Live at the Manchester Free Trade Hall 1975 [Import]

Jack Bruce | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1975
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Polydor
• ASIN: B00008LKHR
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,642 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fiery performance...and a rough mix, May 14, 2003

By 

Jason A. Levine (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Live at the Manchester Free Trade Hall 1975 (Audio CD)

Perhaps I should qualify the 4 star rating first...

This performance from June of 1975 truly showcases the insane mastery of Jack Bruce and friends (including the fabulous Carla Bley on keys & synth, Bruce Gary on drums). This band was hot - and their seamless performance shines like the best of rock fusion circa this period.

Now, as I found out in the liner notes, these tracks were actually from a rough-mix master made sometime in August of 1975 when the multitrack still existed, indicating that this live performance could have been a release around that time. Unfortunately, that never happened, and this stereo rough mix was the only remaining master.

What does rough mix mean? For starters, no more multitrack, stereo only. Generally when the mix engineer is selectively listening to a performance (live or studio) he/she tends to get a little experimental with instrument balances, play with faders and EQ, and keep the voice very up front and clear. This is indeed the case here. What's missing? Well, Jack's bass is fairly buried on several of the tracks, and Carla is merely heard in the background. This is a shame because both of them (along with Ron Leahy and Mick Taylor) were really playing their hearts out - and unfortunately, some of it gets a little lost.

What *do* you get? Well, for one, Jack's voice never sounded hotter, and the clarity and depth of his vocal in this show will astound you. Though the drums tend to go from slightly buried to 'just right', you never lose the groove, and the pace and precision is incredible. If nothing else, just to have a *complete show* with inter-song banter and announcements makes the price of this disc worth it. I mean, how often today can you actually buy the 'full' concert? Not very...and the rendition of "Sunshine", though slightly lyrically bizarre, is very good and again, a hot take on an old fave.

If you don't have the 'BBC/Old Grey Whistle Test' CD, definitely pick this one up. BBC/OGWT is in Mono, but the mix tends to be a little more balanced (though slightly distorted). Overall, this is a great release and a fantastic aural memory of a musically mesmerizing time.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing performances, May 17, 2003

By 

Robert J. Salo (Anaheim Hills , Ca United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Live at the Manchester Free Trade Hall 1975 (Audio CD)

It's hard to listen to this and believe that the tapes lay in a vault somewhere for 28 years! Some of this sounds like advanced Cream, some of it sounds like King Crimson. All of it stunning. The rough mix and occassional "pops" and "noises" do not detract at all, in my opinion. A better recording would have been great, but I've heard MUCH worse than this. I'm not going to go over each track and review. If you are even reading this then you already must be somewhat of a Jack Bruce fan and if you dont have this already then get it-got it!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ragged Glory - The Jack Bruce Band Live And Raw, July 23, 2006

By 

El Lagarto (Sandown, NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live at the Manchester Free Trade Hall 1975 (Audio CD)

Those who expect digitized acoustic perfection are advised to look elsewhere; this is a raw recording of a live show. If you can see beyond that limitation then you have a real treat in store. This concert recording, only recently discovered, is from an exceedingly interesting period in Bruce's career, demonstrating broad ranging interests that spanned jazz, rock, and even classical. (Bruce once noted that one might easily learn music theory simply by studying the baselines of Bach.)

In addition to Bruce, who is spectacular on bass and vocals, it features "dream team" members Carla Bley and Mick Taylor. (Bruce had worked on Bley's astounding "Escalator Over The Hill" some years earlier.) Ronnie Leahy also plays keyboards while Bruce Gary is clearly working up a sweat kicking skins.

As an insufferable musical snob who has performed music I am always drawn to live performances because I believe this is where one separates the Cheese from the Cheese Whiz. Today, almost anybody (no matter how talentless) with time, money, and access to a studio can sound good - examples are so easy to find I don't feel compelled to provide one. But for musicians to set up and play this well live - in Manchester! - that's another story. And to do it with no after-the-fact sweetening, well, now you know you've got genius on your hands.

The program is built around Bruce, his incredibly athletic bass lines and high-octane vocals carry the day. However, the show's only instrumental number, the Tony Williams composition Spirit, is the jewel here. Set smack dab in the show's center, this track takes you down in front of the stage for a visceral sense of what it was like to witness this exceptional performance. Always nice to see a kid from Glasgow do well.