dreadpirateroberts Jack Bruce slips out from under the shadow of 'Cream.'

The first thing you'll notice on 'Songs for a Tailor' is the way Bruce's unmistakable voice propels the album's short songs into a familiar place. At the same time, he has collected a set of songs that have a decidedly 'pop' feel to their jazz. And I don't mean for 'pop' to suggest predictable, as these inventive pop songs offer something unusual and are more thoughtfully arranged than some of Cream's jam-based pieces.

Once again, Pete Brown is at the helm lyrically (often to the album's benefit) and although the Cream connections are not limited to that fact, ('The Clearout' and 'Weird of Hermiston' were demoed during Cream recording sessions) the bulk of this album shows Jack determined to move beyond the Cream sound, and succeeding.

It seems he wanted to release something more genre-blurring than either Cream or the album that his jazz combo had just recorded 'Things We Like', and so 'Songs For a Tailor' was slotted in and released first. Perhaps some of that rushed feeling can be seen in the short, almost 'sketch-like' nature of some pieces, like the still-effective vocal layering of 'Boston Ball Game 1937' or the pastoral then scattered 'To Isengard.'

Other songs are more fully developed, such as the opener. Featuring George Harrison on guitar, 'Never Tell Your Mother She's Out of Tune' is backed by a small horn section and is a bit of a rocker, while the beautiful 'Theme from an Imaginary Western' is a classic. Other songs will stick with you too, like 'Tickets to Waterfalls' and the melancholy 'Weird of Hermiston.'

'Songs for a Tailor' has a strong first side with a more uneven second half, in an album that well deserves the attention of Jack Bruce and Cream fans, along with those interested in the more progressive or jazzy side of pop. This is an album that showcases Jack on many instruments, perhaps the most notable being piano. It's a key component to the record, and in much of the material on his next few albums too.

It's a four star debut for me. It has a charm that shouldn't be overlooked and while it won't suit every jazz fan, it should please fans of this sub-genre and is essential for fans of Bruce.

js 'Songs for a Tailor' was Jack Bruce's first released album after his split with Cream, and although he displays some similar roots in psychedelic rock, blues and RnB/jazz as he did with Baker and Clapton, this album clearly shows that of the three, Bruce was by far the better and more creative writer. At this early point in his career Bruce sounds poised to rival the greats, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Donald Fagen, take your pick, Jack Bruce really had it going on back then with the jazz influences and unique chord structures. Echos of The Beatles, Hendrix, Ceam, Robert Wyatt and Syd Barret are extended with techniques taken from early proto-fusion jazz artists and the new progressive rock scene in London. If Jack had assembled a permanent band playing this material, they would have been one of the best on the scene. With half of jazz rock pioneers Colosseum on board along with Mountain's Felix Papalardi, and with songs that will show up on Mountain and Colosseum albums, this album takes on an almost 60s 'super group' vibe, possibly an answer to Jack's bandmate's effort in Blind Faith. But it's this lack of a real band that is this album's downfall too. Despite all the clever songwriting and excellent instrumental skills involved here, this still sounds like a 'solo album', which means a little bit better than a demo. There's a rushed unfinished feel to a lot of the production and a certain sameness that makes the songs somewhat numbing over extended plays. Having a real band on board would have pumped some life into these very deserving tunes.

Overall though, this is an excellent freshman effort from Jack Bruce, one of the best songwriters to come from the world of rock music.

Sean Trane Fresh out of Cream, JAcj Bruce went out shopping for heavy friends to make his debut solo album, and one can only be impressed by who he managed to lure back in the studio. Outside Harry Georgesson (only present on the opening track, but remember Goodbye’s Badge song?), we also find Swinging London jazz-scene stalwarts jazzers Harry Beckett and Henry Lowther (both on trumpet) and Art Themen (sax). From another side of JB’s alumni, Colosseum dudes DHS (sax) and Hiseman (who had replaced Jack and Ginger in Graham Bond’s ORGANization), and Chris Spedding (most likely via lyricist Pete Brown’s Ornaments), future Nucleus drummer John Marshall (then with Graham Collier) and finally Papparlardi (the Mountain man and Cream producer). Heavy friends, uh?? Gladly the really heavy dude Leslie West was out of reach ;o))). As for the megalomaniac JB, he sings, basses, pianoes, organs and even cellos on one track.

SFAT is actually JB’s second album, since TWL was recorded in 68, but only released two years later (after the present), and this “debut” album is filled with songs intended for Cream but unused, due to that band’s early demise. And in some ways, despite some sometimes drastically different arrangements, it’s clear that some tracks could’ve been featured on any of the last three Cream releases, but it’s hardly a rule of thumb. Take away the brass from the opener Never Tell, and you’ve got an almost-classic Cream tune. Other Cream-related tunes are Weird Of Hermiston, Boston Ball and Clearout, all three written during the Cream-lifetime, but neither are particularly strong (IMHO), but two of them features the heavy brass section.

You’ll also find two of JB/PB tunes that have been most inspirational to loads f musicians (including Colosseum, who used both tracks in their live shows) like Imaginary Western and Rope Ladder, both could’ve been Cream numbers, but here dramatically changed, the latter featuring Jack’s cello talents. Ministry Of Bag and Richmond are average, but don’t feel like fillers. Isengard’s intro is the album’s most acoustic moment and it also features Felix on vocals alongside JB, but halfway in JB’s bass comes unleashed and Spedding’s guitar follows

The album’s title was a dedication to Jeannie Franklin, a hip LA tailor that made clothes for cream and that died in the Fairport Convention van accident that also killed drummer Lamble. SFAT is JB’s most emblematic solo album, but don’t expect loads of Cream histrionics or even TW’s Lifetime delirium. This is a bunch of fairly-short songs (max 3:30, except for the lengthier Isengard), but little space for major solos. The album is relatively uneven (read too diverse to be really cohesive), but has no real weakness either, and is certainly an important release for its time, and has managed to remain in the publics’ subconscious ever since.