(This is part of a series of blogs Ive been doing on some of the groups and on some of the perhaps

lesser-known songwriters and players behind some of rocks classic artists and songs. So far: Jeff Lynne,
Bob Seger, Long John Baldry, Tony Joe White, Harry Nilsson, Glen Campbell, Paul Revere & The Raiders,
Johnny Rivers, The Rascals, Rick Nelson, Del Shannon, Badfinger, Bob Marley.)
IN HONOR OF JACK BRUCE: CREAM BASSIST, SONGWRITER
& FELIX PAPPALARDI, PRODUCER
Jack Bruce, who was a bass player, vocalist, and songwriter for Cream, passed
away Oct. 25. He was best known for the 60s blues-rock British band, Cream
with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker. But he was trained as a cellist and was
considered to be one of rocks best bassists.
He started out in the early 60s as part of Alexis Korners Blues Incorporated (see
my article on Long John Baldry) which included at the time as well: later Cream
drummer, Ginger Baker, organist Graham Bond, and guitarist, John McLaughlin.
They recorded two Graham Bond Organization records in 1963. Bruce then joined
John Mayalls Bluesbreakers, where he met Eric Clapton and he had also played
briefly in 66 with Manfred Mann and their hit, Pretty Flamingo.
But it was when Clapton, Bruce and Baker formed Cream, that they were most
commercially successful. Bruce not only provided the bass but also shared vocals
with Clapton and co-wrote with lyricist, Pete Brown, many of their big hits like
Sunshine of Your Love, White Room and his Toad. Creams classic album is
1967s Disraeli Gears.
Felix Pappalardi, another influential bass player, produced Disraeli Gears.
Pappalardi, as well as producing, also co-wrote with Clapton their song, Strange
Brew. Pappalardi also was behind their 2Lp set, Wheels on Fire, the next year,
and the band considered him to be almost the fourth member, he had such an
influence on them. Pappalardi had also produced the 1
st
Youngbloods album with
the 60s anthem, Get Together and would later found the heavy-rock band
Mountain and write their hit, Mississippi Queen.
Cream became known for their live shows with their long improvisational solos (
some said they went on too long), which are captured on their Live Cream
albums. Their final record was Goodbye which included Claptons and George
Harrisons great song, Badge. But by that time, they disbanded, and Clapton,
Baker, and Traffics Stevie Winwood, under pressure from their management,
formed the supergroup, Blind Faith, which again soon imploded after only one
album. Bruce released his first solo album, Songs from a Tailor in 69.
After, Bruce would go in a more jazzy direction, (which he said, he always
considered himself more a jazz player). So he reconnected with guitarist, John
McLaughlin, from the old Blues Incorporated, and drummer, Tony Williams in the
Tony Williams Lifetime band in the early 70s.
In 1972, Bruce joined Felix Pappalardis former Mountain band members, Leslie
West and Corky Laing to form West Bruce and Lang. Bruce would go on to play on
several peoples albums, Lou Reeds Berlin, the Stones Mick Taylor and their
piano player, Ian Stewart, from his Alexis Korner days, and John McLaughlins
Mahavishnu Orchestra with drummer, Billy Cobham in the 70s and 80s.
By the 80s, Bruces drug habits had made him bankrupt, but he did release two
albums with guitarist, Robin Trower. And for the next several years he would
make several guest appearances with buddies like Rory Gallager and Gary Moore
and even a couple reunion shows with Clapton.
Felix Pappaladi was a bassist, producer, and very influential for many musicians.
He also played on or was the arranger for several artists albums besides Cream,
Mountain and Youngbloods: Tom Paxton, Fred Neil, Richie Havens, and the
Canadians, Buffy Saint-Marie, Ian & Sylvia, and Kensington Market and many
others. He was shot by his long-time wife, who co-wrote many of their songs,
after an argument and died, in 1983.
Bruce was part of Ringo Starrs touring All-Star bands with Peter Frampton from
the late 90-2000. But in 2003, even though he had finally kicked his drug habit,
he got liver cancer and had a transplant. He passed away on Oct. 25, 2014 of liver
disease at the age of 71. Bruce, the Scottish bassist, was in some great rock,
blues, and jazz groups and was considered one of rocks best bassists and co-
wrote some classic Cream songs.
See below Cream & Jack Bruce perform, Sunshine of Your Love, from Disraeli
Gears:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbqQL0J_Vr0

http://youtu.be/HbqQL0J_Vr0