[Review] Jack Bruce: Songs for a Tailor (1969)

High notes for the high seamstress of the sunset strip.

Kornomyth 1.0: Tailor made.

The members of Cream never escaped the shadow that overtook Graham Bond; they were tortured souls to a man. Among them, Jack Bruce seemed to have a natural affinity for tragedy. Even the seemingly innocuous title of his first album, Songs for a Tailor, is steeped in sadness. It’s a reference to Jeannie Franklyn, a popular clothing designer who died in a car accident days after sending Bruce a letter asking him to sing some high notes for her (the two had a brief relationship in the past). From death, then, new life (and more than a little madness) in the form of ten new songs from Bruce and lyricist Pete Brown. The pair were capable of sublime heights, such as “Victoria Sage” and, here, Weird of Hermiston. The album otherwise splits its time between elastic, chaotic tracks with horns (Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune) and quieter but equally “difficult” songs (Rope Ladder to the Moon). Despite charting well on the heels of his association with the recently disbanded Cream, Songs for a Tailor doesn’t contain anything that could be called a hit. Some have championed Theme of an Imaginary Western as the album’s standout track. The Ministry of Bag is also memorable, mostly for Brown’s lyrics and Bruce’s singing. Both Bruce and Ginger Baker renewed their Graham Bond associations after Cream, Bruce inviting ex-Bondmates Jon Hiseman and Dick Heckstall-Smith to join him on this and his next album. George Harrison also makes an uncredited cameo as L’Angeloso Misterioso on guitar, otherwise handled by the eminently capable Chris Spedding. The production from Felix Pappalardi is noisy and the album would benefit from a good remaster. Personally, I thought the songs from Bruce and Brown (e.g., “As You Said”) were the best parts of Wheels of Fire. Songs for a Tailor offers a similar ride, although the views are more absurd and the scenery more pastoral about half the time.

Original elpee version

A1. Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune (3:39)
A2. Theme of an Imaginary Western (3:27)
A3. Tickets to Water Falls (2:59)
A4. Weird of Hermiston (2:20)
A5. Rope Ladder to the Moon (2:51)
B1. The Ministry of Bag (2:47)
B2. He the Richmond (3:34)
B3. Boston Ball Game, 1967 (1:44)
B4. To Isengard (5:28)
B5. The Clearout (2:36)

Music composed and arranged by Jack Bruce, words by Pete Brown.

CD reissue bonus tracks
11. Ministry of Bag (demo) (3:43)
12. Weird of Hermiston (alt. mix) (2:28)
13. The Clearout (alt. mix) 3:00)
14. Ministry of Bag (alt. mix) 3:53)

The Players

Jack Bruce (vocals, piano, organ, bass, cellos, guitar), Jon Hiseman (drums), Chris Spedding (guitar) with Harry Beckett (trumpet on A1/B1/B3), Dick Heckstall-Smith (tenor & soprano saxophone on A1,. Tenor sax on B1/B3), Henry Lather (trumpet on A1/B1/B3), John Marshall (drums on A5/B2), L’Angelo Misterioso (George Harrison) (guitar on A1), Felix Pappalardi (vocals on A5, percussion on B2, vocals & guitar on B4), Art Themen (tenor & soprano sax on A1, tenor sax on B1/B3). Produced by Felix Pappalardi; engineered by Andrew Johns.

The Pictures

Cover photograph by Roger Phillips. Artwork by Ink Studios.

The Plastic

Released on elpee in September 1969 in the UK (Polydor, 583058) and the US (Atco, SD 33-306). Reached #6 on the UK charts and #55 on the US charts.

1. Re-issued on elpee in 1970 in Japan (Polydor, MP-1459) with unique cover.
2. Re-issued on elpee in Germany (RSO, 2459 360).
3. Re-issued on elpee in 1973 in Japan (RSO, MW-2070).
4. Re-issued on elpee in Japan (RSO, MWX-4035).
5. Re-issued on compact disc in 1992 in Japan (Polydor, POCP-2165).
6. Re-issued on compact disc in 2003 in Japan (Universal, UICY-9302).
7. Re-issued on expanded, remastered compact disc in 2003 in the UK (Polydor, 065 603-2) w. 4 bonus tracks.