Wrapping Paper
{{Short description|1966 single by Cream}}
{{for|the concept|Gift wrapping}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Wrapping Paper
| cover = Wrapping Paper Cream 1967 Polydor 45.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Sweden picture sleeve
| type = single
| artist = Cream
| B-side = Cat's Squirrel
| released = {{Start date|1966|10|df=y}}{{Cite book| last = Strong| first = Martin Charles| title = The Great Rock Discography| publisher = The National Academies| year = 2002| page = 323| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=eyvXOydfVt8C&pg=PT323| isbn = 978-1-84195-312-0}}
{{cite book
| last = Clapton
| first = Eric
| authorlink = Eric Clapton
| title = Clapton: The Autobiography
| year = 2007
| location = New York City
| publisher = Broadway Books
| isbn = 978-0-7679-2536-5
| page = 79
}}
| studio = Rayik, Chalk Farm
| genre = Pop, music hall
| length = 2:25
| label = Reaction
|writer=| composer = Jack Bruce
| lyricist = Pete Brown
| producer = Robert Stigwood
| chronology = Cream UK
| next_title = I Feel Free
| next_year = 1966
}}
"Wrapping Paper" is a song by the British rock group Cream. Bassist and singer Jack Bruce composed the music, with lyrics by Pete Brown. In 1966, Reaction Records released the song on their debut single, with "Cat's Squirrel" as the B-side.{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/591007|title=Cream - Wrapping Paper|access-date=1 June 2021|website=45cat.com}} It reached number 34 on the UK Singles Chart in 1966.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/wrapping%20paper/|title=Wrapping Paper | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=1 June 2021}} The song was later included on the compilation albums Superstarshine Vol. 6 / Cream (1972), The Very Best of Cream (1995){{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-very-best-of-cream-mw0000123817|title=The Very Best of Cream - Cream | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic|access-date=1 June 2021}} and Those Were the Days (1997).{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/those-were-the-days-mw0000025624|title=Those Were the Days - Cream | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic|access-date=1 June 2021}}
Background
In contrast with the hard blues rock of other early Cream songs such as "N.S.U." and the psychedelic pop-style of "I Feel Free", "Wrapping Paper" has a distinctive slow jazz-like style.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} The song reflects the band's iconoclastic persona, their desire to confuse their audience, their interest in the absurdist art movement of the time, and refusal to fit into accepted and orthodox musical styles and categories.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}
The lyrics to "Wrapping Paper" talk about a man who lost his love and finds himself constantly looking at a picture of himself and his love and keeps wishing to go back "to the house on the shore." The song's lyrics share common similarities with the songs "Dreaming" and "The Coffee Song".{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}
Personnel
- Jack Bruce{{snd}}lead vocals, bass guitar, piano, cello
- Eric Clapton{{snd}}backing vocals, guitar
- Ginger Baker{{snd}}drums, percussion{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}
Charts
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:30%;" |
| rowspan=2| Year
! rowspan=2| Single ! colspan=2| Position |
|---|
| UK Top 40 |
| October 1966 |"Wrapping Paper" / !34{{cite web| url = https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26803/cream/| title = Cream – Singles| website = Official Charts| access-date = 25 February 2020}} |