Jack Bruce - Songs For A Tailor (1969) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Jack Bruce’s 1969 solo debut is worthy of the oft-used 'classic album' tag. It's a long way from the bluesy bluster of uber-trio Cream, though the bassist's aggression and authority shines through just as strongly here. The words are provided by Pete Brown, whose writing partnership with the bassist provided Cream's most substantial material. His slightly surreal prose is a great fit with Bruce's vocal delivery, which ranges from bruised, fragile white soul to bluesy belting.
Bruce's intricate but powerful settings concoct a fusion of rock, jazz and proggy psychedelia, given both punch and focus by Felix Pappalardi's spacious production. While there's a superficial resemblance to the early jazz/rock fusions of Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears, this is much more adventurous, elegant fare. From sweaty R'n'B (''Ministry of Bag'') to psychedelic jazz improv (''Boston Ball Game 1967''), Procol Harum-esque melancholia (''Theme for an Imaginary Western'') to the intricate songforms of ''Ropeladder to the Moon'', Songs covers all the bases but never sounds thin or overstretched.
Unsurprisingly, the bass is up close and in your face throughout all this genre hopping. Bruce's melodic invention and (let's not put too fine a point on it) balls inspired a generation of potential bassists in ways few had done before. Support comes from Colosseum's Jon Hiseman and Dick Heckstall-Smith, plus the wondrous Chris Spedding (melting a few frets at the Boston Ball Game) and a host of horn players. Peter Marsh

Track listing:

01. Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune
02. Theme For An Imaginary Western
03. Tickets To The Water Falls
04. Weird of Hermiston
05. Rope Ladder To The Moon

06. The Ministry of Bag
07. He The Richmond
08. Boston Ball Game, 1967
09. To Isengard
10. The Clearout

Personnel:

Jack Bruce vocals, piano, bass, organ, guitar, cellos
Jon Hiseman drums
Chris Spedding guitar
John Marshall drums
Harry Becket and Henry Lowther trumpets
Dick Heckstall-Smith and Art Themen saxophones
John Mumford trombone
Felix Pappalardi vocals, guitar, percussion
Music composed & arranged by Jack Bruce
Words by Pete Brown
Produced by Felix Papalardi