West, Bruce & Laing
West, Bruce & Laing was one of those hyped “supergroups” of the ’70s, bringing together heavy heroes Jack Bruce and Leslie West. The act imploded after 18 months, drugs figuring heavily, but their brand of boogie crunch – reissued here on three CDs – remains a blast from our FM past.
1972’s Why Doncha is the better of their two studio albums, opening with a title cut that pairs West’s Sunn-powered thud with Bruce’s blast-furnace bass. West’s slide on “The Doctor” and Cream-like riffing on “Turn Me Over” feel specifically crafted for large coliseums, where the band was a rising sensation. “Pollution Woman” stands out for the Scotsman’s fuzz bass and stellar songwriting.
From 1973, Whatever Turns You On continues in the molten-boogie vein, but without the focus or audio punch of their debut. Jack Bruce’s Gibson EB bass is still explosive during the fadeout of “Token,” while Leslie West delivers a Claptonesque break in the ballad “November Song” then rocks madly on “Rock n’ Roll Machine.” Lastly, West, Bruce & Laing’s posthumous live album, Live ’n Kickin’, has just four jam-style tracks including a respectable “Politician.” More importantly, it captures the trio’s thunderous merger of Cream and Mountain. – Pete Prown
This article originally appeared in VG’s December 2025 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.
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