Cities Of The Heart
This nicely packaged two-CD box set presents legendary rock bassist/vocalist/composer Jack Bruce and his very reputable musical associates performing live in Cologne, Germany. Originally touted as a limited-edition double CD upon its release in 1993, the CMP label subsequently witnessed production/distribution problems, yet in 2001 it seemed as though the German fusion/rock record label might commence reissuing some CDs from its impressive back catalog. These two discs intimate an intriguing insight into Bruce's career, other than his well-known affiliation with '60s rock power trio Cream. Here, the artist renders a few soulful ballads, ventures into free jazz territory with saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith and ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker, and also utilizes a brass section for a sprightly R&B rendition of "Born Under a Bad Sign." An added treat here is the teaming of British guitar hero Gary Moore with Bruce and Baker for a series of hard rock-blues pieces culled from the Cream songbook.
— Glenn Astarita
Tracks
1. Can You Follow
Jack Bruce; vocals, piano
The concert starts with just Jack on his piano, and singing of course.
2. Running Thro' Our Hands
Jack Bruce: vocals, piano
Gary Husband: keyboards
Still a beautiful song.
3. Over The Cliff
Jack Bruce: bass
Dick Heckstall-Smith: saxophone
Ginger Baker: drums
These guys immediately got the atmosphere of that good jazz from "Things we like". Really great bass playing by Jack, with that rhytmic power of Ginger Baker backing him up. The quality of Dick Heckstall-Smith needs no further explanation.
4. Statues
Jack Bruce: bass
Dick Heckstall-Smith: saxophone
Ginger Baker: drums
Dick Heckstall-Smith shows that he is still a great saxophone player.
5. First Time I Met The Blues
Jack Bruce: bass, vocals
Clem Clempson: guitar
Dick-Heckstall-Smith: saxophone
Ginger Baker: drums
Yes, here's the blues. You can sense that these four musicians really enjoy playing together. Some great guitar solos by Clem Clempson. But don't forget they're used to playing together (Clem and Dick in Colosseum and Jack and Ginger in the Cream, and of course Clem and Dick have played together with Jack on several recordings).
6. Smiles And Grins
Jack Bruce: bass, vocals, piano
Clem Clempson: guitar ;
Dick-Heckstall-Smith: saxophone
Art Themen: saxophone ;
Bernie Worrell: hammond organ
Malcolm Bruce: synthesizer ;
Gary Husband: drums
This version is even better than the original one on the Harmony Row album. Partly because it is such a perfect song to perform live, and partly because of the addition of the saxophones. Besides that, Clem Clempson plays a different style of guitar playing than Chris Spedding. And last but not least, it's Bernie Worrell on the hammond organ!
7. Bird Alone
Jack Bruce: bass, vocals
Clem Clempson: guitar
Bernie Worrell: hammond organ, piano
Gary Husband: drums
Great up-tempo song, with these driving bass and guitar lines. Jack singing this one real fast. He can hardly keep up with himself. The second part of the song is much slower, but has still so much power.
8. Neighbor, Neighbor
Jack Bruce: bass, vocals
Clem Clempson: guitar
Dick Heckstall-Smith: saxophone
Art Themen: saxophone
Henry Lowther: trumpet
John Mumford: trombone
Bernie Worrell: hammond organ
Simon Phillips: drums
As you can see on the line-up, this is a more jazzy song, with a blues feeling to it. I love that saxophone solo in the middle of the song. Lovely guitar solo by Clem Clempson.
9. Born Under A Bad Sign
Jack Bruce: bass, vocals
Clem Clempson: guitar
Dick Heckstall-Smith: saxophone
Art Themen: saxophone
Henry Lowther: trumpet
John Mumford: trombone
Bernie Worrell: hammond organ
Jason Bruce: piano
Simon Phillips: drums
A classical one, that we all know from the Cream. These horns give this song that little extra that makes it different from other performances. Good guitar playing by Clem Clempson (I've always liked the Jack Bruce recordings on which he participates).
10. Ships In The Night
Jack Bruce: vocals
Maggie Reilly: vocals
Clem Clempson: acoustic and electric guitar
Malcolm Bruce: acoustic guitar
Bernie Worrell: hammond organ
Gary Husband; piano
François Garny: bass
Simon Phillips; drums
As I stated on the "Willpower" review, this is a great song. I do like the studio recording better. An exception i want to make for that beautiful guitar solo by Clem Clempson.
11. Never Tell Your Mother She's Out Of Tune
Jack Bruce: vocals
Clem Clempson: guitar
Dick Heckstall-Smith: saxophone
Art Themen: saxophone
Henry Lowther: trumpet
John Mumford: trombone
François Garny: bass
Simon Phillips: drums
One of my all time favorites. They could have played this one a bit faster. it's losing a bit of it's power, that was so typical for this song
12. Theme For An Imaginary Western
Jack Bruce: vocals, piano
Clem Clempson: guitar
Bernie Worrell: hammond organ
François Garny: bass
Simon Phillips; drums
Classical Jack Bruce song, performed also by several other bands / performers, such as Colosseum and Leslie West. i repeat myself, but Clem Clempson is doing a real great job in this concert. I love the contrast with the Gary Moore performances in this concert (Clem playing melodious, laid back and Gary playing more heavy).
13. Golden Days
Jack Bruce: vocals, piano ;
Gary "Mudbone" Cooper: vocals
Clem Clempson: acoustic guitar
Bernie Worrell: hammond organ
François Garny: bass ;
Simon Phillips; drums
Jack and "Mudbone" complementing each other perfectly.
14. Life On Earth
Jack Bruce: vocals, bass
Gary Moore: guitar
Simon Phillips: drums
From here the concert changes. Only guitar, bass and drums left, together of course with the vocals. I can be wrong, but I had the impression, looking at the concert, that Jack especially liked this part. Until this moment, the concert was good, but from here on it got more powerful, with plenty of room for improvising.
15. NSU
Jack Bruce: vocals, bass
Gary Moore: guitar, vocals
Ginger Baker; drums
Ginger Baker joined here. He still knows how to play the drums, and his playing, as always, forms a perfect basis for improvisation. Gary Moore proves an excellent choice for an alternative to Eric Clapton. He feels perfectly how these songs have to be played. great guitar solos combined with bass playing as in the Cream days. The improvisations are extremely good, considering the fact that this is the first time Moore and Bruce play together (except for the fact that Jack has sung one song on the Moore album "Corridors of Power".
16. Sitting On Top Of The World
Jack Bruce: vocals, bass
Gary Moore: guitar
Ginger Baker; drums
Another blues classic. I always liked this song on live Cream recordings, but I think this performance is even better.
17. Politician
Jack Bruce: vocals, bass
Peter Brown: vocals
Gary Moore: guitar
Ginger Baker: drums
This song has been performed by Jack on several recordings, although this is the first time I hear Pete Brown, the writer of the lyrics, sing it. This performance of the song does not reach the quality / atmosphere as performed by West, Bruce & Laing on their live album.
18. Spoonful
Jack Bruce: vocals, bass
Gary Moore: guitar
Ginger Baker; drums
Another classic. Magnificent performance. It's played more "staccato" than Cream used to play it, but somehow this song needs that.
19. Sunshine of your love
Jack Bruce: vocals, bass
Gary "Mudbone" Cooper
Clem Clempson: guitar
Malcolm Bruce; acoustic guitar
Dick Heckstall-Smith: saxophone
Art Themen: saxophone
Henry Lowther: trumpet
John Mumford: trombone
Bernie Worrell: hammond organ
Gary Husband: piano
Jonas Bruce: synthesizer
François Garny: bass
Ginger Baker: drums
Simon Phillips: drums
Pete Brown: percussion
The "grand finale" with this all time Cream classic. Special attention for Clem Clempson on guitar and Bernie Worrell on the hammond organ.