Jack Bruce "Songs For A Tailor"

[Kmonk]

I was walking through a local Flea Market today and found an original 1969 copy of Jack Bruce's "Songs For A Tailor". Still in the original jacket with the original price tag of $2.35 and the original song lyrics still intact inside. The album looks like it has never been played. I had to buy it and only paid $7 for it.

 

[jerry]

I love that album!

 

[JimK]

...all these years & it's still on my to-get list. Shoulda had it years ago.

 

[joebeadg]

Great album. I never knew theme was a Bruce song till I got this album. It was always my favorite song, and being a bassist, and Jack was my bass hero, I was blown away when I heard this on his album. I think I have all his albums now, love them all!

 

[Larry Balara]

What bass did he play on this lp?

 

[jeffb28451]

Enjoy! I’ve had it for years and I need to get it back on the turntable.

 

[Michedelic]

What bass did he play on this lp?

He was continuing with the Gibson EB-3.
As great as that album is, his next, Harmony Row, is his masterpiece as far as I’m concerned. It’s just him on multiple instruments, Chris Spedding on guitar, and Jon Hiseman, drums. Brilliant keyboard playing, deep writing, throwing off the constraints of Cream.

 

[jerry]

He was continuing with the Gibson EB-3.
As great as that album is, his next, Harmony Row, is his masterpiece as far as I’m concerned. It’s just him on multiple instruments, Chris Spedding on guitar, and Jon Hiseman, drums. Brilliant keyboard playing, deep writing, throwing off the constraints of Cream.

Both of those albums are must haves for me, but the song Smiles & Grins gives Harmony the edge as my favorite.
/edit, I know they came out with a deluxe version of Songs, but it looks like Harmony might be out of print on CD, maybe/hopefully they are coming out with a deluxe version.

 

[Michedelic]

Both of those albums are must haves for me, but the song Smiles & Grins gives Harmony the edge as my favorite.
/edit, I know they came out with a deluxe version of Songs, but it looks like Harmony might be out of print on CD, maybe/hopefully they are coming out with a deluxe version.

There was an expanded HR on CD, there’s a few on Ebay right now(may have to get one). I do have the regular releases on Polydor which correspond with the original vinyl.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I was walking through a local Flea Market today and found an original 1969 copy of Jack Bruce's "Songs For A Tailor". Still in the original jacket with the original price tag of $2.35 and the original song lyrics still intact inside. The album looks like it has never been played. I had to buy it and only paid $7 for it.
View attachment 591160

I have this as well as his critically acclaimed Harmony Row LP. I think is got some interesting songs on it. Of course, his bass work is incredible, and you will have to endure his singing, not to mention the bizarre lyrics. His piano work is also impressive. Make no mistake there nothing on this that is going to sound like Cream. Overall, I think his Harmony Row LP is a better record.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

He was continuing with the Gibson EB-3.
As great as that album is, his next, Harmony Row, is his masterpiece as far as I’m concerned. It’s just him on multiple instruments, Chris Spedding on guitar, and Jon Hiseman, drums. Brilliant keyboard playing, deep writing, throwing off the constraints of Cream.

+1 on Harmony Row. Boy, Boy, I played that record more than a few times, but It's been a while since I've listened to it. I had to listen to it a couple of times before it all sunk in. Agreed, great session players.

PS: I'm still trying to figure out why his front eyes were peeled for oranges.

 

[ajkula66]

HR is the cat's meow when it comes to Jack Bruce, IMO. I do, however, have a soft spot for "Out Of The Storm".

 

[jerry]

I have this as well as his critically acclaimed Harmony Row LP. I think is got some interesting songs on it. Of course, his bass work is incredible, and you will have to endure his singing, not to mention the bizarre lyrics. His piano work is also impressive. Make no mistake there nothing on this that is going to sound like Cream. Overall, I think his Harmony Row LP is a better record.

I've always thought Bruce was of the best singers, I love his voice.

 

[brianrost]

Ah, the days when you could go to places like KMart and get LPs for less than $3. I bought this when it first came out and later replaced my well worn vinyl with the CD resissue. The CD is now out of print, but there is a vinyl reissue from Esoteric ($40 at Aamazon, ouch!) In fact all of the Polydor/RSO titles are out of print again.

Although Harmony Row has it’s moments, I still like this one better because there’s more variety. Last time I spun HR I noticed how much it reminded me of The Band with the piano/organ pairing on so many of the songs.

 

[brianrost]

I've always thought Bruce was of the best singers, I love his voice.

I really like when he keeps from over the top belting. Probably my favorite of Jack's vocal performance is this one, in fact the whole album is a showcase for his singing. BTW there are two basses on this…one is Jack, the other is Steve Swallow.

 

[jerry]

I really like when he keeps from over the top belting. Probably my favorite of Jack's vocal performance is this one, in fact the whole album is a showcase for his singing. BTW there are two basses on this…one is Jack, the other is Steve Swallow.

The Hanrahan stuff is some of my favorite of Bruce's side projects.

 

[Michedelic]

I have this as well as his critically acclaimed Harmony Row LP. I think is got some interesting songs on it. Of course, his bass work is incredible, and you will have to endure his singing, not to mention the bizarre lyrics. His piano work is also impressive. Make no mistake there nothing on this that is going to sound like Cream. Overall, I think his Harmony Row LP is a better record.

I’d rather listen to his expressive “braying” than Robert Plant’s shrieking. The lyrics are from Bruce’s longtime writing partner, Pete Brown, who was a slightly older beat poet influenced lyricist, hence the bizarre imagery(plus everyone was tripping in those days anyway).
Frankly, I enjoy Bruce’s early solo work because it doesn’t sound like Cream; Jack was no longer straightjacketed by that tired concept. That’s why he choose Chris Spedding for guitar initially. Spedding was nowhere near the cliche Brit Blooze style(he also played with Pete Brown), and has had a very eclectic career otherwise. I was excited by the potential of the Tony Williams band, probably the earliest examples of fusion, but disappointed by WBL, that was a musical step backwards, but I guess everybody involved needed a payday by rehashing the past.

 

[jerry]

I’d rather listen to his expressive “braying” than Robert Plant’s shrieking. The lyrics are from Bruce’s longtime writing partner, Pete Brown, who was a slightly older beat poet influenced lyricist, hence the bizarre imagery(plus everyone was tripping in those days anyway).
Frankly, I enjoy Bruce’s early solo work because it doesn’t sound like Cream; Jack was no longer straightjacketed by that tired concept. That’s why he choose Chris Spedding for guitar initially. Spedding was nowhere near the cliche Brit Blooze style(he also played with Pete Brown), and has had a very eclectic career otherwise. I was excited by the potential of the Tony Williams band, probably the earliest examples of fusion, but disappointed by WBL, that was a musical step backwards, but I guess everybody involved needed a payday by rehashing the past.

Cream is down the list of my favorite Bruce projects, same with Clapton and Baker. I dig most of their other work better. As a kid, Cream was tops though.

 

[Michedelic]

Cream is down the list of my favorite Bruce projects, same with Clapton and Baker. I dig most of their other work better. As a kid, Cream was tops though.

Sure, in their time they were groundbreaking, something like them was bound to happen, but that time was short(and Clapton certainly had a taste of extended instrumental workouts in the Yardbirds, although it was a different format). It all got run into the ground, not necessarily because of them but from outside pressure. The three grew weary of the endless jamming, and much like the Beatles, couldn’t perform their more involved songs live. Then it seemed like every other band piled on with it, whether worthy or not.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I’d rather listen to his expressive “braying” than Robert Plant’s shrieking. The lyrics are from Bruce’s longtime writing partner, Pete Brown, who was a slightly older beat poet influenced lyricist, hence the bizarre imagery(plus everyone was tripping in those days anyway).
Frankly, I enjoy Bruce’s early solo work because it doesn’t sound like Cream; Jack was no longer straightjacketed by that tired concept. That’s why he choose Chris Spedding for guitar initially. Spedding was nowhere near the cliche Brit Blooze style(he also played with Pete Brown), and has had a very eclectic career otherwise. I was excited by the potential of the Tony Williams band, probably the earliest examples of fusion, but disappointed by WBL, that was a musical step backwards, but I guess everybody involved needed a payday by rehashing the past.

Good post, especially about Plant. OOH yeah..OOH OOH yeah…. Talk about cliche…LOL!