West Bruce & Laing - Out In The Fields- Progressive Voyages Review PV070
Why Doncha – Out Into The Fields – West Bruce & Laing – Progressive Voyages Review PV070
Now as I am in my 66th year of existing and with the sad prospect of an illness Vascular Dementia) acquired as a result of my stroke on the 31st July 2017, I find myself reflecting on the life I have experienced and with that I find myself to be in a good place in my life with so much to be thankful for and grateful for, The friends I still have around me, my fellow stroke and Dementia survivors, my mother and brother are still with us, my 2 grandchildren, Jack (11 shortly) and baby Theodore ( 3 months and growing and developing daily now) and above all I am blessed to be loved and cared for by a wonderful wife who has bought me deep happiness and a realisation that life is best shared peacefully and quietly but above all together as a strong supportive team.
Add to this the power of music that I am blessed to enjoy, appreciate and relish. Since starting Progressive Voyages, I have been fortunate enough to continue relationships with both Esoteric and Bad Dog Promotions. And also with Tenacity PR an offshoot of Inside out / K Scope who have each allowed me continued access to their new releases such as this latest release of the full back catalogue of a band who had masses of talent and good material but who were always maligned by the music press and thus never really received the respect and aclaim they were rightly due.
That band were West, Bruce and Laing, that’s guitarist Leslie West, Bassist Jack Bruce and Drummer Corky Laing. West and Laing coming from US legends and Jack Bruce coming from Cream. Formed in 1971 Mountain had run its course when Felix Pappalardi bowed out of the band leaving West & Laing, who were still keen to play live, elected to look for musicians to form a new project with. Initially they were looking at Paul Rodgers and Mick Ralph’s, but whilst in London they met Jack Bruce who was open to revisiting the Power Trio format. After a rehearsal at Island Studios in Basing Street, plans were put in place for the trio to record their debut album at The Record Plant in New York with Andy John’s Co- producing the album. The trio played 2 sold out shows at Carnegie Hall at which Clive Davis offered them a deal on the spot. There was however the issue of getting their respective managers to agree, for West and Laing that was Bud Prager and for Bruce it was Robert Stigwood. After getting this issue resolved the three could then proceed to recording their debut album.
That album Why Doncha was released in November 1972. It charted in America although as it was seen as Clive Davis’s baby when he left Columbia to launch Arista Records (he was sacked from Columbia over alleged tax evasion and financial irregularities). This meant that Columbia were not fully behind WBL possibly seeing them as a rich revenue stream to be milked and who thus didn’t need much support or attention. This allowed the band to fall into some pretty heavy drug use, which whilst it didn’t affect their playing unduly or the ability to tour it did hasten the dissolution of the band. Which meant their next album Whatever Turns You On (1973) was somewhat flawed and perhaps did not quite reach the heights intended or that they had for themselves.
It was however a very strong album with a tougher sound than Why Doncha, with the majority of the track being group compositions, apart from November Song and Like A Plate that were Jack Bruce and Pete Brown compositions.
The music is rawer and more energetic somehow with Bruce’s bass being equally to the fore and sounding very fine indeed as is the case on Token. The softer song November Song is widely regarded as one of Bruce’s finest, but herein loses out amongst the other material on offer, like the storming Rock & Roll Machine, Scotch Crotch and the like.
This second album improves on its predecessor admirably, but it was too late once the drugs kicked in sadly. The trio realised that this behaviour had to change, This called for a change and so decided to walk away from each other in order to stay alive. West and Laing formed the Leslie West’s Wild West show and Jack Bruce recorded his classic Out Of The Storm album in November 1974. Just prior to announcing the band break up in April 1974 weeks before releasing their live album recorded on their last US tour. Live “N” Kicking was their final album being just 4 songs in length, but these being long tracks that showed the Trio in fine fettle where they were best – live on stage as this last album captures very wonderfully, it may be a mere 4 songs but what excellent performances they deliver here, its a shame they couldn’t extend the album with other live tracks that surely exist, but what is here is great.
Growing up as I did in the 1970’s these albums were a common fixture in the record shops I used to frequent although to my shame I never actually never ever heard them so this fine set allows me to discover what I missed out on all those years ago and yes, I do regret not being more observant than I was at the time and thus missed out on first time around.
It’s the usual high quality reissue from Esoteric With a decent booklet and the albums in card sleeves in a clamshell box, certainly worth considering I feel.
Info here: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/west-bruce-laing-out-in-the-fields-the-albums-1972-1974-3cd-clamshell-box-set?srsltid=AfmBOopVyNCWzDanCAkyCsxveBBLwFnG9xBSNRC5DqJoMsHZ9UfdePR9
Author John Wenlock-Smith