Jack Bruce Discography

He was the prototypical progressive rock bass guitarist/singer in Cream, capable of belting out the blues with the best of them or pushing the limits of rock with psychedelic artistry. Although Bruce and Ginger Baker had played together in The Graham Bond Organization, it was Eric Clapton who requested Bruce’s presence in Cream. Clapton gained most of the attention in Cream, but Jack Bruce was the most complete songwriter in the band and authored many of their greatest songs (usually with lyricist Pete Brown), including “I Feel Free,” “N.S.U.,” “Sunshine of Your Love, “SWLABR,” “White Room” and “Politician.”

When Cream folded, Bruce embarked on a solo career, beginning with the well-received Songs For A Tailor (1969). He confounded many, however, with the release of the avant-garde jazz elpee Things We Like (1970), recorded with Dick Heckstall-Smith and former Graham Bondsman John McLaughlin in 1968. Harmony Row (1971) returned to a more traditional song format, yet even here Bruce’s songs were often unconventional and album sales less than robust.

For his next act, Bruce returned to the power trio format by joining Leslie West and Corky Laing (both of Mountain) in West, Bruce & Laing. The trio released two records of heavy blues rock—Why Dontcha (1972) and Whatever Turns You On (1973)—before breaking up. Over the years, Bruce would return often to the trio format, notably with Robin Trower (B.L.T.) and with Baker and Gary Moore in BBM.

While Bruce brought the adventurous spirit of Cream with him, it came with the excess baggage of addiction. Perhaps as a result of this, Bruce’s solo music is often excessive: his vocals are sometimes over the top, his bass playing even moreso, and his treatment of Cream’s music (especially in his later years) is more irreverent than reverential. As a general rule of thumb, the early song-oriented albums (Tailor, Harmony Row, Out of The Storm, How’s Tricks) are the most rewarding.

Like Greg Lake and John Wetton, Jack Bruce continued to perform a mix of old and new material to a loyal cadre of progressive rock fans at home and abroad into his 60s. His voice is no longer the commodity it once was, and at 70 it seems likely his performing days are past, but he leaves behind a rich legacy of recordings that are begging to be rediscovered and properly appreciated.

The Discography

I’m Gettin’ Tired (1965)
b/w Rootin’ And Tootin’. Released on 7-inch in December 1965 in the UK (Polydor).

SONGS FOR A TAILOR (1969)
Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune / Theme of An Imaginary Western / Tickets To Water Falls / Weird of Hermiston / Rope Ladder To The Moon / The Ministry of Bag / He The Richmond / Boston Ball Game, 1967 / To Isengard / The Clearout. Released on elpee in September 1969 in the UK (Polydor, 583058) and the US (Atco, SD33-306); reached #6 on the UK charts and #55 on the US charts. Re-issued on elpee in 1970 in Japan (Polydor, MP-1459 with unique cover), in Germany (RSO, 2459 360) and in 1973 in Japan (RSO, MW-2070) and in Japan (RSO, MWX-4035). Re-issued on CD in 1992 in Japan (Polydor, POCP-2165) and in 2003 in Japan (Universal, UICY-9302).

THINGS WE LIKE (1970)
Over The Cliff / Statues / Sam Enchanted Dick: Sam’s Back – Rill’s Thrills / Born To Be Blue / Hckhh Blues / Ballad of Arthur / Things We Like. Released on elpee in 1970 in the UK (Polydor, 2343 033) and the US (Atco, SD33-349). Re-issued on elpee in Japan (RSO, MWX-4036). Re-issued on CD in 2003 in Japan (Universal, UICY-9303).

HARMONY ROW (1971)
Can You Follow? / Escape To The Royal Wood (On Ice) / You Burned The Tables On Me / There’s A Forest / Morning Story / Folk Song / Smiles And Grins / Post War / Letter of Thanks / Victoria Sage / The Consul At Sunset. Released on elpee in 1971 in the UK (Polydor, 2310 107) and the US (Atco, SD33-365). Re-issued on elpee in 1975 in Japan (RSO, MWX-4038). Re-issued on CD in 2003 in Japan (Universal, UICY-9304).

The Consul At Sunset (1971)
b/w Letter of Thanks. Released on 7-inch in 1971 in the UK (Polydor).

WHY DONTCHA (1972)
Why Dontcha / Out Into The Fields / The Doctor / Turn Me Over / Third Degree // Shake Ma Thing (Rollin’ Jack) / While You Sleep / Pleasure / Love Is Worth The Blues / Pollution Woman. Credited to West, Bruce & Laing and released on elpee and quadrophonic elpee in November 1972 in the US (Columbia/Windfall, KC/CQ-31929) and the UK (Epic, S65314; reached #26 on the US charts. Re-issued on elpee in Australia and Germany (RSO, 2394 101) and in France (RSO, 2479 111).

The Doctor (1973)
b/w Shake Ma Thing (Rollin’ Jack). Released on 7-inch in 1973 in the US (Columbia, 45751). Also released as promotional 7-inch in 1973 in the US (Columbia, 45751) featuring mono and stereo versions of “The Doctor.”

WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON (1973)
Backfire / Token / Sifting Sand / November Song // Rock ‘n Roll Machine / Scotch Crotch / Slow Blues / Dirty Shoes / Like A Plate. Credited to West, Bruce & Lang and released on elpee in July 1973 in the US (Columbia/Windfall, KC-32216) and the UK and Germany (RSO, 2394 107); reached #87 on the US charts. Re-issued on elpee in France (RSO, 2479 112).

Backfire (1973)
b/w Dirty Shoes. Released on 7-inch in 1973 in Germany (RSO, 2090 113).

AT HIS BEST (1973)
Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune / Morning Story / Theme From An Imaginary Western / Post War / Tickets To Waterfall / Folk Song / You Burned The Tables On Me / He The Richmond / Victoria Sage / A Letter of Thanks / The Clearout / Hckhh Blues / Boston Ball Game, 1967 / Rope Ladder To The Moon / Weird of Hermiston / Smiles And Grins / To Isengard / The Consul At Sunset / Can You Follow? Compilation released on 2LP in 1973 in the UK (RSO, 2659 024) and the US (Polydor, PD-3505).

LIVE ‘N’ KICKIN’ (1974)
Live tracks: Play With Fire / The Doctor / Politician / Powerhouse Sod. Credited to West, Brice & Laing and released on elpee in April 1974 in the US (Columbia, KC-32899) and the UK and Germany (RSO, 2394 128); reached #165 on the US charts. Re-issued on elpee in Japan (RSO, MW-2091). Re-released on remastered CD in 2013 in the US (Culture Factory, 380).

Keep It Down (1974)
b/w Golden Days. Released on 7-inch in October 1974 in the UK (RSO, 2090 141). Also released as promotional 7-inch in 1974 in the US (RSO, SO-507) featuring mono and stereo versions of “Keep It Down.”

OUT OF THE STORM (1974)
Pieces of Mind / Golden Days / Running Through Our Hands / Keep On Wondering / Keep It Down / Into The Storm / One / Timeslip. Released on elpee in December 1974 in the UK (RSO, 2394 143), the US (RSO, SO-4805) and France (RSO, 2479 123); reached #160 on the US charts. Re-issued on elpee in Japan (RSO, MWX-4037). Re-issued on CD in 2003 in Japan (Universal, UICY-9305).

HOW’S TRICKS (1977)
Without A Word / Johnny B’77 / Times / Baby Jane / Lost Inside A Song / How’s Tricks / Madhouse / Waiting For The Call / Outsiders / Something To Live For. Released on elpee in May 1977 in the UK and France (RSO, 2394 180), the US (RSO, RS-1-3021) and Japan (RSO, MWF-1028); reached #153 on the US charts. Re-issued on elpee in Japan (RSO, MWX-4039). Re-issued on CD in 2003 in Japan (Universal, UICY-9306).

I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THIS (1980)
Hit And Run / Running Back / Facelift 318 / In This Way / Mickey The Fiddler / Dancing On Air / Livin’ Without Ja / Wind And The Sea / Out To Lunch / Bird Alone. Credited to Jack Bruce And Friends and released on elpee in December 1980 in the US (Epic, JE-36827). Re-issued on CD in 2008 in the UK (Cherry Red, ECLEC2073).

B.L.T. (1981)
Into Money / What It Is / Won’t Let You Down / No Island Lost / It’s Too Late / Life On Earth / Once The Bird Has Flown / Carmen / Feel The Heat / End Game. Co-credit to Robin Trower and Bill Lordan and released on elpee in 1981 in the UK and the US (Chrysalis, CHR-1324) and Japan (Chrysalis, WWS-81406).

What It Is (1981)
b/w Into Money. Co-credited to Robin Trower and Bill Lordan and released as clear vinyl 7-inch in 1982 in the UK (Chrysalis, CHS-2497) with picture sleeve.

TRUCE (1982)
Gonna Shut You Down / Gone Too Far / Thin Ice/ Last Train To The Stars / Take Good Care of Yourself / Fall In Love / Fat Gut / Shadows Touching / Little Boy Lost. Co-credited to Robin Trower and released on elpee in 1982 in the UK and the US (Chrysalis, CHR-1352). Re-issued on CD in the US (One Way, ONE-17609).

AUTOMATIC (1983)
Make Love (Part II) / Uptown Breakdown / Travelling Child / New World / E. Boogie / Green And Blue / The Swarm / Encore / Automatic Pilot. Released on elpee in 1983. Re-released on remastered CD in 2009 in the UK (Esoteric, ECLEC2116).

I Feel Free (1986)
b/w Make Love. Released on 7-inch in June 1986 in the UK (Virgin, VS785). Also released as one-track flexi 7-inch shaped picture in 1986 in the UK (Virgin, FLEXI) as part of the Renault 21 promotion.

INAZUMA SUPER SESSION – ABSOLUTELY LIVE (1987)
Live tracks: Generation Breakdown / White Room / Out Into The Fields / Working Harder / A.P.K. (Jack, Anton & Kenji) // Sittin’ On Top of The World / Sunshine of Your Love / Crossroads / Spoonful – Beat of Rock. C0-credited to Anton Fier and Kenji Suzuki and released on elpee in 1987 in the Netherlands (Epic, EPC 460453).

WILLPOWER: A TWENTY YEAR RETROSPECTIVE (1989)
Willpower / As You Said / White Room / Rope Ladder To The Moon / Theme For An Imaginary Western / Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune / Can You Follow? / Morning Story / Folk Song / Keep It Down / Pieces of Mind / Without A Word / How’s Tricks / Jet Set Jewel / Mickey The Fiddler / The Best Is Still To Come / Ships In The Night. Compilation released on 2LP and CD in July 1989 in the UK, the US and Germany (Polydor, 837 806-1/2).

A QUESTION OF TIME (1989)
Life On Earth / Make Love / No Surrender! / Flying / Hey Now Princess / Blues You Can’t Lose // Obsession / Kwela / Let Me Be / Only Playing Games / A Question of Time. Released on elpee and CD in December 1989 in the UK (Epic, 465692-1) and the US (Epic, FE-45279). Re-released on expanded CD (with one bonus track, “Grease The Wheels”) in 2007 in the UK (Evangeline, ACAM8155).

SOMETHIN ELS (1993)
Waiting On A Word / Willpower / Ships In The Night / Peaces of The East / Close Enough For Love / G.B. Dawn Blues / Criminality / Childsong / F.M. Released on CD on January 12, 1993 in the US and Germany (CMP, 1001)

CITIES OF THE HEART (1994)
Live tracks: Can You Follow? / Running Thro’ Our Hands / Over The Cliff / Statues / First Time I Met The Blues / Smiles & Grins / Bird Alone / Neighbor, Neighbor / Born Under A Bad Sign // Ships In The Night / Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune / Theme For An Imaginary Western / Golden Days / Life On Earth / NSU / Sitting On Top of The World / Politician / Spoonful / Sunshine of Your Love. Recorded live in 1993 and released on 2CD in March 1994 in the UK and Germany (CMP, CMPCD-1004). Re-issued on 2CD in 1997 in Japan (CMP, CRCL-4019/20).

THIS THAT (1994)
Within / This Piece / That Piece / Next Piece / Other Piece / Another Piece / Following Piece / Our Peace. Co-credited to Dick Heckstall-Smith and John Stevens and released on CD in May 1994 in Germany (Atonal, ACD-3017).

MONKJACK (1995)
Third Degree / The Boy / Shouldn’t We / David’s Harp / Know One Blues / Time Repairs / Laughing On Music / Street / Folksong / Weird of Hermiston / Tightrope / The Food / Immoral Ninth. Released on CD on October 10, 1995 in the US and Germany (CMP, CMPCD-1010).

THE JACK BRUCE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (1995)
Waiting On A Word / Ships In The Night / Theme For An Imaginary Western / Sitting On Top of The World / Life On Earth / N.S.U. / Folk Song / The Wind Cries Mary / Politician / Rope Ladder To The Moon / Childsong / Time Repairs / Third Degree / Colotomix II. Compilation released on D on May 24, 2005 (Times Square).

SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD: THE 50^TH BIRTHDAY CONCERT (1997)
Live tracks: Can You Follow? / Over The Cliff / First Time I Met The Blues / Neighbor, Neighbor / Ships In The Night / Born Under A Bad Sign / Theme From An Imaginary Western / N.S.U. / Sittin’ On Top of The World / Politician / Spoonful / Sunshine of Your Love. Credited to Jack Bruce & Friends and released on CD on October 21, 197 in the US (Times Square, 9003).

BBC LIVE IN CONCERT (1998)
Live tracks: You Burned The Tables On Me / Folk Song / A Letter of Thanks / Smiles & Grins / We’re Going Wrong / The Clearout / Have You Ever Loved A Woman / Powerhouse Sod / Your Sure Look Good To Me. Archival material recorded live and released on CD on July 19, 1998 in the UK (Strange Fruit).

LIVE ON THE OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST (1999)
Live tracks: Can You Follow? / Morning Story / Keep It Down / Peaces of Mind / One / Spirit / Smiles And Grins / White Room / Hit & Run / Slow Blues / Livin’ With Ja / Dancing On Air / In This Way / Theme For An Imaginary Western / Politician. Recorded live between 1971 and 1975 and released on CD on June 12, 1999 (Strange Fruit).

CONCERT CLASSICS, VOLUME 9 (1999)
Live tracks: White Room / Hit And Run / Clempson’s Blues Solo / Born Under A Bad Sign / Livin’ Without Ja / Dancing On Air / Post War / Theme For An Imaginary Western / Face Lift 318 / Escape To The Royal Wood (On Ice)* / Morning Story / Politician. Live archival material recorded in 1980 and released on CD on October 28, 199 in Europe (Ranch Life, 015). Track listing mis-attributes “Tightrope” (*) and omits “Traintime.”

SHADOWS IN THE AIR (2001)
Out Into The Fields / 52^nd Street / Heart Quake / Boston Ball Game 1967 / This Angel’s A Liar / Sunshine of Your Love / Directions Home / Milonga / Dancing On Air / Windowless Rooms / Dark Heart / Mr. Flesh / He The Richmond / White Room / Surge. Released on CD on July 10, 2001 in the US (CMC/Sanctuary, 84511-2)

DOING THIS…. ON ICE! (2001)
Live tracks: White Room / Hit And Run / Clem’s Blues / Born Under A Bad Sign / Livin’ Without Ja / Dancing On Air / Post War / Theme From An Imaginary Western // Face Lift 318 / Escape To The Royal Wood (On Ice) / Morning Story / Traintime / Politician / Sunshine of Your Love / Bird Alone. Recorded live in 1980 and released on 2CD in 2001 in the UK (NMC, PILOT125). Repackaged as Bird Alone and released on 2CD in 2007 in the UK (Voiceprint, TUNCD114).

JET SET JEWEL (2003)
Boy / Head In The Sun / Neighbour, Neighbour / Childsong / Jet Set Jewel / Please / Maybe It’s Dawn / Mickey The Fiddler / She’s Moving On / Best Is Still To Come. Released on CD on May 5, 2003 in the UK (Universal, 0656092) and Japan (Universal, UICY-9307).

LIVE AT THE MANCHESTER FREE TRADE HALL 1975 (2003)
Live tracks: Can You Follow? / Morning Story / Keep It Down / Pieces of Mind / Tickets To Waterfalls – Weird of Hermiston – Post War / Spirit // One – You Burned The Tables On Me / Smiles & Grins / Sunshine of Your Love. Live material recorded in 1975, credited to The Jack Bruce Band and released on 2CD on May 5, 2003 (Universal).

MORE JACK THAN GOD (2003)
So They Invented Race / Follow The Fire / Kelly’s Blues / We’re Going Wrong / Bizniz / Progress / I Feel Free / Ricin (Daylight Gathering) / The Night That Once Was Mine / Milonga Too / Cold Island (For Cozy Powell) / Uh, Oh! / Politician / Lost In The City (jam mix). Released on CD on September 23, 2003 in the UK (Sanctuary, SANCD211) and the US (Sanctuary, 84633). Re-issued on CD in 2004 in Japan (Victor?, VICP-62589).

ROPE LADDER TO THE MOON: AN INTRODUCTION TO JACK BRUCE (2003)
Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune / Rope Ladder To The Moon / Weird of Hermiston / Theme From An Imaginary Western / Tickets To Waterfalls / Things We Like / Folksong / Your Burned All The Tables On Me / Can You Follow? / Morning Story / Running Through Our Hands / Timeslip / One / Keep It Down / How’s Tricks / Without A Word / Jet Set Jewel. Compilation released on CD on November 27, 2003 in Europe (Polydor).

SEVEN MOONS (2008)
Seven Moons / Lives of Clay / Distant Places of The Heart / She’s Not The One / So Far To Yesterday / Just Another Day / Perfect Place / The Last Door / Bad Case of Celebrity / Come To Me / I’m Home. Co-credited to Robin Trower and released on CD in 2008 in the UK (Evangeline, GEL-4116).

SPIRIT: LIVE AT THE BBC 1971-1978 (2008)
Live tracks: Your Burned The Tables On Me / Smiles And Grins / Folk Song / A Letter of Thanks / We’re Going Wrong / The Clearout / Have You Ever Loved A Woman / Powerhouse Sod / You Sure Look Good To Me / Jack’s Gone / Clearway / Powerhouse Sod // Can You Follow / Morning Story / Keep It Down / Pieces of Mind / One / Spirit / Without A Word / Smiles And Grins / Fifteen Minutes Past Three / Ten To Four // Madhouse / Without A Word / Times / Baby Jane / Born Under A Bad Sign / Lost Inside A Song / Something To Live For / How’s Tricks / Spirit / Out Into The Fields / You Burned The Tables On Me. Live material recorded between 1971 and 1978 and released on 3CD in 2008 in the UK (Polydor, 5305568).

CAN YOU FOLLOW (2008)
I’m A Hoochie Coochie Man (live) / Early In The Morning / Night Time Is The Right Time / Rockin’ (live) / Doxy (live) / I Saw Her Standing There / Long Tall Shorty / Little Girl / High Heeled Sneakers / Strut Around / Wade In The Water / Train Time / Baby Make Love To Me / Spanish Blues / Baby Be Good To Me / Last Night / Hear Me Calling Your Name / They Call It Stormy Monday (live) / I’m Getting Tired (of Drinking And Gambling) / Rootin’ Tootin’ // Spirit Feel / (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction / Steppin’ Out / I Want To Know / Crossroads / Wrapping Paper / I Feel Free / Spoonful / N.S.U. / We’re Going Wrong / Dance The Night Away / Sunshine of Your Love / SWLABR / Traintime (live) / As You Said / White Room / Deserted Cities of The Heart / Politician (live) / Doing That Scrapyard Thing / Ageing Jack Bruce, Three, From Scotland, England // Things We Like / Ministry of Bag (demo) / Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune / Boston Ball Game 1967 / To Isengard / Rope Ladder To The Moon / Theme From An Imaginary Western / Weird of Hermiston / Tickets To Waterfalls / The Clearout / To Whom It May Concern – Them / To Whom It May Concern – Us / One Word / Two Worlds / Can You Follow? / Escape To The Royal Wood (On Ice) / Folk Song / You Burned The Tables On Me / There’s A Forest / Morning Story / Out Into The Fields / Pollution Woman / Scotch Krotch / Like A Plate / Powerhouse Sod (live) / Apostrophé / Peaces of Mind / Keep It Down / One / Timeslip / Without A Word / Spirit (live) / How’s Tricks? / Something To Live For / Childsong / The Best Is Still To Come // Jet Set Jewel / She’s Moving On / Waiting For The Call (live) / Hit And Run / Living Without Ja / Dancing On Air / Bird Alone / Carmen / Automatic Pilot / Green And Blue / Willpower / Ships In The Night / Waiting On A Word / No Surrender / A Question of Time / Kwela / Make Love / Obsession / Running Through Our Hands (live) / Life On Earth (live) / Waiting In The Wings / City of Gold / The Wind Cries Mary / David’s Harp / The Boy / Time Repairs / 52^nd Street / Directions Home / Surge / Heart Quake / Milonga / The Night That Once Was Mine / Progress / So They Invented Race. Compilation released on 6CD boxed set in 2008 in the UK (Esoteric, ECLECBOX1).

SEVEN MOONS LIVE (2009)
Live tracks: Seven Moons / Lives of Clay / Distant Places of The Heart / Sunshine of Your Love / Carmen / She’s Not The One / So Far To Yesterday / Just Another Day / Perfect Place / Bad Case of Celebrity / The Last Door / Come To Me / White Room / Politician. Co-credited to Robin Trower and released on CD in 2009 in the UK (Ruf Records, RUF-1151) and Japan (BSMF, BSMF-2136).

LIVE AT THE MILKYWAY (2011)
Live tracks: Surge / Out Into The Fields / 52^nd Street / Heartquake / This Anger’s A Liar / Sunshine of Your Love / Milonga // Windowless Rooms / Dark Heart / White Room / We’re Going Wrong – Politician / 52^nd Street Encore. Credited to Jack Bruce and The Cuicoland Express, recorded live in 2001 and released on 2CD in 2011 in the UK (Flaccid Parrot, FPRCD1).