Crossroads – Cream | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#28); 1969
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Legendary bluesman Robert Johnson was born in 1910 and murdered in 1938. His legacy consisted of a number of recordings made in 1936 and 1937, of which 17 were released on a 1966 album titled King Of The Delta Blues Singers.
This landmark LP riveted Eric Clapton. In Johnson’s music Clapton heard all the artistic emotion and expression that he himself desired. With the formation of Cream that same year, Clapton found the creative vehicle he’d been searching for through stints with The Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
Strong critical acclaim and instant sales accompanied Fresh Cream, the group’s debut album, upon its U.K. release in late 1966. A year later Cream conquered the U.S. when the single Sunshine Of Your Love caught fire.
The stage was set for Clapton’s electrifying resurrection of Robert Johnson’s Cross Roads Blues recorded live at the famed Fillmore West, and included on the 1969 double LP Wheels Of Fire.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Felix Pappalardi
Lyrics Written by:
- Robert Johnson
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).