Out (13:41)
+ Previously unreleased

CD5: Wheels Of Fire: Rarities (2026 Remaster)
White Room (Stereo Us Single Edit) (3:05)
Sitting On Top Of The World (Alternate Stereo Mix) (4:57) +
Passing The Time (Alternate Long Stereo Mix) (5:51) +
As You Said (Alternate Stereo Mix) (4:19) +
Pressed Rat And Warthog (Alternate Stereo Mix) (3:10) +
Politician (Alternate Stereo Mix) (4:11) +
Anyone For Tennis (Stereo Single Mix) (2:39)
White Room (Early Version Mono Mix) (4:29) +
Deserted Cities Of The Heart (Rough Mono Mix / No Strings) (3:37) +
Pressed Rat And Warthog (Alternate Mono Mix) (3:14) +
As You Said (Alternate Mono Mix) (4:21) +
Anyone For Tennis (Mono Single Mix) (2:39)
Crossroads (Mono Single Version) (4:16)
N.S.U. (Recorded 9 March 1968 At Winterland Ballroom) (12:38)
Sunshine Of Your Love (Recorded 7 March 1968 At The Fillmore Auditorium) (6:58)
+ previously unreleased

What does it all *mean*?

There is still gold to mine in the vaults

Goes well with…

An afro hairdo and bellbottoms

Release Date:

12th June 2026

Might suit people who like…

The roots of prog rock

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