Whatever Turns You on [Import]

West Bruce & Laing | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Esoteric
• ASIN: B001BTZKIQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,519 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Backfire

2. Token

3. Shifting Sand

4. November Song

5. Rock 'N' Roll Machine

6. Scotch Crotch

7. Slow Blues

8. Dirty Shoes

9. Lke a Plate

Editorial Reviews

2008 digitally remastered edition of this classic Rock album from 1973, the second by the amazing power trio. Forming in 1972, the band brought together Cream bassist, vocalist and writer Jack Bruce with Leslie West and Corky Laing, both from the American band Mountain. Together, WBL recorded three albums, all of which demonstrated the group's power and dexterity. Following the release of their debut, Why Doncha? for CBS Records in Europe, the band moved to RSO Records to record this, their last studio album which featured such classics as "Scotch Krotch". Esoteric.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great powertrio turns you on, September 16, 2008

By 

Bodhi Heeren (Copenhagen) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whatever Turns You on (Audio CD)

This is really a wonderful, totally underrated album. Featuring some of Jack Bruce's finest bassplaying ever, and two of his greatest compositions, "November Song" and "Like A Plate". Whereas Leslie West shines on some Mountain-like heavy blues rockers like "Rock And Roll Machine". But it really is Jack's album, his multilayered vocals and distinct piano/keyboardstyle dominating the picture.

Although all three considers this time a lowpoint in their lives, due to heavy abuses of all sorts, it does not come through in the music which sounds inspired and subtle. From the classic powertriojam ending "Token", the Procol Harum like "Sifting Sand", with one of those powerful Leslie West gospelvocals ,over the delicious piano and guitarduo "Slow Blues" to the avantgardelike ending to "Like A Plate", clearly reflecting Jack's collaboration with Carla Bley on "Escalator Over The Hill".

Time to re-valuate this lost masterwork from a powertrio, that was far better than it's reputation.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tasty Artistry, February 10, 2009

By 

Eric Loy "Eric Loy" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whatever Turns You on (Audio CD)

Every Cream and Mountain fan looked to West, Bruce & Laing with hopes that this combination would even exceed their erstwhile groups. It's a moot point whether it did, but this second of two studio albums produced by West, Bruce & Laing was greatly neglected, as they broke up virtually upon or even prior to its' release. Being a huge Cream and Mountain fan, I'm maybe biased in my rating, but it's some very tasteful and creative material. A sidenote: The Quadrophonic versions of "Why Don'tcha" and "Whatever Turns You On" on vinyl LP's from '72 & '73 have lots of extra guitar tracks in the mixes that will flip you out.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars the long march, October 5, 2008

By 

G. Wallace (Hilliard, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Whatever Turns You on (Audio CD)

This seems to have been re-released for its Jack Bruce material which is nice because they omitted one of his finest songs ("November Song") on the big box set "Can You Follow?" As for "Whatever", evidently the partying got so out of control that West and Laing were unable to finish the record. The production was way overdone at times and they had probably only written half a record. Maybe West only contributed one or two songs. Whoever did the sequencing for this re-release chose some alternate mixes for Backfire and Token at the minimum. Probably if you want to hear the original you should pick up the recently newly available vinyl. I think I paid $5 for a new vinyl record. I enjoyed the Jack Bruce material on this and the other stuff is passable.