Wrapping Paper

For the concept, see Gift wrapping.

"Wrapping Paper"
Sweden picture sleeve
Single by Cream
B-side	"Cat's Squirrel"
Released	October 1966 (1966-10)
Recorded	August 1966
Studio	Rayik, Chalk Farm
Genre	Pop, music hall
Length	2:25
Label	Reaction
Composer(s)	Jack Bruce
Lyricist(s)	Pete Brown
Producer(s)	Robert Stigwood
Cream UK singles chronology
"Wrapping Paper" (1966) "I Feel Free" (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. It reached number 34 on the UK Singles Chart in 1966. The song was later included on the compilation albums Superstarshine Vol. 6 / Cream (1972), The Very Best of Cream (1995) and Those Were the Days (1997).

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. 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.

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".

Personnel

• Jack Bruce – lead vocals, bass guitar, piano, cello
• Eric Clapton – backing vocals, guitar
• Ginger Baker – drums, percussion

Charts

Year	Single	Position
		UK Top 40
October 1966	"Wrapping Paper" / "Cat's Squirrel"	34