Search - Jack Bruce :: Harmony Row

Jack the musician

Scott A. Z. Heinekamp | Aurora NY | 10/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pop music at its finest: loud, intelligent, massively surprising, quiet and reflective and too-composed and then wackily bluesy. Song after song creating an atmosphere of britain, of musical thinking, of sorrow and hope. Jack doing 12-tone singing to open the record on "Can You Follow" and then that eases via interlude into "Escape to the Royal Wood (On Ice)", which through its melody and its changes and its production and its confidence lets you know this album will consume you and transport you. Two or three women in my life, strangers, to Jack, fell in love with "Folk Song". I particularly love "Post War" for its lyrics as well as its willingness to be seen as the heir to "He the Richmond", another of Jack's equally offhand masterpieces (that one from 'Songs for a Tailor'). HR is a perfect album, in the way that a perfect album is breaks every rule and creates its own musical universe. The reissue is, as has been stated, beautifully done. The only thing lacking is the cool digi-pack sunset shot of Jack staring out to sea. The impact of the album as artifact was considerable, in other words. In all, Jack (and Pete Brown, for this album is a true collaborations) created a transcendentally great LP."

Bruce's terrific album finally back in print with good bonus

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 04/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Undeservedly long out of print, Jack Bruce's third solo album remains my favorite even if it is a bit less dynamic and consistent than his second ("Songs for a Tailor" was his second album."Things We Like" his jazz-rock instrumental recording was recorded first while he was a member of Cream but released second)album, the best songs here show growth.



When I listened to this re-release (I didn't pick it up on CD when it was released before as it went out print pretty quickly)recently, I was struck with how Bruce's opening track "Can You Follow?" reminded me of Peter Gabriel (or vice versa since Bruce came first). It's a great piano based ballad (which Bruce plays). "You Burned The Tables On Me" is a driving jazz inflected rocker that dominates the album. Many of the tracks here began with Bruce playing it on piano and then having the rest of the band add their parts. Once again guitarist Chris Spedding and drummer John Marshall appear (along with a guest appearence by former Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell). Bruce's bass playing (always a highlight of any band he's been a member of)is outstanding as are his vocals. The album sounds better as well with Bruce in the producer's chair himself this time.



This reissue features extensive liner notes about the production of the album and bonus tracks. Although the bonus tracks are limited to demos and alternate mixes the reissue engineer Paschall Byrne and reissue producer Mark Powell include some first rate outtakes/alternate mixes. We get the first take of "Can You Follow This?" with just Bruce singing while accompanying himself on piano. "Green Hills" is Bruce playing the same song (which doesn't have vocals. Pete Brown also hadn't provided lyrics yet). "Escape To the Royal Wood (on Ice)" is an unfinished alternate take without the vocals. Likewise "There's a Forest" is an alternate mix that's worthwhile for Bruce fans to hear. Byrne and Powell master this classic perfectly--no compression to make it sound overloud and the album isn't EQ's to death allowing the dynamic range of the original release to survive intact on CD. I can't compare this to the previous version on CD because I only had this on vinyl. It compares favorably to the vinyl version and sounds remarkably warm and airy.



Although a bit more subdued than "Tailor", "Harmony Row" features some of Bruce's most melodic songwriting and playing to date. If it is a tad less consistent, the highlights to me are better than the best tracks on "Tailor". Bruce's albums after this would be a bit hit or miss but all of them have worthwhile moments. Unfortunately some of his best albums later in his career are out of print again. I'd also recommend-



Things We Like and Songs for a Tailor as well as More Jack Than God



"