Old-time supergroups were fleeting entities – unlike today’s gatherings of well-known musicians, who commune for a while, go away and get together again, they exploded rather soon, bursting under the weight of individual members’ talents – and the fact that WEST, BRUCE & LAING stayed on for only two studio platters is a good case in point. The two years Jack Bruce, Leslie West and Corky Laing worked as a unit seemed fabulous, however, despite the players’ desire to rely heavily, in concert, on the material they had originally recorded with CREAM and MOUNTAIN, yet the trio’s third offering, “Live ‘n’ Kickin'” from 1974, wasn’t representative of the ensemble’s onstage repertoire. Strangely, nobody ever attempted to restore it, and the forthcoming “Out In The Fields” collection includes the classic four cuts – unlike the “Live At Circus Krone – April 13, 1973” album which will precede it.
Live At Circus Krone –
April 13, 1973
To be issued on September 26th, this disc may not feature the cover of “Play With Fire” alongside Jack’s pre-WBL number “Powerhouse Sod” and “The Doctor” from the band’s debut, but there are such staples as “Mississippi Queen” and “Sunshine Of Your Love” next to “Roll Over Beethoven” and a few tracks from the “Why Dontcha” LP that are the most interesting pieces on what previously was a bootleg. Given that the bulk of the collective’s unofficial recordings hark back to 1972, rather than 1973, this one feels essential.
1. Don’t Look Around
2. Pleasure
3. Why Dontcha
4. Third Degree
5. Mississippi Queen
6. Roll Over Beethoven
7. Powerhouse Sod
8. Politician
9. Sunshine Of Your Love
10. The Doctor
