Customer Reviews

I've Always Wanted to Do This

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For 1980's "I've Always Wanted To Do This," Jack Bruce took a step out of the 'self-indulgent-ME' 70s and leapt out into the world of click tracks, digital reverb and tight studio (albeit bare) production. The album has a feel which can only be found on releases from 1980-1982, but that's okay. Frankly, this IS NOT one of my favorites (thought Hit and Run is quite catchy); and if you're not keen on that particularly thin, dry, 80s Studio-Sound, you probably won't like this...However, it truly is a period piece, and though it may not shine like 1971's Harmony Row or 1977's How's Tricks, it is certainly akin to Picasso's 'blue' period pieces; a slight departure, but nonetheless brilliant...

This is one of Jack's great albums. The strength of writing is univesally strong and the musicianship - as one would expect - of the highest quality.

The album was written and rehearsed at an old manor house on Exmoor in the wilds of North Devon in England during the Summer of 1980. I was working there as a callow youth and my abiding memories of that time:-

1. Waking up to hear Jack working on Bird Alone - with its remarkable riff.
2. Playing Billy's drum kit oblivious to the fact that the entire band was watching my pathetic endeavours,
3. Being comprehensively outplayed at tennis by Clem Clemson
4. Drinking Guiness with Billy and helping him home!!
5. Playing scrabble - and losing - with Jack and Pete Brown

Oh and then there was the music.

For a good idea of what the band sounded live at this time look to the live album - Doing this on Ice.

Jack's music to me, can as a whole be rated a 10. This one is a 9 only compared to the body of his other work. It's not experimental and is just more of classic Jack Bruce. Very solid studio effort. The production is a little (by todays standards) sterile. The song writing style of Jack Bruce on this album seems to be completely unaware or uncaring perhaps of current trends. This doesn't matter much to the listener if the music is taken in an (as is) attitude. In the Album notes Jack comments that he always wanted to get together with these musicians (friends) and do a project. Thus the title. The "fun" they must have had shows through as well as does the obvious meeting of minds

I'm a big fan of Jack Bruce and I was privileged to see this particular line-up twice. This was arguably the best band Jack ever had (including Cream). These guys could play anything from the blues to jazz to rocknroll. So it was very disappointing to hear this album which captured none of the fire, passion, and intensity of the individual members or the band, as a whole. Some of the problem is the song writing. To my mind, this is some of Jack's worst writing - songs like Hit and Run and Dancing on Air are weak. Add to that an overly produced sound combined with polite performances - and you get a very disappointing package. Bird Alone, for instance - which literally took my breath away in performance - here sounds too compressed and too tame. In person - Jack's vocals literally sent shivers down my spine. Not so on this record. In some ways, this CD is a product of its time - a sort of glossy, post-disco era that marred many a recording. Unfortunately, there are many versions of live recordings of this line-up that are available that suffer from poor production quality as well as compromised performances. The best record of this band comes from a WNEW-FM broadcast from the Bottom Line. If you can find it (and so far, I can't) you'll hear what this band can really do. If you don't have Songs for A Tailor, Harmony Row, or Out of the Storm - get those first. They are true masterpieces.

UK-based ESOTERIC RECORDINGS released a new remaster of this CD on August 25th, 2008.

So, there's no need to buy this old, out-of-print, now-sub-standard audio version.

Link to the 2008 remaster.

NOTE: Due to Amazon's programming of having the same reviews appear on multiple versions of any one title, this review also appears unnecessarily on the '08 remaster.

A big sound upgrade for the Jack Bruce record from 1980 and his last American record for a long while. This featured David Sancious from the old E-Street Band, Billy Cobham from Mahavishnu Orchestra (I think) and Clem Clempson from Colosseum and Humble Pie. I hadn't known that Sancious and Clempson were serious fusionistas but they make this a pop record with fusion accents. I love the record, although I admit there are few really strong songs ("Mickey the Fiddler", "Running Back", and "Dancing on Air" are best IMO). Cobham's surprisingly sweet "Wind and the Sea" seemed ludicrous when I first heard it and now resonates very readily (28 years gets rid of some irony I guess). I think Jack sang too histrionically on some of the record ("In This Way" for example). Sancious is a wonderful synth player and also helped out with some screaming fusion guitar. I haven't heard enough of his music.

The album has some great songs(Bird Alone),some average songs(Facelift 318)and some not so memorable tunes but in concert this band rocked.Jacks booming bass,Billy Cobhams masterful drumming, david sancious on keyboards and Clem Clemson on guitar. The show was great.They did songs from jacks entire repetoire and I had a great time.If you can find The Bottom Line NYC 1980 Bootleg I would recommend it highly.

Jack Bruce, Clem Clemson, David Sancious and Billy Cobham....THAT SAYS IT ALL!!!!!

I wish CDs would accurately list the recording dates. This site lists the CD as being released in 1997, but the actual recording date is 1980! Regardless, the songwriting and performances are bland at best. Boring prog/rock via lounge music, no barriers broken, and not indicative of Jack Bruce at his best. I tend to think the release was delalyed for good reason...boring stuff.

Can I get a refund?