Anyone for Tennis

"Anyone for Tennis (The Savage Seven Theme)" is a song by the British rock band Cream. It was used as the theme song for the 1968 film The Savage Seven.

This article is about the Cream song. For other uses, see Anyone for tennis? (disambiguation).

"Anyone for Tennis"
Danish single picture sleeve
Single by Cream
from the album Original Motion Picture Sound Track The Savage Seven
B-side"Pressed Rat and Warthog"
ReleasedMay 1968 (1968-05)
Recorded1967–1968
GenrePop rock
Length2:37
Label
Composer(s)Eric Clapton
Lyricist(s)Martin Sharp
Producer(s)Felix Pappalardi
Cream US singles chronology
"Sunshine of Your Love"
(1967)		 "Anyone for Tennis"
(1968)		 "White Room"
(1968)
Cream UK singles chronology
"Strange Brew"
(1967)		 "Anyone for Tennis"
(1968)		 "Sunshine of Your Love"
(1968)

Guitarist Eric Clapton wrote the song for the 1968 film The Savage Seven.[1] It was his second collaboration with lyricist Martin Sharp (their first was "Tales of Brave Ulysses").[1] According to biographer Michael Schumacher, Clapton was unable to find a melody that suited him, despite expending considerable time.[1]

The song was recorded during the sessions for Cream's third album, Wheels of Fire.[1] However, it was released on The Savage Seven soundtrack album[2] and as a single instead. Backed with "Pressed Rat and Warthog",[3] it reached number 64 on the American Billboard Hot 100 in May 1968 and number 40 on the UK Singles Chart in June 1968.[4]

Billboard described the single as an "unusual piece of folk-rock material with a clever dance arrangement."[5] Record World said that "Cream tell an intriguing fable in these grooves" and that its rhythms "have the sell sound."[6] Cash Box said that "surrealistic pictures are flashed one-after-another in a kaleidoscopic vision of today’s problems" and that the song "has a shock and near-protest appeal."[7]

Cream mimed the song during their promotional appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in May 1968 with a video middle section in which the band carry tennis rackets.[1]

"Anyone for Tennis" is included on several Cream compilation albums, including Superstarshine Vol. 6 / Cream (1972), Strange Brew: The Very Best of Cream (1983), The Very Best of Cream (1995), and the boxed set Those Were the Days (1997). It is also included in the Clapton boxed set Crossroads (1988).

The stereo recording of this song is encoded with the Haeco-CSG system. It has also been included as a bonus track on some CD releases of Wheels of Fire or Goodbye.

Personnel

References
  1. Schumacher, Michael (1993). Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton. New York City: Crown Trade Paperbacks. p. 107. ISBN 0-517-88118-7.
  2. Viglione, Joe. "Original Soundtrack: The Savage Seven – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  3. Roberty, Mark (1993). Slowhand: The Complete Life and Times of Eric Clapton. New York City: Crown Trade Paperbacks. p. 40. ISBN 0-517-88118-7.
  4. "Cream – Singles". Official Charts. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  5. "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 27 April 1968. p. 74. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  6. "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 27 April 1968. p. 1. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  7. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 27 April 1968. p. 22. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
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