05-11-2014, 00:09
My reaction to this tragic news was also, 'Oh, no!' When Cream reformed for the Albert Hall shows, I hoped they would record an album of new material. It did not happen, but where there was life, there was hope. With Jack Bruce gone, it is beyond the pale.
As a key part of Cream, Bruce was a groundbreaking songwriter, bass player and singer. Their version of Crossroads Blues (as Crossroads) really invented hard rock and their longer workouts pointed the way to progressive rock. One of my favourite Cream tracks is their version of Skip James's Spoonful, featuring Jack Bruce's bluesy soulful voice. As has been mentioned, Bruce's songs for Mountain (with Pete Brown), especially Theme from an Imaginery Western, are excellent and West, Bruce and Laing were better than the critics would have you believe. All Mountain fans should hear Why Dontcha? from the album of the same name.
Bruce recorded a few albums with Robin Trower, including BLT and Truce, which are reasonable but difficult to track down. BBM with Gary Moore produced at least two great tracks, City of Gold and Where in the World?, but tended to feature a bit too much of Moore's songwriting and not enough of Bruce's (although the aforementioned were co-written with Bruce).
RIP to JB. I will just have to hold out for a Baker Gurvitz Army reunion, the band being a natural progression from Cream. It may be a cliche, but Jack Bruce's contribution to rock music really will live on in countless bands.
As a key part of Cream, Bruce was a groundbreaking songwriter, bass player and singer. Their version of Crossroads Blues (as Crossroads) really invented hard rock and their longer workouts pointed the way to progressive rock. One of my favourite Cream tracks is their version of Skip James's Spoonful, featuring Jack Bruce's bluesy soulful voice. As has been mentioned, Bruce's songs for Mountain (with Pete Brown), especially Theme from an Imaginery Western, are excellent and West, Bruce and Laing were better than the critics would have you believe. All Mountain fans should hear Why Dontcha? from the album of the same name.
Bruce recorded a few albums with Robin Trower, including BLT and Truce, which are reasonable but difficult to track down. BBM with Gary Moore produced at least two great tracks, City of Gold and Where in the World?, but tended to feature a bit too much of Moore's songwriting and not enough of Bruce's (although the aforementioned were co-written with Bruce).
RIP to JB. I will just have to hold out for a Baker Gurvitz Army reunion, the band being a natural progression from Cream. It may be a cliche, but Jack Bruce's contribution to rock music really will live on in countless bands.
âThe fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.â William Shakespeare, As You Like It