It's incredible looking in hindsight that Jack Bruce had trouble getting his fantastic songs accepted by "the record company." If you look at Cream like a 3 legged stool, you see how important his songs and bass were to the whole along with Clapton's guitar and Baker's contribution of Pressed Rat and Warthog. (Oops... drums.)
"The record company" in this case was Ahmet Ertegun, who had preconceived ideas about the band and who was going to do what. Ertegun didn't anticipate that Jack was the only guy who had any songs to record, and that Eric (whom Ertegun envisioned as being "the guy") really wasn't interested in doing all the singing and being the front man.
Imagine how difficult it must have been for Jack Bruce - the record company didn't believe in him, Ginger argued with him at every opportunity and Eric's mind was clearly elsewhere all throughout Cream, which is evident in how dismissive he has always been of the band. Jack Bruce was an extraordinary talent and he doesn't get anywhere near the credit he richly deserved.
It's incredible looking in hindsight that Jack Bruce had trouble getting his fantastic songs accepted by "the record company." If you look at Cream like a 3 legged stool, you see how important his songs and bass were to the whole along with Clapton's guitar and Baker's contribution of Pressed Rat and Warthog. (Oops... drums.)
His songs were revolutionary. Record companies like to stick with what has worked.
"The record company" in this case was Ahmet Ertegun, who had preconceived ideas about the band and who was going to do what. Ertegun didn't anticipate that Jack was the only guy who had any songs to record, and that Eric (whom Ertegun envisioned as being "the guy") really wasn't interested in doing all the singing and being the front man.
Best trio to come from that era. The Beatles and Hendrix even looked up to Cream
Imagine how difficult it must have been for Jack Bruce - the record company didn't believe in him, Ginger argued with him at every opportunity and Eric's mind was clearly elsewhere all throughout Cream, which is evident in how dismissive he has always been of the band. Jack Bruce was an extraordinary talent and he doesn't get anywhere near the credit he richly deserved.