Can You Follow-6CD box set [Box set]

This box has come in for a lot of criticism from Bruce-ologists - and I understand their disappointment. Compilations on this scale (6 CDs, the equivalent of about 11 vinyl LPs) are traditionally designed for the hardcore-fan - one expects unreleased and/or bootleg-only material to take priority over previously-released material. The reverse is true here, there's hardly a rarity to be had.
However, this box is still capable of serving a purpose. I managed to get my copy for less than £30 (Amazon Marketplace please note!!) and I would advise anyone who happens by it at a discount price to snap it up immediately. For a simple reason - if you've heard a lot about Bruce's post-Cream career, but heard little or none of it, this is what you've been needing.
Because of his '60s origins, Bruce is generally known for two things - blues-rock a la Cream, and jazz-rock fusion. Both are well-represented here (and there may be too much of the former: let's face it, Graham Bond really wasn't that good. and he's the dominant personality on Disc 1) but the listener may be surprised at the sophistication and intelligence in the Bruce solo material which dominates the second half of the set. This is the potential revelation of the box set. Most of it is heavily electronic pop-rock, verging on prog-rock, all of ir thoroughly permeated by the kind of fanciful chord-progressions/harmonic environments (not to mention rhythms) one would expect of a bass-playing bandleader, especially one who knows his jazz stuff. The icing on the cake: his vocal strength has hardly been diminished at all by the passage of time - let's face it, even in his dotage he's one of the greatest rock singers in the world, up there with Gabriel, Hammill, R Smith, you name it. If this is adult-oriented rock, then it's better - as in just-plain more musical - than anything Eric Clapton was doing during the same time-period.
In fact my only criticism of this set is that it overlooks his ventures into pure jazz (with the likes of Charlie Mariano and Lew Tabackin) and theatrical-jazz-rock-fusion (with Michael Mantler and/or Carla Bley: everyone should hear `Many Have No Speech' and `The School Of Understanding' once in their lives!). And that's not really relevant: this set could easily preoccupy a novice listener for weeks on end, which is recommendation enough.

For his 65th birthday the legendary bassist, vocalist & songwriter gets the box set treatment.

There is very little here that the dedicated Bruceophile will not have in one format or another, but to be fair it is not aimed at that market (hopefully the box set of rarities will follow)This is very much aimed at those people who found Jack at his commercial peak in Cream and left him after Songs for a Tailor. For those lucky people discovering these masterpieces for the first time it will be a total revelation.

Cd One reveals Jack prior to the formation of Cream, a heady mix of Rythmn & Blues with Alexis Korner, Graham Bond, John Mayall & Manfred Mann. Yes, Jack almost had a whole career BEFORE Cream, and this style was to prove a big influence on the content of Songs for a Tailor.

CD Two has a mighty selection of Bruce/Brown Cream classics ( but why two versions of Traintime and no Sleepy Time Time) The first half of CD 3 contains most of Songs for a Tailor, but it will be the remaining 3 1/2 CDs that will stun the casual listener.

Based around his dozen solo albums from 1971's Harmony Row to 2003's More Jack Than God, the quality control of the songwriting (largely with lyricist Pete Brown), the musicianship and rocks greatest bass & voice never falls below astounding.

Interspersed between the solo tracks are collaborations with Tony Williams Lifetime,Leslie West,Frank Zappa, Robin Trower & Gary Moore. Cherry picked their quality is again of the highest order.The only significant omission is any track from his work with Kip Hanrahan in the decade from 1985, but I guess Hanrahan is worth a box set of his own.

So for those who forgot about Jack in 1969, or still belive Clapton was the real talent in Cream, an essential purchase and one that will be marvelled at.

This is a splendid collection, which has some fantastic rarely heard pre-Cream material. A treasure trove which proved beyond doubt how great Jack Bruce 's music is on a range of measures.

Superlative!