Album review : JACK BRUCE – Harmony Row (Expanded 2 CD : 2 Blu-ray Boxset edition)

Cherry Red [Release date : 27.06.25]

Glasgow boy Jack Bruce was brought up on Harmony Row, a mile long stretch of tenements in Govan, on the south bank of the Clyde.

They’re gone now of course, as is Bruce, god rest him, but the music remains.

His songwriting collaboration with lyricist, Pete Brown, a prolific writer of poetry and prose, and an ardent advocate of British beat poetry, began with Cream, (together they wrote ‘I Feel Free’, ‘White Room’ and ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’) and this partnership continued into his solo work.

The PR describes this 4 CD set as the “definitive version” of Harmony Row. And it is.

Bruce’s “not like Cream” album explores the Proggy/Jazzy (a little) side of his musical genius, often just him playing piano, vocalising Brown’s unconventional, often irreverant lyrics (shades of Genesis, at times) on ’Can You Follow’ and ‘Escape To The Royal Wood’.

There’s more here of course, Chris Spedding contributes spare guitarwork, and John Marshall, percussion, but it’s unquestionably Bruce’s album. Arguably, the elegant, Procol Harum (ish) ‘Folk Song’, and ‘Consul At Sunset’, warmed by a lazy, Latin shuffle are the standouts, but in all honesty you could make that argument for most of the tracks here.

And that’s no surprise, the album has been lauded by all the key websites.

What this boxset edition is :

CD1 : the original album, remastered, with 4 bonus tracks.

CD2 : the original album in new stereo mixes, from the expert hand of renowned audio engineer, sound design/mixer, Stephen W. Taylor. (plus another 4 bonus tracks).

CD3 : BLU-RAY : the original album, re-tooled in 96 kHz / 24-bit, 5.1 Surround Sound & stereo mixes by Taylor. (plus more bonus tracks)

CD4 : BLU-RAY : Jack Bruce and Friends, Granada TV 1971. Plus 5 tracks from WDR TV programme 1972.

Quite some collection. Quite some treatment.

This album deserves it. *****

Review by Brian McGowan

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