Writers: Eric Clapton and George Harrison
Producer: Felix Pappalardi
Recorded: December 1968 at IBC Studios in London, England
Released: March 1969
| Players: | Eric Clapton — vocals, guitar Jack Bruce — bass Ginger Baker — drums George Harrison — guitar Felix Pappalardi — piano, mellotron |
| Album: | Goodbye (Atco) |
“Badge” was one of just three new studio tracks the splintering Cream was able to cook up for its final album, Goodbye.
Eric Clapton and George Harrison wrote the song at the Beatle's house in Esher, England. Clapton brought the song's mid-section to Harrison, who helped come up with verses and choruses — reportedly with additional help from fellow Beatle Ringo Starr, who was hanging around that day. Starr reportedly contributed the line about the swans living in the park.
EMI Records, the Beatles' label, balked at the idea of Harrison performing on a Cream album. He played anyway, but is credited under the name L'Angelo Misterioso.
As a single, “Badge” peaked at Number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. It hit Number 18 in the U.K.
The Goodbye album spent two weeks at Number Two on the Billboard 200 in 1969. It hit Number One on the U.K. chart.
Cream disbanded following the recording of Goodbye, with two farewell shows November 25th and 26th, 1968, at London's Royal Albert Hall. Clapton and Baker went on to form Blind Faith in 1969.
