THE fact Cream's music is still so vital after 37 years can only be good and this compilation (in one, two and three CD formats) is a testament to the supergroup's enduring appeal and what basically boils down to a mind-boggling talent.

Released to coincide with their regrouping at the Albert Hall last week, the generous package - which includes studio and live material - is a clear cash-in but apparently Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker could do with some dough, so why not?

But what the compilation demonstrates beyond all reasonable doubt is Eric Clapton, Bruce and Baker's supreme command of a unique sound - a sort of smooth, thick mulch of tangential melodies and ''curve-ball' riffs - I Feel Free, NSU, Sweet Wine, World of Pain, Badge and so on.

In fact, their studio output is barely touched by a genuinely bad song.

Though superlative, the live material here has all been released before, which is disappointing since half of their reputation relied on their jaw-dropping concert output, of which there are few released examples.

Surely it must be time for a release of their ''final'' Albert Hall gig in 1968 or some other unheard concert material.

Anyway, it probably won't be long until record company bosses release a new CD or DVD of their recent gigs, which may be some compensation.

The three-CD package includes the band's BBC sessions released a couple of years ago.

JS