Jack Bruce, Pete Brown, and Eric Clapton

a group of working drafts, comprising: i) 'Sunshine of your Love', three-line refrain in Clapton's autograph ("I've been waiting so long | To be where I'm going. | in the sunshine of our love"), blue ballpoint, together with other cancelled lines from another song in an unknown hand, with, on the verso, working draft in Brown's hand of 'Weird of Hermiston', 27 lines in blue ballpoint, sheet torn from a larger sheet or book (355 x 190mm.); ii) 'Never tell your mother she's out of tune', three working drafts in Brown's hand, total 49 lines, one draft originally titled 'Peace & Silence', two of the drafts on lined sheets (330 x 203mm.) and the third written on the card cover of a sheaf of Tenpoint stationery cartridge paper (labelled "Drawing Book"), blue ballpoint and pencil, marginal doodles, the two remaining leaves of the notebook including sketches and one list in Bruce's hand; iii) 'Theme for an Imaginary Western', three working drafts in Brown's hand, one draft entitled "When the Wagons...", approximately 60 lines, turquoise felt tip, several verses and sections repeated and reordered, marginal doodles, on the rectos only of 3 lined sheets (each 252 x 204mm.); iv) 'Rope Ladder to the Moon', fair copy in Bruce's hand, 27 lines in blue ballpoint, on the verso of a sheet of Beverley Hills Hotel stationery (265 x 185mm.); v) 'The Ministry of Bag', fair copy in Brown's hand, 24 lines in blue ballpoint, with chords written in margins by Bruce, fair copy of lyrics to 'Rope Ladder' in Bruce's hand on verso, single sheet (290 x 201mm); together 8 sheets and one notebook, c.1967-1969, occasional soiling and creasing (9)

Condition is as described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

'Sunshine of your Love', which was inspired by hearing Jimi Hendrix in performance, began as a riff composed by Bruce on a double bass. In line with their usual working practice, Pete Brown then wrote lyrics to fit Bruce's music. The song lacked an ending, however, until Bruce played it to Eric Clapton, who came up with the refrain that breaks up the rhythm. The presence of these lines in Clapton's hand amongst Bruce's working papers strongly suggests that this is the original draft of key lyrics to Cream's best-known song.

Songs for a Tailor, Jack's first album after Cream, was released in late 1969 and is regarded as his most successful album as a solo artist. Songs allowed Jack and Pete Brown to resurrect tracks they had initially penned with Cream in mind and to create new material, composed without the restrictions of writing for a three piece rock band. Brown's working drafts for five final tracks selected for the album document this creative partnership, with Jack's notes and chords often appearing alongside the lyrics as they figured out the compositions together. 

Only for 'Rope Ladder' did this format change, when unusually Brown devised the lyrics before Jack had composed the melody. The two copies of this song written in Jack's hand included in this lot may indeed have been his transcriptions of Brown's lyrics, noted down as he put them together with the music.