A Question of Time (album)
A Question of Time is a studio album by the Scottish musician Jack Bruce, released on 3 October 1989 by Epic Records.[1] It was his first album for a major label in nearly a decade.[2] He supported it with a North American tour.[3]
| A Question of Time | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 3 October 1989 | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll, funk, blues, blues rock | |||
| Length | 52:48 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Jack Bruce, Joe Blaney | |||
| Jack Bruce chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
Vernon Reid played guitar on "Life on Earth".[4] Ginger Baker played drums on two tracks.[5] Bruce wrote many of the songs with Pete Brown.[6] "Blues You Can't Lose" is a cover of the Willie Dixon song.[7]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [9] |
The Washington Post noted that the "music sounds oddly self-referential, as if Bruce is intent on making us aware of the pivotal but overlooked role he played in the rise of Cream."[10] The Orlando Sentinel opined that "Bruce's reedy tenor is agile and passionate, and his songwriting range is broad."[9]
The Columbus Dispatch deemed the album "a hard-driving amalgam of blues, funk and rock."[11] The San Jose Mercury News concluded that "the evocative, ethereal ballad 'Make Love' is one of his best songs, and his voice is a warbling treasure."[12]
AllMusic wrote that the album "uses his mastery of jazz, pop, acoustic, and blues to give listeners what Jack Bruce does best: rock & roll."[8]
Track listing
All tracks composed by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown; except where indicated
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Life on Earth" | Jack Bruce | 3:20 |
| 2. | "Make Love" | 3:37 | |
| 3. | "No Surrender" | 4:25 | |
| 4. | "Flying" | 4:45 | |
| 5. | "Hey Now Princess" | 3:17 | |
| 6. | "Blues You Can't Lose" | Willie Dixon | 5:26 |
| 7. | "Obsession" | 3:55 | |
| 8. | "Kwela" | Bruce | 5:20 |
| 9. | "Let Me Be" | 4:44 | |
| 10. | "Only Playing Games" | 4:42 | |
| 11. | "A Question of Time" | Bruce | 5:33 |
| 12. | "Grease the Wheels" | 3:44 |
Personnel
- Jack Bruce – vocals, bass, keyboards (2, 3), piano (4, 11), cello (9, 11), acoustic guitar (9, 10), synthesizer (1, 10), harmonica (6)
- Jimmy Ripp (1–6, 8, 10–12), Vernon Reid (1), Albert Collins (6), Vivian Campbell (7), Malcolm Bruce (12) – guitar
- Paul Barrere – slide guitar (4)
- Allan Holdsworth – guitar (7), SynthAxe (10)
- Bernie Worrell – piano (2), keyboards (3), Melodica (11), Hammond organ (4, 5, 12), synth (2), Clavinet (12), backing vocals (2, 8, 9)
- Nicky Hopkins (6), Jonas Bruce (9) – piano
- Dougie Bowne (1–4, 6, 9–12), Ginger Baker (5,7), Tony Williams (8) – drums
- Mark Nauseef – Ghanaian drums (2, 8–10), percussion (2, 5, 9)
- Zakir Hussain – tablas (8, 11)
- Steve Jordan – percussion (2)
- The Savage Horns – John Abernathy – saxophone (4, 8, 9)
- Gary "Bone" Cooper – backing vocals (2, 8, 9, 12)
- The Golden Gate Boys Choir, The SoMa Footlights Chorus – choir
References
- Jefferson, Graham (10 October 1989). "Cream's bassist rises again". USA Today. p. 5D.
- Campbell, Mary (14 October 1989). "Jack Bruce Is Hoping for Another Rise to the Top with New Album". Los Angeles Times. p. F9.
- Brodeur, Scott (11 December 1989). "Jack Bruce Mixes Up '60s Stuff". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. C5.
- "Riff keeps coming back to haunt creator". Calgary Herald. Knight-Ridder. 2 November 1989. p. C6.
- Varga, George (2 November 1989). "Duo from old Cream may rise to top again". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D9.
- Lustig, Jay (3 December 1989). "Bassist Jack Bruce Likes Hearing Sound, Any Kind of Sound". The Star-Ledger. News.
- Radel, Cliff (20 October 1989). "Reviews to You". USA Today.
- Joe Viglione. "A Question of Time – Jack Bruce – Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- Gettelman, Parry (24 November 1989). "Eric Clapton Jack Bruce". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 14.
- Joyce, Mike (5 November 1989). "Return of the Rock Warhorses". The Washington Post. p. G4.
- Eichenberger, Bill (8 December 1989). "Blues Rocker Bruce Shining On His Own". The Columbus Dispatch. p. 3E.
- Sumrall, Harry (17 December 1989). "Jack Bruce: A Question of Time". Arts. San Jose Mercury News. p. 12.